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Imperial County Seeks to Declare Salton Sea Crisis A Health Emergency; Wants State, Federal Disaster Funds

/in , , /by /Palm Springs Desert Sunby Janet Wilson

Imperial County is seeking to declare a public health emergency at the Salton Sea, The Desert Sun has learned, aiming to force Gov. Gavin Newsom and federal officials to free up emergency funds and take immediate action to tamp down dangerous dust.

County supervisors will vote Tuesday on an urgent action item to proclaim a local air pollution emergency due to airpollution at the state’s largest lake, which is rapidly shrinking and exposing shoreline that is potentially loaded with contaminants from decades of agricultural runoff and military testing.

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West Basin Municipal Water District Presents El Segundo Desalination Plant to Manhattan Beach Leaders for the First Time

/in , , /by /The Beach Reporterby Kirsten Farmer

The final environmental study for a proposed desalination plant in El Segundo will soon be released, the City Council for adjacent Manhattan Beach learned this week, when it received its first formal presentation on the potential project — even though the West Basin Municipal Water District first pitched the plant in 2015.

If approved, the proposed $400 million plant — which would border El Porto, in El Segundo — would be capable of converting 20-to-60 million gallons of ocean water to drinkable water each day. District officials have said the plant is crucial to diversifying the region’s water supply, in case there’s an emergency or a severe drought.

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Water Authority Celebrates 75 Years With Member Agencies

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

Ramona Municipal Water District is among the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies that are recognizing CWA’s 75th anniversary.

Denise Vedder, director of public outreach and conservation for CWA, announced the milestone and thanked the RMWD representatives for their support at Oct. 8 district board meeting.

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New California Law Creates Path to Water and Wastewater Industry For Military Vets

/in , , /by /California Water News Dailyby California Water News Daily

State legislation allowing veterans to receive credit for their military education and experience when applying for civilian water and wastewater system operator certifications in California was recently signed.

San Diego County Water Authority and the Otay Water District co-sponsored Assembly Bill 1588 to increase the number of military veterans entering the civilian water and wastewater industry at a time when many Baby Boomers are retiring.

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New California Law Creates Path to Water Industry Jobs for Vets

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

State legislation co-sponsored by the San Diego County Water Authority and the Otay Water District has been signed into law, making it possible for veterans to receive credit for their military education and experience when applying for civilian water and wastewater system operator certifications in California.

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SCV Water Opens Six New Wells Near Bakersfield, Uncorking “Banked” Water For SCV

/in , /by /The Signal, Santa Clarita Valley by Jim Holt

Under an agreement to “bank” water outside of the Santa Clarita Valley, local water officials opened six new wells near Bakersfield this week, giving them direct immediate access to the water earmarked for the SCV.

On Monday, with much fanfare and ribbon-cutting, SCV Water and its water banking partners, Rosedale-Rio Bravo Water Storage District and Irvine Ranch Water District, opened six new groundwater wells and a conveyance system to the Cross Valley Canal in Kern County.

“The project and partnership is part of the Drought Relief Project,” SCV Water Board President Bill Cooper said Wednesday. “The focus is on developing the capacity to recover water during dry years and long-term droughts or other major emergencies.”

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Water In LA Receives C+ Grade While 60 Percent Continues To Come From Outside Region

/in , /by /CBS Los Angeles

The water quality in Los Angeles is not great, but a new study shows it is improving.

UCLA gave Los Angeles County an overall C+ grade in its annual water report that was released Wednesday.

The report included a C+ grade for water supply and consumption even though 60 percent of the water in L.A. County comes from outside of the region.

The quality of drinking water, however, has risen to a B+ grade.

According to the report, the L.A. water infrastructure was at a C+ while surface water received a D grade due to pollution.

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New California Law Creates Path To Water And Wastewater Industry For Military Vets

/in , /by /Times of San Diegoby Debbie L. Sklar Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

State legislation co-sponsored by the San Diego County Water Authority and the Otay Water District has been signed into law, making it possible for veterans to receive credit for their military education and experience when applying for civilian water and wastewater system operator certifications in California.

State legislators, water industry leaders, veteran advocates and business and community organizations gathered at the Veterans Museum in Balboa Park today to celebrate Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signing of Assembly Bill 1588 by Assemblymembers Todd Gloria (San Diego) and Adam Gray (Merced), and co-authored by several state legislators, including Assemblymember Tasha Boerner Horvath (Oceanside).

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New Law Will Help Veterans Get Jobs In The Water Industry

/in , , /by /CBS 8

Have you heard of AB 1588? Here’s how it could impact the hundreds of thousands of veterans in our city.

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Supervisors Vote Wednesday on Withdrawing County as Groundwater Sustainability Agency for Borrego Valley Groundwater Basin

/in , /by /East County Magazineby Miriam Raftery

Borrego Springs, Calif. – Faced with a state mandate to reduce water use by 75 percent after years over over-pumping groundwater, major water users in Borrego Springs have submitted a stipulated agreement for reducing the desert community’s water use by an estimated 75 percent. On Wednesday, San Diego County Supervisors will vote on withdrawing as a groundwater sustainability agency for the Borrego Valley Groundwater Basin, with a goal toward transitioning into water management.

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