The western U.S.’s plans to decarbonize electricity grids by 2050 may be much more expensive than anticipated, as such targets fail to account for the effects of climate change on water resources, a new study has found.
Shifts in water availability due to warming could decrease hydropower production by up to 23 percent by midcentury, while electricity demand could rise by 2 percent annually, according to the study, published Monday in Nature Communications.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.png00Kylie Capuanohttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngKylie Capuano2024-11-26 08:07:012024-11-26 08:07:01Climate-Driven Impacts on Water in US West will Raise the Cost of Grid Decarbonization: Study
A chemical byproduct found in some treated drinking water in the U.S. that remained a mystery for more than 40 years may have finally been identified by scientists.
The authors of the study, published Thursday in the journal Science, have named the byproduct chloronitramide anion, and believe it is a decomposition byproduct of chloramine, which is used as a disinfectant in tap water.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.png00Kylie Capuanohttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngKylie Capuano2024-11-25 08:59:542024-11-25 08:59:54What to Know about a Newly Defined Chemical Byproduct Found in Drinking Water
It hasn’t been a typical fall for the northeastern United States.
Fires have burned in parks and forests around New York City. Towns and cities in a stretch from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to south of Philadelphia had their driest three months on record, according to the Applied Climate Information System. Some reservoirs in the region are near historic lows.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.png00Kylie Capuanohttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngKylie Capuano2024-11-25 08:33:252024-11-25 08:33:25Record Dryness in US Northeast Should Change Water Behavior, Experts Say
California’s ongoing struggle with water scarcity has spurred significant investment in reservoirs and dam expansion, but a new report from the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD) highlights why these massive infrastructure projects may worsen the state’s water and environmental crises.
The report, titled “Beneath the Surface,” challenges the notion that reservoirs are a sustainable solution, arguing that their benefits are undermined by environmental and economic costs, especially as climate change intensifies.
For decades, a costly problem has been worsening beneath California’s San Joaquin Valley: the land has been sinking, driven by the chronic overpumping of groundwater.
As agricultural wells have drained water from aquifers, underground clay layers have compacted and the ground surface has been sinking as much as 1 foot per year in some areas.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.png00Kylie Capuanohttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngKylie Capuano2024-11-25 08:24:262024-11-25 08:24:26Groundwater Pumping is Causing Land to Sink at Record Rate in San Joaquin Valley
Progress on the East County Advanced Water Purification Program (East County AWP) continues on schedule at multiple East County locations with significant milestones in recent months. Project construction is scheduled through 2025.
The main project site at the purification treatment facility is busy, with roughly 280 workers working on completion. Nearly 90% of the concrete is poured, and facility components are arriving from as far away as Japan and Canada.
The East County Advanced Water Purification Program is an important water project for East San Diego County. When complete, the Program will deliver a clean, reliable, and local water source.
See a video update on the progress of the East County Advanced Water Project here.
Roof Rising on the East County AWP Purification Treatment Facility
The building housing the advanced water purification treatment facility is taking shape as the roof is being added.
Raising the roof at the main treatment facility. Photo: East County Advanced Water Purification Program
Construction on the 23,000-square-foot Visitor’s Center will be complete at the end of 2025. It will house administrative offices, the operation control center, a testing laboratory, and a community room. Steel beam installation, including 66 columns and 100 beams, will use 350,000 pounds of U.S. steel. The roof has also been installed.
There are four water purification steps, including membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, advanced oxidation using ultraviolet light, and free chlorine disinfection. The advanced water purification facility will treat up to 11.5 million gallons daily for 50,000 households.
Water from this project will be provided to customers in Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Helix Water District, and Lakeside Water District service areas, and the northern portion of the Otay Water District.
Overnight Construction Underway Into November
Work is underway on Fanita Drive in Santee. Photo: East County Advanced Water Purification Program
More than 70% of the purified water and wastewater pipelines are installed throughout Santee and Lakeside. In addition, an 18-inch diameter wastewater pipeline was pulled under the San Diego River and a nearby golf course. At 3,500 feet long, it is one of the longest horizontal directional drill operations ever in San Diego County.
Overnight work began in late October near and at the intersection of Mast Boulevard and Cuyamaca Street in Santee. Work hours are from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Friday. This night work will allow crews to install a purified water pipeline when the roads are less busy, minimizing impacts to the public.
For residents who live in the immediate area, information was mailed to affected households describing the work and providing contact information. Construction in this area is expected to last through the second week of November.
Interactive Map Helps Residents Stay Updated On Progress
With construction in multiple locations throughout East County, the Program’s interactive map continues to be a valuable tool for residents and businesses to track where work is happening. The map is updated regularly and accessible 24/7 through the EastCountyAWP.com website. Information is also available via social media at @eastcountyawp on Instagram and Facebook.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ECAWP-Nov-Repurification-Pipes.jpg7201080Gayle Falkenthalhttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngGayle Falkenthal2024-11-12 08:27:232024-11-12 08:27:23East County Advanced Water Project Fall Progress Report
Encinitas, Calif. — At its November 6 meeting, OMWD’s Board of Directors honored Board Secretary Larry Watt for 12 years of dedicated service to its ratepayers. Mr. Watt did not seek reelection for another term, and this was his last meeting as a board member.
