They generate green energy. The save money. They slow evaporation. They float.
And the Sweetwater Authority wants to put them on its Sweetwater Reservoir.
General Manager Carlos Quintero said the water agency is exploring the environmental impact of a 9.5 acre floating solar array that would be placed near the Sweetwater Dam.
As summer approaches, the Imperial Irrigation District is gearing up for another battle with the weeds that infest its canals. To do that, the regional water agency is calling in reinforcements: a small army of plant-munching fish.
In a normal year, about 40% of California’s water supply is stored groundwater, and more than 80% of Californians use it, according to the California Department of Water Resources.
Groundwater is the water that is a buffer in the years the state is in drought. For the first time since 2019, the agency reports groundwater storage increased during the 2023 water year, which is great, but the state’s groundwater is still in deficit.
Just a block away from La Mesa’s downtown is a residential street lined with sweet vintage Craftsman and Spanish-style homes. Most have lawns in their front yards, but there are some unique gardens that show off the owners’ distinctive style. One of them belongs to Joy Andrea, a petite, retired phys ed teacher who spent her career at Sweetwater Union High School District.
At a special board meeting April 30, the Fallbrook Public Utility District and Eastern Municipal Water District celebrated switching water wholesalers in a move that allows Eastern to provide water service to FPUD. FPUD also recognized many community leaders who worked hard spreading the message of the benefits of detaching. They made phone calls, posted Measure A signs around town, ran ads, and created a campaign to inform people that made the switch go from a possibility into a reality.
Pipeline construction along a section of Nobel Drive in University City began Monday morning, according to the City of San Diego’s Pure Water Program.
The city says traffic was moved into the eastbound lanes to make way for the new portion of the Morena Northern Pipelines and Tunnels project.
In a move set to transform regional agriculture, the Regional CropSWAP program, originally initiated by the Rancho California Water District, announced its expansion into neighboring counties with the partnership of Fallbrook Public Utility District, Rainbow Municipal Water District, city of Oceanside, Valley Center Municipal Water District and city of Escondido.
The Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District launched its first solar power generating project this week, it announced Thursday.
The project generates 40 kilowatts of solar power at the district’s Rockhoff pump station, which supplies water to 800 customers, Rincon Water said.
Expect upcoming road closures and construction near SeaWorld — a $123 million project to update a water transmission system near the theme park and through Mission Valley begins this summer.
About 10 miles of water mains will be constructed between Interstate 805 and Sea World Drive, mainly on Friars Road, according to a city presentation. The city’s Active Transportation and Infrastructure Committee — made up of four city councilmembers — last week unanimously voted to move forward with hiring OHLA USA Inc. to begin construction.
A new water tank to help fight fires from the air was unveiled in San Marcos Tuesday.
Helicopters with capabilities to drop water onto fires aerially are one of the most crucial firefighting tools. The New HeloPod can be filled with 5,000 gallons of water in under three minutes.
