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Oceanside Water Utilities Staff Honored at the California Water Environment Association Awards Banquet

/in , , /by /OsideNews.com

On January 29, 2022, City of Oceanside Water Utilities employees were honored at the annual California Water Environment Association (CWEA) San Diego awards banquet. Four City employees from the San Luis Rey Wastewater Treatment Plant were appointed to the CWEA Board, while another received a prestigious award for his outstanding service and exemplary work in the maintenance field. Mike Mensing, Mechanical Technologist I, was awarded the title of Mechanical Tech of the Year for the San Diego CWEA Section.

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Why Are San Diego Water Rates So High?

/in , /by /KPBSby Emilyn Mohebbi Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Conservation efforts combined with projects across San Diego are playing a role in putting the county in a better position to weather a drought, but is also leaving the county with some of the highest water rates in the state — higher than Los Angeles County.

A new report by Arizona State University environmental economist Michael Hanemann offers an analysis of water rates in San Diego County. He found that the San Diego County Water Authority’s wholesale rate for untreated water is $400 more per acre-foot than the Metropolitan Water District in Los Angeles.

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EMWD Receives $4.5 Million Funding Authorization for Desalination Program

/in , , /by /Smart Water Magazine

Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) this month was awarded nearly $4.5 million by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to further expand EMWD’s groundwater desalination infrastructure.

EMWD has long been one of the most successful agencies in the nation at working with state and federal funding partners to secure external funding opportunities, helping to reduce the cost of infrastructure construction that would otherwise be paid for by customers.

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Think Blue San Diego Relaunches

/in , , /by /Storm Water Solutionsby Cristina Tuser

San Diego, California, is relaunching the new and improved Think Blue San Diego.

This is a public awareness effort to educate people on how a modern storm water system helps ensure clean water and clean beaches for the future.

Think Blue San Diego is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, reported the city.

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Parts of SoCal to See First Rain of February. Here’s When and Where

/in , , /by /NBC Los Angelesby Accalia Rositani

Cooling down from weekend highs in the 90s, Los Angeles County has a chance for rain on Tuesday, its first in February.

An onshore flow Monday evening will start to push high clouds east, bringing cooler air to drop Tuesday’s temperature by 16 degrees. Monday’s highs are expected to be in the 70s and low 80s.

Showers will be scattered and light, with accumulations no more than 0.10 inch, but areas closer to the foothills might see up to an inch. The light precipitation will continue through the day Tuesday, drying up Wednesday morning.

This comes as the majority of LA County continues to experience a moderate drought, with the northernmost areas and neighboring Kern County experiencing a severe drought.

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Despite Dry Winter and Drought Status, San Diego County Water Supply Is Steady

/in , , /by /ABC 10 by Leah Pezzetti Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority
Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

Despite San Diego County currently sitting at ‘moderate drought’ status and February bringing no rain so far, the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) says the local water supply is safe.

According to SDCWA Water Resources Manager Jeff Stephenson, they have analyzed the current supply and feel confident that there will not be any water shortages for at least a five-year period because of their preparedness, even if drought status remains.

“We’ve spent 30 years diversifying those supplies so that we have seven, eight different sources of water in the region, so there’s no danger of running out,” said Stephenson.

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Proposed San Vicente Reservoir Hydro Facility Project Aims to Meet Energy Goals

/in , , /by /CBS8by Ariana Cohen Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority
Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

The leader of a conservation group opposes the idea of building this facility since it could be built on two preserves. Friday, the San Diego County Water Authority explained why it’s beneficial for California.

Neena Kuzmich from the San Diego County Water Authority says the proposed hydro energy storage facility at the San Vicente Reservoir will not only generate power for thousands of households, it will help California meet its energy goals.

“The state has an aggressive renewable state goal with 100% by 2045. With clean energy, this project will help in meeting these goals. It will use renewable energy during the day for later use and it does not emit greenhouse gases,” said Kuzmich.

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A Peek Into California’s Energy Future: Grid Operator Releases 20-year Outlook

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

A long-range outlook released by California’s grid operator offers a glimpse at what the state’s electric system may look like in 20 years — a portfolio with dramatically more renewable energy sources in the power mix, accompanied by a price tag of about $30.5 billion in transmission costs alone.

The California Independent System Operator, known as the CAISO for short, manages the electric grid for about 80 percent of the Golden State and a small part of Nevada. Every year, the organization conducts an annual transmission analysis and then updates its 10-year planning horizon.

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Eva Plajzer Named Director of Operations and Maintenance for San Diego County Water Authority

/in , , /by /Smart Water Magazine Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority
Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

Eva Plajzer, a 30-year civil engineering and management professional, has been appointed Director of Operations and Maintenance for the San Diego County Water Authority. She fills the position vacated by the retirement of Jim Fisher, whose 32-year career included nearly 10 years in a leadership role at the Water Authority.

The Water Authority is a regional wholesale water agency that provides about 80% of the water used in San Diego County, sustaining a $253 billion economy and quality of life for 3.3 million residents. The agency’s Operations and Maintenance Department is responsible for operating the aqueduct system; ensuring facility security and emergency preparedness; and maintaining and managing the fleet and various other assets.

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Multiple Water and Wastewater Industry Awards Won by City of Escondido

/in , , /by /Water News Network

The City of Escondido scored wins in three categories at the annual California Water Environment Association awards on January 29. CWEA is California’s oldest and most prominent association of water protection professionals.

The City of Escondido’s Hale Avenue Resource Recovery Facility (HARRF) won the 2022 Wastewater Plant of the Year (Medium Category). The HARRF is designed to treat up to 18 million gallons per day from the City of Escondido and the Rancho Bernardo area of the City of San Diego. The plant operates 24 hours a day, producing recycled water for the City of Escondido, along with organic materials called biosolids for beneficial reuse in Yuma, Arizona as agricultural soil amendments.

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