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EPA Recognizes Water Affordability Challenges in Report to Congress

/in , , /by /WaterWorld

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a report to Congress on December 17, 2024, detailing water affordability across the U.S. among households and utilities.

The report, “Water Affordability Needs Assessment,” summarizes decades of research by utilities, academics, and associations, and includes recommendations, such as potentially establishing a federal water assistance program; increasing education, outreach, and knowledge around solutions to address affordability; and increasing ways to reduce water infrastructure capital and operating costs.

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Nearly 60% of California Is ‘Abnormally Dry’ to Start 2025. Where Are Drought Impacts Worst?

/in , , /by /Sacramento Beeby Kendrick Marshall

More than half of California was “abnormally dry” just days into the new year, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor’s latest update.

As of Friday, Jan. 3, areas of “moderate drought” were isolated to Southern California while a sliver of the state near the Oregon border was under “severe drought,” the Drought Monitor said.

 

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With Negligible Rain in 8 Months, Southern California Swings Toward Drought

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Grace Toohey

California is entering the fourth month of what is typically the rainy season, but in the Southland, the landscape is beginning to show signs of drought.

The last time Los Angeles recorded rainfall over a tenth of an inch — the threshold that officials typically consider helpful for thirsty plants and the reduction of wildfire risk — was May 5, when downtown received just 0.13 inches of rain.

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State Reduces Water Usage to ‘Lowest Levels Since the 1940s’ — Here’s How It Happened

/in , , /by /The Cool Downby Mike Taylor Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

After two years of conservation efforts, Lake Mead is on the come-up.

Voluntary measures by Californians to save water in the Colorado River system are on their way to keeping well over the promised 1.6 million acre-feet of water in the reservoir by 2026, SFGATE reported. In a news release, the Colorado River Board of California announced a coalition over the last 23 months had conserved 1.2 million acre-feet of water.

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California’s 1st Snowpack Survey of 2025 May Offer Promise, but Will It Last?

/in , , , /by /Fox 2 San Franciscoby Tom Vacar

California’s first monthly snowpack survey comes on Thursday. It’s likely to be reasonably good for this early part of the rain and snow season.

As the new year begins, it’s good to take a look back and see what’s happened with California’s fire and water; essential elements, but also something that can lead to real problems. The Golden State had some big fires last year, but not in swarms.

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For Those Who Don’t Trust Tap, There’s ‘Raw Water’

/in , , /by /New York Timesby Soumya Karlamangla

The highway that winds along the coast of Marin County offers some of California’s most magnificent vistas, with the deep blue Pacific Ocean glittering through veils of fog. But for a handful of travelers, the views aren’t the prize.

At one blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pullout is a natural spring that draws people from across the San Francisco Bay Area, some of whom drive hours through traffic to get there. Many of them reject water from any other source and drink only what they say is “liquid gold” that gushes from the copper pipes of Red Rock Spring.

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Water Sector Urges Trump to Prioritize Water in Second Term

/in , , /by /Water Finance and Management

In December, associations representing the municipal water and wastewater sector submitted a letter to President-elect Donald Trump, urging his administration to prioritize water infrastructure in his second term.

The letter was endorsed by the American Water Works Association (AWWA), Water Environment Federation (WEF), the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) and WateReuse. The groups said they welcome the opportunity to meet with the President-elect’s transition team to discuss collaboration efforts and presented a list of policy priorities based around what they see as some of the top water-related issues in the United States.

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VIDEO: Concern Grows Over Contaminated Tap Water Lines Across U.S.

/in , , /by /Fox 32 Chicago

Utility companies and the environmental protection agency are notifying millions of U.S. residents that their tap water lines are contaminated with lead.

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Antioch Brackish Desalination Plant Set to Begin Operations

/in , , /by /SilconValley.comby Hema Sivanandam

In an effort to increase the city’s usable water supply, the long-awaited nearly $100-million brackish desalination plant in Antioch is expected to start operating within the next few months.

Acting Public Works Director Scott Buenting said the project, which started around 2021, is now nearing completion.

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Gas Prices and Water Fights: California Environment 2024 Year in Review

/in , , /by /Cal Mattersby Alastair Bland and Alejandro Lazo

California strived to maintain its environmental leadership in 2024, with voters approving a $10 billion environmental bond and the state advancing its renewable energy goals — all while navigating a major budget deficit.

The Legislature approved only a few new major environmental policies as the deficit left environmental groups and renewable energy advocates clamoring for increased spending. Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature scaled back their “California Climate Commitment” spending package to $44.6 billion from $54.3 billion.

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