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Class Action Lawsuit States City Of San Diego Misused Taxpayer Funds For Smart Water Meter Program

/in /by /NBC 7by Tom Jones

A class-action lawsuit was filed Tuesday against the city of San Diego, the Public Utilities Department and the city council, alleging the city misused taxpayer funds to pay for the city’s new smart water meters. The legal action alleges the city’s Public Utilities Department fostered an “illegal financing scheme” by using municipal sewer funds to pay for the advanced metering infrastructure, also known as the “AMI smart water meter program”. NBC 7 Responds has been investigating the smart meter program since last July and has revealed problems with meter installations and questions surrounding the financing behind retrofitted water meters.

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OPINION: No On Prop 68: Parks And Water Bond Would Leave California In A Mountain Of Debt

/in /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Jon Coupal

All Californians desire clean air, clean water, coastal protection, environmental protection, flood prevention and safe, well-maintained recreation areas. That’s why our state already spends about $5 billion annually to support these types of programs, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office. In June, voters will be asked to approve Proposition 68, the California Drought, Water, Parks, Climate, Coastal Protection and Outdoor Access For All Act, which would authorize the sale of $4.1 billion in bonds. The borrowed funds will have to be paid back over 40 years with interest.

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Los Angeles Comes Out Against $17 Billion Water Project

/in /by /Patch.com

The Los Angeles City Council moved Wednesday to officially oppose staged construction of a proposed multibillion-dollar water- delivery tunnel project if it would result in greater costs or a greater portion of the financial burden for Los Angeles ratepayers. State water officials announced last month they will pursue staged construction of the California Waterfix project, leaving water agencies in the Southland and elsewhere to decide if they want to continue supporting the effort.

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California Board Debates Lawsuit, Seeks Scrutiny Of Contaminated Flows From Mexico

/in /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Sandra Dibble

Members of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board have agreed to take the first step toward filing a lawsuit against the federal government to stem the cross-border flow of contaminated water into the Tijuana River Valley. Voting in a closed session on Monday, board members authorized staff to prepare a 60-day notice of intent to litigate against the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission for violations of the Clean Water Act. David Gibson, the board’s executive officer, said the state agency will offer details of the decision in a statement that will be released in coming days.

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Winter Storm Expected; Free Sandbags Available

/in /by /Valley Road Runner (Valley Center)by Gig Conaughton

The National Weather Service is predicting rain around San Diego County this week, potentially heavy rain on Thursday. People in unincorporated areas can get free sandbags at numerous locations to help them protect their homes, properties and communities. County public works officials said the coming rain was also a good reminder for people to check around their home and land to make sure drainage areas are clear and free of debris.

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California Farm District Drops Water Lawsuit, Seeking To Settle Dispute

/in /by /The Desert Sun (Palm Springs)by Ian James

Last year, farmers who lead the irrigation district in Blythe sued the biggest urban water district in the country to challenge what they called a “water grab.” Now the Palo Verde Irrigation District has dropped that lawsuit, looking to smooth the way toward a possible settlement with the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

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‘Significant’ Storm Expected To Bring Steady Rain To Southern California This Week

/in /by /Los Angeles Timesby Alene Tchekmedyian

A storm system moving toward Southern California will bring a “long period” of steady rain across the region this week and could trigger debris flows in recent burn areas, forecasters said. The storm is expected to drop 2 to 4 inches of rain along the coast and in the valleys in Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties, and 4 to 6 inches in the mountains between Tuesday afternoon and Thursday morning, said Todd Hall, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. South-facing slopes could see up to 8 inches in some areas.

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OPINION: Making Los Angeles Completely Water Self-Sufficient Won’t Be Easy Or Cheap. But It Can Be Done

/in /by /Los Angeles Timesby Mark Gold

Despite another hot and dry year with less than four inches of rain in the Los Angeles area, we are back to our water-wasting ways. Two years ago, Californians were using 24% less water compared with 2013. This year, we’re hardly conserving at all — just 1%. Clearly, our earlier successes were more behavioral than structural. If lawn removal and new efficient fixtures and appliances had saved all that water, we wouldn’t be seeing this momentous backslide.

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Biggest Storm Of The Season Could Bring More Devastation To California Burn Areas

/in /by /Los Angeles Timesby Joseph Serna

An atmospheric river that forecasters are billing as the biggest storm of the season is expected to drench Southern California beginning Tuesday night and will bring with it the potential for mud flows and widespread flooding, the National Weather Service said. The storm, which is fueled by warm, western Pacific waters, will deliver nonstop rain across much of California and provide some relief to areas that have seen a resurgence in drought conditions.

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California Board Debates Lawsuit, Seeks Scrutiny Of Contaminated Flows From Mexico

/in /by /The San Diego Union Tribuneby Sandra Dibble

Members of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board gathered in a closed session on Monday afternoon, debating whether to file a lawsuit against the federal government to stem the cross-border flow of sewage, sediment and other contaminants from Tijuana to San Diego. The deliberations followed a lawsuit filed earlier this month by the cities of Imperial Beach, Chula Vista and the Port of San Diego against the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission, alleging violations of the Clean Water Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act.

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