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Attention, Otay Water Customers: Your Bill Is About to Go Up

/in , /by /I News Sourceby Rami Alarian

Nearly 240,000 residents in parts of southeastern San Diego County will soon see higher water bills. The Otay Water District notified customers that it will implement an 8.3% rate increase effective Jan. 1, saying the “unavoidable” hike is mostly due to charges passed down from its wholesale water suppliers: The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the county Water Authority.

Even more increases could be coming as the Otay Water District prepares to approve new sewer service rates later this year.

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Traffic Impacts Planned for Escondido During Aqueduct Upgrades

/in , /by /Escondido Times-Advocate Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Starting this week, pedestrians and motorists in Escondido will notice traffic impacts due to construction work on San Diego County Water Authority facilities as part of the Southern First Aqueduct Facilities Improvement project.

Work will take place on Bear Valley Parkway just north of San Pasqual Valley Road where a traffic lane and a bike lane on Bear Valley Parkway will be closed, Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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San Diego’s Water Sellers Are Thirsty for Revenue

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

It’s that time of year – August – when San Diego’s real summer heats up and notices that the city of San Diego is raising water rates hit our mailboxes.

On Sept. 30, the San Diego City Council will take up the uncomfortable exercise of approving a 63 percent hike in water rates and a 31 percent hike in wastewater rates over the next four years.

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Extreme Heat Coming to San Diego County’s Backcountry and Deserts This Week

/in , /by /San Diego Union-Tribuneby Gary Robbins

Extreme heat will settle over San Diego County’s inland foothills, mountains and desert areas this week, leading the National Weather Service to urge people to reschedule strenuous activities for the early morning and evening.

The most intense heat will occur Wednesday through Friday, when temperatures will rise into the mid-90s in such communities as Ramona and Escondido, 99 to 100 in Campo near the U.S.-Mexico border and into the 113-to-115 range in Borrego Springs.

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Heat Wave to Raise Temperatures, Fire Danger and Health Concerns This Week

/in , /by /NBC 7by M.G. Perez

A heat wave is expected to grip San Diego County this week, which is elevating wildfire danger and prompting Cal Fire crews to take action.

The heat will take hold from Wednesday through Saturday, with Thursday likely to be the hottest day, according to forecasters.

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The Price of Water Just Got More Complicated: San Diego’s Legal Battle Over Tiered Rates

/in , /by /JD Supraby Dean Atyia and Lutfi Kharuf Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

On July 30, 2025, a divided California Court of Appeal issued its long-awaited opinion in Patz v. City of San Diego, affirming the trial court’s judgment that the City’s tiered residential water rates violated Proposition 218 of the California Constitution. The ruling reinforces the strict interpretation of cost-of-service requirements previously articulated in Coziahr v. Otay Water District. However, given the nearly 70-page dissenting opinion, the California Supreme Court may take up the case if the City seeks review.

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Progress Made on Genesee Ave Construction in University City as San Diego’s Pure Water Plan Continues

/in , /by /CBS 8 San Diegoby Vanessa Paz

If you live in or drive through UTC, chances are you’ve felt the frustration, heavy traffic and daily bottlenecks along Genesee Avenue near State Route 52.

Drivers and businesses alike are feeling the impact.

“Customers get lost trying to get into the center,” said Ethan Stern, whose family owns Lorna’s Italian Kitchen. “You have to go all the way down Genesee, make a U-turn, and come back. I’m sure people get frustrated trying to get here.”

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Morning Report: The Water Authority Breakup

/in , /by /Voice of San Diegoby Jim Hinch and Andrea Sanchez-Villafaña Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

The law firm that helped San Diego embark on an ambitious water deal and guided the region’s legal strategy for 25 years has ended things with the San Diego County Water Authority.

In a new letter, attorneys with Brownstein Hayatte Farber Schreck LLP, told the Water Authority’s general manager that they would not provide legal services the agency wanted. This comes after the agency passed on a separate agreement with attorney Chris Frahm.

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Smolens: What to do with all that ‘Pure Water’?

/in , /by /San Diego Union-Tribuneby Michael Smolens Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority
Quoted: Nick Serrano

It seems like a good problem to have and one that should be getting even better.

The San Diego region has more than enough water and more is on the way. That’s a rarity in the parched West. It sounds great, but the reality is, it’s an increasingly costly burden.

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Will It Help? San Diego City Council Backs Legislation in Sacramento Targeting High Utility Bills

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

The San Diego City Council on Tuesday passed a resolution in support of 10 bills wending their way through the state Capitol in Sacramento that their respective sponsors say will help lower utility bills and “hold investor-owned utilities accountable.”

Resolutions do not have the force of law, but Council President Joe LaCava said he introduced the measure because “it is the most powerful way we have at the moment to actually send a signal from San Diego to Sacramento.”

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