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Top Aide to San Diego Mayor Gloria Tapped as Water Authority Board Chair

/in , /by /Times of San Diegoby Jennifer Vigil

A prominent aide to San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria will start a two-year term as chair of the San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors on Oct. 1.

Nick Serrano, Gloria’s deputy chief of staff, has served as vice chair of the board for the past two years while representing the city. He was unanimously elected as chair Thursday and will serve with incoming vice chair Frank Hilliker from the Lakeside Water District, and incoming secretary Joy Lyndes from the San Dieguito Water District.

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Nick Serrano to Lead Water Authority

/in , /by /Voice of San Diego Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s deputy chief of staff, Nick Serrano takes over as leader of the governing board for the region’s major water wholesaler.

The board of the San Diego County Water Authority voted Thursday to elect Serrano as chair, installing Lakeside Water District representative Frank Hillaker as vice chair and San Dieguito Water District representative Joy Lyndes as Secretary. Serrano took over the top board spot after serving as vice chair under the former leader, Mel Katz, a Del Mar representative, as is general practice for power succession at the Water Authority.

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Peters’ Bill to Streamline Permit Renewal for Wastewater Plant Passes in Committee

/in , /by /Times of San Diegoby Jennifer Vigil

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure voted 57-7 on Wednesday to advance Rep. Scott Peters’ bipartisan Ocean Pollution Reduction Act II.

The legislation would simplify the city of San Diego’s permitting process to operate the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will allow the city to move forward with its water-recycling project, Pure Water.

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Imperial Irrigation District Sued Over Colorado River Conservation Plan

/in , /by /Fox 5/KUSIby Danielle Dawson

The Sierra Club is suing the Imperial Irrigation District over its latest Colorado River water conservation agreement, arguing the plan would accelerate shrinking of the Salton Sea and harm neighboring communities’ health.

Announced last Friday, the lawsuit against the district and the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, contends that a plan to temporarily forgo hundreds of thousands of acre-feet of water from the depleted river failed to adequately consider its impact on the largest lake in the region.

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Peters’ Bill to Streamline Permit Renewal for Wastewater Plant Passes in Committee

/in , , /by /Times of San Diegoby Jennifer Vigil

The legislation would simplify the city of San Diego’s permitting process to operate the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will allow the city to move forward with its water-recycling project, Pure Water.

The program will supply half of San Diego’s drinking water by 2035 and help solidify the region’s water security amidst worsening conditions on the Colorado River.

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Ramona Municipal Water District Board to Get New Director

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

The Ramona Municipal Water District is gaining a new director to replace outgoing Director Gary Hurst.

Hurst has served on the board for nearly four years and has decided not to seek reelection when his term expires in December. His expected replacement to be seated on the board for Division 5 in December is Diane Princess Norman, who is running unopposed.

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OPINION: Water for the Future

/in , /by /Patchby Marie Waldron

San Diego County has made great strides to safeguard itself against California’s recurring drought cycle. For example, in 1991, 95% of our water was imported by the Metropolitan Water District (MWD). By 2023, only 14% of our water was imported by the MWD. Diversification efforts included building the Claude “Bud” Lewis Desalination plant in Carlsbad, increased conservation, an agreement to import water from the Imperial Irrigation District, and other measures. By 2045, it’s projected that only 8% of our water will be imported by the MWD.

But it’s a different story statewide. Most of our largest dams and reservoirs were built between 1945 and 1968, when our population was less than half its current size. Voter approval of a $7.5 billion water bond in 2014 has resulted in few, if any new projects. For more than 50 years, California has failed to make necessary investments in water infrastructure.

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‘Biggest Environmental Victory’: After More than a Decade in Limbo, San Diego County has a New Climate Plan

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Emily Alvarenga

After more than a decade of challenges, local environmental groups are rejoicing after the Board of Supervisors approved a new climate action plan this week that they say will keep the county accountable in slashing emissions.

The climate plan passed Wednesday along party lines will be used as a blueprint for reducing greenhouse gas emissions at county facilities and in unincorporated areas to reach net-zero emissions by 2045.

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Billion-Dollar Pure Water Project Stares Down $130M in Cost Overruns for Pipelines, Plants and Pumps

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby David Garrick

Inflation and major problems with tunneling and flooding have ballooned the price tag for San Diego’s Pure Water sewage recycling system by $130 million, a 10 percent hike that’s expected to raise sewer and water rates.

The city has already burned through nearly the entire $115 million contingency fund set aside to cover cost overruns and unexpected expenses when the $1.14 billion project was approved in 2021.

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San Diego Receives $240 Million Loans for Lake Hodges Dam Replacement

/in , /by /KPBS

San Diego was selected Wednesday to receive $240.6 million in loans for Lake Hodges dam improvement projects and possible replacement by the U.S Army Corps of Engineers.

This funding comes from the Corps Water Infrastructure Financing Program, intended to provide low-cost loans to maintain, repair and upgrade dams not under the federal government’s jurisdiction. The CWIFP is part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

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