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OPINION: Why Border Pollution Fix Requires Sewers, Not Suers

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Carlos A. De La Parra

Cross-border sewage flows in the Tijuana River reaching Imperial Beach are in the news and on the minds of concerned citizens of the region. Since pollution has been finding its way into the Tijuana River Valley for 40 years, it’s remarkable that it still manages to make the headlines. To be clear, I don’t condone it. I’m dismayed by sewage on a river (any river), its impact on water quality, as well as on public health. But that’s urban life in developing countries and emerging economies throughout the world.

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Kelley Scores 17-Month Consulting Deal With IID

/in , /by /Imperial Valley Pressby Richard Montenegro Brown

With the start of the new year came the start of a 17-month consulting service agreement between the Imperial Irrigation District board and its recently retired general manager, Kevin Kelley. The value of the contract, which is specifically for consultation between Kelley and the IID Board of Directors, not IID staff, is just under $396,000. It ends May 30, 2020, the same date Kelley’s employment contract as GM would have ended had he not retired, said IID board President Erik Ortega.

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Report Calls For Poway Water, Sewer Rate Hikes

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Steve Dreyer

A recommendation that water and sewer rates be increased starting in March will be discussed at a special City Council meeting next Tuesday night. City staff is recommending the water commodity (use) rate increase by 4.5 percent and the fixed water meter charge be increased by 7.5 percent. The staff report also recommends at 3.35 percent increase in the sewer commodity rate and a 3.25 percent hike in the sewer service charge.

 

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New Partnership Introduces South Bay Students To Water Industry Career Opportunities

/in , /by /Water News Network

Sweetwater Authority and Otay Water District have forged a new partnership with the Chula Vista Elementary School District to introduce fifth grade students to opportunities and issues in the water and wastewater industry – including compelling career options. The “Hydro Station” program is designed to address a significant shortage of skilled workers entering these career fields. Water agencies are facing a wave of retirements by Baby Boomer employees and a lack of skilled workers ready to replace them.

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Arbiter Sides With Tribes In Contract Dispute With San Diego County Water Authority

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Teri Figueroa Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

An arbiter has sided with five local tribes in a dispute over what county water officials argued was a request that left them with an unexpected $2.1 million budget deficit after the tribes won back lost water rights. At issue was a one-time loss to the San Diego County Water Authority in 2017. The dispute arose after the federal government restored water rights to the San Luis Rey Indian Water Authority, which represents the tribes, that year. Shortly after winning back water rights, the tribes submitted a request to the county water authorities that would essentially allow them to start collecting money on those water rights.

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Water Conservation Garden Welcomes New Executive Director

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Karen Pearlman

The Water Conservation Garden in Rancho San Diego has a new leader to keep it growing. Jennifer Pillsbury was hired in November to be the executive director/CEO of the xeriscape demonstration garden adjacent to Cuyamaca College. Overseen by an 11-member governing board, the 6-acre, not-for-profit garden displays drought-tolerant landscaping and offers water-saving ideas. It was founded in 1999. Its $1.3 million operating budget is offset in part by a joint powers agreement (JPA) with several local water agencies. The agencies are Helix Water District, Otay Water District, Sweetwater Authority, the city of San Diego and the San Diego County Water Authority. Cuyamaca College is also part of the agreement.

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Recycled Water, Fire Safety, Meeting Time Top District Agendas

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

Ramona Municipal Water District (RMWD) directors kicked off 2018 by considering whether to switch their monthly meeting time from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The prelude to voting on an ordinance that would amend the legislative code to allow evening meetings began with directors’ preliminary approval Dec. 12. The vote was 3-1 with board members Jim Hickle, Jeff Lawler and Bryan Wadlington in favor and Thomas Ace dissenting.

 

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Otay, Padre Dam Vote Entitlement Increased, Helix’s Drops

/in , /by /The East County Californianby Joe Naiman Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

The vote is changing. The San Diego County Water Authority board meeting Dec. 6 approved the 2019 vote entitlements for SDCWA member agencies, and the weighted vote for the Otay Municipal Water District and the Padre Dam Municipal Water District will increase from the agencies’ 2018 vote entitlements while the Helix Water District percentage will decrease, and the Lakeside Water District weighted vote is unchanged.

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Lessons from Orange County, California’s Water Strategy

/in , /by /GreenBiz (Oakland)by John Addison

Water is a serious issue for the cities of the world. Even in a wealthy nation such as the United States, people die from toxic water in Flint, Michigan, confront megadroughts in Los Angeles, face salinated aquifers in Miami and worry in Omaha about oil pipeline spills in the Ogallala aquifer. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in its annual U.S. infrastructure report card gives U.S. drinking water a grade of D. Water is the greatest challenge in resiliency planning. Southern California heavily depends on water from the Colorado River.

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Storm Departs Leaving Cool, Dry Weather

/in , /by /Times of San Diegoby Debbie L. Sklar

A Christmas Eve winter storm drenching Holiday Bowl fans and dropping varying amounts of rain countywide — and snow in the mountains above 4,000 feet — has departed leaving cool, dry conditions, the National Weather Service said Tuesday. “A very dry, continental air mass has now moved in,” NWS forecaster Joe Dandrea said. “Amounts were anywhere from a trace, to a few hundredths of an inch to as much as a half-inch or more,” he said. “Snow fell down to about 3,500 feet.” Rainfall amounts were about half an inch in Lakeside and Lemon Grove. El Cajon received 0.64 of an inch. Palomar Mountain got 0.77 of an inch.

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