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Opinion: PFAs Are Highly Toxic Chemicals, and They’re Common Near Airports in San Diego

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby George Jiracek and Gary Butterfield

If you’ve been warned recently that there’s a class of forever toxic chemicals that you want to avoid at all costs, you’re not alone. We’re all finding out that a single chemical, man-made in 1938 (eventually called Teflon), has led to over 9,000 hazardous man-made chemicals called Per- and PolyFluoroAlkylSubstances (PFAS).

The list of PFAS-contaminated household products published by the Environmental Working Group runs the gamut from prepackaged food, shampoo/conditioners, dental floss to nonstick cookware, water-repellent/stain-proof jackets and carpets.

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Invest In Water Conservation During Fix a Leak Week 2022

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

Fix a Leak Week is a time to check indoor and outdoor plumbing systems for leaks. This year’s reminder about water conservation comes as California and much of the U.S. Southwest are in the third consecutive year of drought.

Minor water leaks account for more than one-trillion gallons of water wasted each year in homes across the United States. One-trillion gallons equals 3.068 million acre-feet, nearly enough water to meet the needs of San Diego County for seven years.

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Why It’s Been So Warm and Windy in Southern California This Winter

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Paul Duginski

The official stats are in: January and February were the driest first two months of the year on record across much of California. Those months should normally be the wettest period of the year.

February was also unusually warm. In Southern California, the warm readings were repeatedly accompanied by Santa Ana winds. These conditions dried out vegetation after an uncommonly wet December in the state and spurred winter wildfires such as the Emerald fire in Laguna Beach.

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With No Respite From Drought, Officials Call Upon Californians to Conserve Water

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Ian James

The start of this year has been the driest in California’s history. With the severe drought now in a third year, the state faces depleted reservoirs, a meager snowpack in the Sierra Nevada and a worsening water shortage on the Colorado River.

Under sunny blue skies in Sacramento, where it hasn’t rained in two months, officials stood Thursday in front of a mulch-covered garden and appealed for Californians to save water.

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Tapping In: Water District Seeks Partner for Ocean Desal Project

/in , , /by /Dana Point Timesby C. Jayden Smith

While the progress of the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project appears to now be gaining steam, South Coast Water District staff members are aware of the process’ tediousness.

The project, which would construct a facility on SCWD-owned property near San Juan Creek to draw water through the ocean, remove all the salt, and distribute clean drinking water throughout the district—including Dana Point and partnering entities—has been in the works for more than 15 years.

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Successful Pipeline 4 Repair Saves San Diego County Ratepayers Money

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

Tens of millions of gallons of water will soon be flowing again through a major pipeline in North San Diego County following successful repairs on a distressed section of Pipeline 4 near Bonsall. The repair is part of the Water Authority’s proactive approach and long-term commitment to maintaining regional water supply.

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Santa Barbara County Sees Third Year in a Row of Drought

/in , , /by /The Independentby Jean Yamamura

Santa Barbara County supervisors had the bad news confirmed that the drought is on and not about to end, but water agency manager Matt Young also brought some promising ideas to the mix.

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California Drought: Snowpack Falls Below Average, Which Means Another Down Year for Hydroelectricity

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Rob Nikolewski

At the start of the year, it looked like California would finally get some relief from a persistent drought, with reservoirs poised to help contribute an abundant amount of hydroelectricity to the state’s grid come summertime. But those hopes are fading like a mirage.

“Realistically, as far as our dams and our hydroelectric production, it’s looking like we could be in a similar spot as last summer, potentially even worse by the end of the summer,” said Andrew Schwartz, lead scientist that the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab. “It’s not looking great, to be honest.”

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Council Supports Initial Steps Toward Doheny Ocean Desalination Plant

/in , , /by /Dana Point Timesby Breeana Greenberg

The Dana Point City Council last week voiced continued support for South Coast Water District’s desalination plant, which looks to establish a local source for drinking water and reduce dependency on imported water.

In a unanimous decision, councilmembers voted to send a letter to the San Diego Water Board, imploring the agency to renew the South Orange County Wastewater Authority’s permit to discharge wastewater through the San Juan Creek Ocean Outfall.

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Opinion: San Diego County Water Rates Will Trend Lower Than MWD’s Over Time

/in , , /by /Times of San Diegoby Tish Berge Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

A recent commentary by the board presidents of the Fallbrook and Rainbow water districts included incomplete and misleading information about increases in future water rates in San Diego County.

Contrary to their assertion of a 50% increase over five years, the San Diego County Water Authority’s board has not set rates for future years. At the wholesale level, rate setting is done one year at a time and the process is just starting for 2023.

As part of our financial due diligence that helps maintain strong credit ratings, we forecast a range of possible future rates while we work with our partners to maintain our infrastructure and minimize financial impacts on ratepayers.

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