San Diego could raise water rates by 61% and sewer rates 32% over four years to cover sharply rising costs for workers, imported water, chemicals, energy, construction projects and other priorities.
The increases, which would incrementally kick in between January 2026 and January 2029, are recommended by two new studies analyzing future revenues and expenses for the city’s water and sewer systems.
On a May afternoon, customers fill empty five-gallon jugs at vending machines beside the front door of the Aqua Bar water store in Escondido. Inside, the store’s owner chats with regulars turning the faucets at two large metal sinks. Customers come and go, wheeling carts full of newly-filled containers out to the trunks or flat-beds of waiting cars.
Aqua Bar is roughly in the middle of a neighborhood that could be the water vending machine capital of San Diego County.
In response to community concerns, Sweetwater Authority recently announced the detection of a small amount of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in treated water from the Sweetwater Reservoir.
The detected concentration was below levels that would necessitate mitigation measures, meaning additional water treatment is not required. However, regulatory guidelines mandate notification to customers about such findings.
Scott Maloni was sworn in Dec. 5 as the newest member of Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors.
Voters in OMWD’s Division 2, consisting of communities in Carlsbad and Encinitas, selected Maloni as their representative by 58.31% to the Board of Directors as one of four candidates in the Nov. 5 election. Incumbent Division 5 member Neal Meyers, who was appointed to the board in 2021, won election by 54.48%, according to San Diego County Registrar of Voters results.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria has publicly commended the San Diego County Water Authority’s (SDCWA) latest move to diminish ratepayer costs through a fresh water-saving agreement. Gloria highlighted the agency’s collaborative effort at the Colorado River Users Association conference, resulting in a significant $20 million savings for regional ratepayers.
Gusting Santa Ana winds will again batter much of Southern California Monday and into mid-week, raising concerns about potential wildfires.
A red flag warning of critical fire danger conditions will be in effect until 4 a.m. Wednesday for the San Diego County mountains and inland valleys.
The federal government is scaling back its dependence on fluoride in drinking water after new studies found a link between high fluoride exposure to behavioral issues and lower intelligence in children.
Despite this, data obtained by CBS 8 shows that over the past five years, San Diego residents have seen higher levels of fluoride than before and fluctuating levels from one testing station to the next.
People are reaching out to CBS 8 with questions about Lake Miramar and why the water level is so low. CBS 8 is Working For You to find out what is causing the drop.
“I noticed a couple weeks ago when I was here walking around the lake that the water level had gone really low when I was wondering, ‘What’s going on?’ I was confused as to why that was happening,” Robert Ross told CBS 8 Friday.
Each December there’s a new version of an old guessing game about how much water will be provided to agricultural and municipal users in the year ahead.
The San Diego County Water Authority announced a new multi-agency agreement this week that will save local water customers $20 million while protecting Colorado River supplies.
