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San Diego Farmers Find Innovative Solutions to Climate Change Problems

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – San Diego County farmers are finding innovative solutions to problems brought on by climate change. “It’s getting hotter and drier, and we’re in longer, more frequent droughts,” says Al Stehly, who manages 15 farms in the North County. “So we have to use the water we do have better.” Stehly says water is the biggest concern as temperatures rise. “It’s just going to get hotter and drier,” he says. “So we’ve got to squeeze everything out of that sponge that we can without depleting the resource.”

New Baja California Governor Promises To Stop Cross-Border Sewage

Jaime Bonilla was sworn into office Friday as governor of California’s neighboring Mexican state. As a member of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Morena party, his election marks the first time in 30 years that the PAN party hasn’t held power in Baja. In his first major speech since taking office, Governor Bonilla promised to address poverty, public safety issues and end cross-border sewage flows within six months. Bonilla, a dual U.S.-Mexico citizen, formerly served as an elected member of the Otay Water District in Chula Vista.

Metropolitan to Study Stormwater Recharge Potential in So Cal

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is expanding its effort to learn more about the water supply potential of local stormwater capture with a new $7.5 million pilot program approved today by its board of directors. By funding construction of new stormwater projects and installation of monitoring equipment on existing ones, the program will gather data on the amount of water produced by projects that capture local rainfall and stormwater runoff and use it to recharge groundwater basins in the region.

San Diego Taking Steps to Revive Landmark Water Recycling Program Amid Legal Dispute

SAN DIEGO — San Diego took key legal steps Tuesday aimed at reviving efforts to construct the city’s $4 billion Pure Water pipeline, which was abruptly halted this summer by a legal dispute over the use of unionized construction workers. The City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to remove pro-union language from contracts for Pure Water, a recycling system that would purify treated sewage into drinking water and supply one-third of San Diego’s water supply by 2035.

24,000 Pounds Of Trash Removed From San Diego River

More than 100 volunteers removed over 24,000 pounds of trash from the San Diego River on Oct. 26, the second largest watershed management area in San Diego County.

The cleanup came from a comprehensive survey of the lower 20.5 miles of the San Diego River to document trash locations. Over 180 trash sites were identified and mapped in the seven-mile section that volunteers cleaned, which stretches from Dog Beach to Mission Valley.

The San Diego River Park Foundation, who organized the cleanup, said the trash along the river is largely the result of homeless encampments, followed by stormwater debris. San Diego doesn’t treat stormwater, which leads to more pollution.

Carlsbad-Based Seacoast Science Awarded $300,000 by EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday that it awarded $300,000 to Carlsbad-based Seacoast Science Inc. for the company’s efforts to develop environmentally sound technology.

The EPA awarded a total of $2.7 million to nine small businesses in six states, including three in California, as part of its Small Business Innovation Research program. The EPA previously awarded phase one grants of up to $100,000 to small businesses, including San Diego’s 2W iTech LLC, last July. Those recipients were also allowed to apply for the phase two funding announced Monday.

 

Aqueduct Shutdown Expected to Begin Nov. 4

The repair to the San Diego County Water Authority’s Pipeline 4 in Moosa Canyon will require a shutdown of the SDCWA aqueduct which is expected to begin Nov. 4, and the CWA’s actions also included a unanimous CWA board vote Oct. 24 to approve a change order in the CWA’s contract with Fibrwrap Construction Services, Inc.

The change order increases the contract by $140,409 to create a total contract amount of $1,011,751 while also amending the contract to increase the number of carbon fiber layers.

San Diego Creates State’s First Water, Sewer ‘Capacity Bank’

San Diego will create California’s first “capacity bank” for water and sewer, allowing breweries and biotech firms to cheaply buy excess water and sewer capacity from former factories.

The City Council unanimously approved the capacity bank this week, calling it an innovative idea that will create jobs and help the city avoid expensive expansions of its sewer and water infrastructure.

Upgrade for Desalination Project As It Plans Private Note Placement

Poseidon Resources received a one-notch upgrade to BBB from Fitch Ratings ahead of plans to privately place a $45 million note to finance construction of a new intake system for its desalination plant in Carlsbad, California.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch won the right to purchase the three-year note, expected to close in November, according to sources close to the deal.

Doheny Desalination Plant Still On Track Despite Higher Cost Estimates

While projected cost increases to the proposed Doheny desalination plant drew concern from two South Coast Water District directors at a meeting Wednesday, the majority of the board took the updated analysis in stride and the district continues pursuit of the project.

The bottom line for the average residential customer is that the expected monthly bill increase is now $10 — a 9% hike — rather than the $5 to $7 estimated in a 2017 report. Three members of the five-member board appeared comfortable with the latest estimates.