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Carlsbad Desalination Plant Shields Region From Megadrought

/in , , /by /Water News Network Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

As the worst drought in 1,200 years grips the West, the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant is protecting the San Diego region with 50 million gallons a day of drought-proof water.

Completed in 2015, the plant was built before the period of increasing inflation that’s driving up prices for water infrastructure projects that are just starting. That means the desal plant is safeguarding the region’s economy and quality of life today at a lower cost than it would be to build now.

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Desert Water Agency Discusses Local Water Conservation Efforts

/in , , /by /NBC Palm Springsby Carmela Karcher

Governor Gavin Newsom declared a drought emergency in 2021, yet recent data shows Californians are not conserving enough water, in fact the Coachella Valley used about 20% more water this January than the previous one.

Wednesday afternoon, the Desert Water Agency presented a plan to address the drought and how the Coachella Valley can help.

The DWA currently serves the cities of Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs and a portion of Cathedral City.

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Water District Directors Approve Map With New Division Boundaries

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Julie Gallant

Ramona Municipal Water District directors approved a final map for the district’s election boundaries after discussing the pros and cons of dividing downtown Ramona among four divisions.

The water district has five divisions, each represented by a director. Redistricting Partners LLC recently presented revised division boundaries to reflect changing population sizes and demographics based on 2020 Census data.

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‘Absolutely Gorgeous’: The Flower Fields Return, Blazing ‘More Color Than Ever’

/in , , /by /Times of San Diegoby Chris Stone

Paul Ecke III tells a story about his fastidious volunteers at The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. A docent once asked him to get out of the field — even after learning he was the owner.

And that’s how he explains the importance of keeping your distance from the plants to preserve them.

The north end of the Carlsbad Flower Fields, at 5704 Paseo Del Norte, is now ablaze with color, and visitors are welcome through at least Mother’s Day.

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San Diego Water Agencies Seek Inspiring WaterSmart Landscape Contest Entries

/in , , /by /Water News Network Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Eleven participating San Diego County water agencies invite homeowners to share their inspiring landscaping makeover stories by entering the 2022 WaterSmart Landscape Contest.

The annual contest recognizes outstanding WaterSmart residential landscapes. The winning landscape from each participating water agency will receive a prize valued at $250 and may be recognized in print and online publications. The deadline to apply is May 13, 2022.

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Why Your Water Bill is Rising

/in , , /by /Voice of San Diego by MacKenzie Elmer Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

Two things are true about the cost of water in San Diego: the cost of bringing water here and maintaining the system that does it is rising, but the amount of water San Diegans consume is dropping.

In 1990, the average San Diegan used 235 gallons of drinkable water per day, according to the Water Authority’s records. By 2021, San Diegans cut that almost in half to 130 gallons per day. Megadroughts that triggered mandatory water cutbacks triggered better water conservation habits, which stuck.

But while San Diegans are using less, the costs they pay continue to rise. The cost of San Digeo’s water supply is expected to rise anywhere from 5.5 to 10 percent beginning in 2023, with hefty hikes continuing in the years thereafter.

“Long after I’m dust, these supplies will be valuable to this region,” said Gary Arant, who leads the Valley Center Municipal Water District, of the haul of water rights San Diego has locked up. “Right now, we’ve got a lot of water. It’s expensive, but I think the decisions we made were good.”

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Decades of Flooding in Leucadia Raise Drainage, Legal Questions

/in , /by /The Coast News Groupby Stephen Wyer

Jeff, a Leucadia resident who lives on Basil Street, said it was in 2001 when his home first flooded. “It was two weeks after I moved in, and I had just painted the house and put in new carpeting, so it really wasn’t good timing,” Jeff recalled with a laugh, noting his home would flood again four years later. But for Jeff and his neighbors who live along North Coast Highway 101 in Leucadia, the issue of flooding in Leucadia has been no laughing matter.

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Environment Report: San Diego Can’t Spend the $300 Million It Won to Fight Tijuana Sewage Border Spills

/in , , /by /Voice of San Diegoby MacKenzie Elmer

Even though the federal government gave San Diego $300 million to alleviate the decades-long problem of Tijuana sewage spilling over the U.S.-Mexico border, and even though everyone seems to generally agree it should be spent on a bigger border wastewater treatment plant, and even though all the necessary parties seem to be working harmoniously on the plan, the money can’t be spent.

That’s due to some sticky bureaucratic red tape: Congress needs to pass, and the president needs to sign legislation allowing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to give that $300 million check (secured under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement) to the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission.

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California City Requiring Residents to Cut Water Usage by 10%

/in , , /by /KRDO

Monrovia will require its residents to cut their water usage or face fines, as California continues to dry out amid this historic drought.

Beginning this March, the city of Monrovia voted to require every resident to reduce their water usage by 10% or face fines averaging at $10 a month or more for extreme water wasters. The city will compare a household’s usage in Feb. 2022 to Feb. 2020.

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Water Conservation Tips as Drought Restrictions Continue in Southern California

/in , , /by /CBS Los Angeles
Bill McDonnell with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California joins Pat Harvey and Jeff Vaughn to discuss ways people can conserve water as drought restrictions tighten.
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