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How Safe Is LA’s Water? Environmental Group Says Legal Standards Still Pose Health Risks

/in , /by /ABC7by Carlos Granda

You turn on the tap and expect clean water. But what exactly is in that water?

Analysts at EWG, a nonprofit environmental group, found a number of chemicals that are known to cause cancer.

“We want people to understand that there are health risks,” says Sydney Evans, an EWG science analyst. “You might not take a drink of your tap water today and get sick tomorrow but down the road there are going to be heightened risks.”

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Veterans Serving Public in Water Industry Careers

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

Water industry professionals and members of the U.S. armed forces have a shared commitment to serving the public. When they leave active-duty roles, military veterans tap their experience and skills to work in water sector jobs. The San Diego County Water Authority and its 24 member agencies, recognizes the contributions of veterans to the San Diego region’s water industry on Veterans Day and throughout the year.

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This City’s Recycled Wastewater is Too Pure to Actually Drink

/in , , /by /Mother Jonesby Matt Simon

On a dusty hilltop in San Diego, the drinking water of the future courses through a wildly complicated and very loud jumble of tanks, pipes, and cylinders. Here at the North City Water Reclamation Plant, very not-drinkable wastewater is turned into a liquid so pure it would actually wreak havoc on your body if you imbibed it without further treatment.

First the system hits the wastewater with ozone, which destroys bacteria and viruses. Then it pumps the water through filters packed with coal granules that trap organic solids.

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EPA Outlines $630M Vision for Curbing Tijuana Sewage Pollution in San Diego

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Joshua Emerson Smith

Top federal environmental regulators in California laid out a $630-million plan on Monday to capture and treat sewage-tainted water that routinely flows over the border from Tijuana into Imperial Beach and up the coast.

The blueprint focuses largely on installing a pumping system in the Tijuana River north of the U.S.-Mexico border to suck polluted flows out of the channel before they can foul shorelines in San Diego. Trash booms would be installed directly upstream of the intake.

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EPA to Address Transborder Water Pollution from Tijuana River with Infrastructure Review

/in , /by /Times of San Diegoby Elizabeth Ireland

The Environmental Protection Agency will move forward with environmental review of several water infrastructure projects intended to address transborder water pollution from the Tijuana River, it was announced Monday.

“In order to protect public health and vital ecosystems in this vibrant area, we need a bold solution to the transboundary water pollution challenge,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox.

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Escondido HOA Saves Water, Costs with WaterSmart Landscape Upgrades

/in , , /by /Water News Network

The Emerald Heights homeowner’s association in Escondido recently completed a successful clubhouse upgrade including a landscaping makeover replacing existing turf with a beautiful drought-tolerant design. Emerald Heights HOA representatives met with O’Connell Landscape and Maintenance, which encouraged the HOA to take advantage of the SoCal WaterSmart turf replacement program.

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In the November Garden, Carry On Cool-Weather Planting, But Cut Back on Water

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Nan Sterman Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

While fall rains have already begun, climatologists predict a dry winter, courtesy of the long-anticipated La Niña conditions. Reservoirs are at dangerously low levels. There’s little chance of their being replenished this winter, according to predictions used by federal forestry and fire agencies.

Our governor has asked all Californians to voluntarily cut water use by 15 percent. San Diego County Water Authority asked residents to reduce water use by 10 percent. No matter where in California we garden, it’s time we look hard for ways to use less water.

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After Some Wet Weather Last Month, Rain is Back to Bypassing Southern California

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

After a brief interruption for some rain late last month, the Los Angeles region is back to its regularly scheduled programing. In November, that means little or no rain.

For those hoping for more rain, the prospects aren’t good, as the National Weather Service puts it. The long-range models look dry into early December.

Not that L.A. gets much rain in November. The monthly normal for downtown Los Angeles is 0.78 of an inch. Downtown normally receives 0.58 of an inch of rain in October, but got 0.71 of an inch, putting L.A. less than a quarter-inch above normal so far for the rainfall season.

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Carlsbad to Increase Water, Sewer Rates

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribune Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Carlsbad plans to increase its water and sewer rates in 2022, the first of three steps that will boost the average family’s current monthly combined water and sewer bill by a total of $24.78 in 2024.

The City Council voted unanimously last week to set a public hearing on the new rates for 5 p.m. Jan. 11. If approved, the first higher rate will take effect on March 1 with additional increases on Jan. 1 of the next two years.

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Fall Back and Adjust Irrigation Systems to Save Water

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

The end of daylight saving time is a reminder to residents to assess their outdoor watering needs and adjust their irrigation systems to reduce water waste – an especially important step after more than two years of statewide drought. Plants simply don’t need as much water during cooler months, and they typically don’t need irrigation at all after heavy rains. Using water efficiently indoors and outdoors is easier than ever thanks to online resources offered by the Water Authority at www.watersmartsd.org.

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