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The update of the Rainbow Water District capacity charges included allowing for smaller meters. The Rainbow board voted 4-0, with Hayden Hamilton absent, July 27, to approve the revisions in the district’s capacity fee ordinance which also changes the wastewater capacity fee variable for single-family homes from number of bedrooms to square footage of the house. Capacity fees are one-time charges to developers who purchase system capacity for water and sewer services. “It’s primarily a buy-in charge,” Rainbow general manager Tom Kennedy said.

Ten years after learning of the need to replace or repair the dam at Lake Wohlford, officials at the city of Escondido are still trying to raise the money. It’s a substantial sum — $45 million to $50 million — and they’re about halfway to it. Completion of the project would enable the city to store about twice as much water as it now can in the man-made reservoir and still prevent flooding from the structure in the event of a big earthquake.

Well, Dean Spanos is off the list. Way off. Last year, in our annual ranking of the Most Powerful People in San Diego, we had him finishing last, at 20. (Maybe that’s why he moved the team.) We felt he had the chance to do something noble with his power, such as work toward a compromise to keep the Chargers in San Diego, He didn’t.

A grand opening was held for Oceanside’s Mission Basin Groundwater Purification Facility Operation Building at 215 Fireside Drive, which was recognized for its environmentally-friendly design. The facility earned a LEED Gold certification and is the first such LEED certified project completed in Oceanside. The building earned the certification for its design features, which supported sustainable green practices including efficient lighting, ultra-low water use fixtures and large amounts of recycled content in building materials.

Between 2015 and 2010, Californians slashed their water use by seventeen percent, according to the US Geological Survey report. During that time, the state was gripped by the worst drought in modern times, and Governor Brown declared the first-ever mandatory water restrictions. But despite the savings, Californians still use more water than residents of many East Coast states. As of September 2017, Californians use 110 gallons per person per day for outdoor and indoor consumption. Meanwhile, in Connecticut, residents needed just 35 gallons of water per person per day in 2015 – less than half the national average of 82 gallons per person per day.