“Mr. Watt will be missed,” said Board President Christy Guerin. “Our ratepayers greatly benefited from his knowledge and experience from over 40 years of devoted public service.”
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Olivenhain-Logo-Square.jpg200200Gayle Falkenthalhttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngGayle Falkenthal2024-11-06 19:35:372024-11-06 19:35:37OMWD Board Recognizes Outgoing Member Larry Watt for 12 Years of Public Service
Encinitas, Calif. — At its November 6 board meeting, Olivenhain Municipal Water District recognized six community members with “Pure Excellence” awards. The winners—HASA, Inc., Begone Graffiti, Ariel Reed, Walter Haslop, The Grauer School, and Larry Watt—were acknowledged for their significant contributions to OMWD and the local community.
“Tonight, we celebrate our 2024 honorees who are making a difference in our community,” said OMWD Board President Christy Guerin. “We are grateful for their efforts in delivering exceptional service, promoting water use efficiency and the preservation of natural habitat, and providing good leadership.”
Visitors enjoy seeing the variety of wildlife when visiting the City of San Diego’s Miramar Reservoir in the Scripps Ranch community.
Recent visitors might have been surprised by an unusual group of animals: hundreds of goats grazing near the dam.
The City’s Public Utilities Department contracted with a local company to have more than 250 goats clear dry brush to allow for inspection of the dam and help reduce fire risk.
Under human supervision, several dozen goats can efficiently and safely clear an acre of brush per day. Photo: City of San Diego
Goat Herds Provide Energy-Efficient Reservoir Maintenance
Public Utilities operates and maintains dams for nine reservoirs that support the water supply for the City of San Diego. Routine maintenance and daily inspections help ensure the safety of this vital infrastructure.
Goats can play a vital role in this maintenance because they provide an energy-efficient and low-carbon alternative to mechanized equipment to remove dry brush and ensure proper visibility of the face of the dam.
Since 2005, the City of San Diego has allowed the use of goats to remove brush, which helps reduce the risk of wildfires. Goats are voracious eaters and are not picky about what they consume.
Twenty to thirty goats can clear an acre of brush in a few days. The goats eat plants down to the soil’s surface but leave root systems that help keep soil from washing away and causing hillside erosion.
Goats May Become A Regular Sight
Goats may be used at additional locations among the City of San Diego’s nine reservoirs. Photo: City of San Diego
After evaluating the goats’ work at Miramar Reservoir, the City will assess the feasibility of using their services in other locations.
Private property owners with large amounts of land needing brush clearance within the City of San Diego can also use goats to remove brush on their property. They must first receive a permit from the Fire-Rescue Department. There is no charge for the permit application.
Combustible vegetation, especially dry brush, should be cleared to reduce fire risk. Any material left in its natural state will readily ignite, burn, and cause fire to move to any structure or other vegetation. This includes dry grass, brush, weeds, litter, and waste.
The reviews are in for the 2024 Vallecitos Water District’s annual Water Academy, featuring a tour of the District’s facilities.
Participants raved about their opportunity to learn firsthand about the District’s operations from its professional staff in multiple disciplines, including James H. Gumpel, P.E., Vallecitos Water District General Manager.
Raul Rodarte, Wastewater Collections Worker II, offers a demonstration during the facilities tour. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
Among the stops along the tour:
Water Operations Control Room
Wastewater Collections
Warehouse, Construction, and Training Facilities
Maintenance and Repair Shops and Mechanics Bay
Sustainable Demonstration Garden and Meters
See a video of the facilities tour events.
Water Academy Tour Highlights
The District’s Wastewater Collections Department demonstrated how it keeps sewer pipes clean with a combination truck. The CCTV camera van was also on display. A recorded video showed how the camera system inspects the District’s sewer pipes.
Wastewater Collections staff are also trained as the District’s Confined Space Rescue Team. They discussed how the team’s preparedness and training to address emergencies immediately, instead of waiting for first responders, can save lives.
At the District’s welding shop and mechanics bay, mechanics explained how performing repairs in-house saves District customers money.
The Maintenance Services Department discussed the essential emergency repair parts maintained in the warehouse which allows construction crews to expedite water main repairs and return service to the customers as soon as possible.
Close Up Look At Equipment
Water Academy participants also got a presentation by the Construction Department with a closeup look at heavy equipment in operation, including a Mini-Excavator, Backhoe, Skid Steer, Hydro Excavator and Service Truck, and a 10-wheeler Dump Truck. All the equipment enables Vallecitos Water District personnel to repair water mains as quickly as possible to return customers to service.
Water Operations personnel demonstrated the Neutral Output – Discharge Elimination System (NO-DES) trailer, which functions as a portable water filtration unit. It removes minerals that can settle in water mains over many years. This helps to maintain high water quality for the District’s customers.
Vallecitos Water District is among the first agencies in San Diego County to purchase one of these units. It also helps the District comply with regulations that require urban retail water suppliers to submit water loss audits to the State of California annually. Water agencies are required to account for every drop of water and reduce water waste wherever possible.
Staff Demonstrate Specialized Skills
At the District’s Spill Emergency Response Plan Training Center, participants learned how Vallecitos employees practice responding to sewer spills and watched a demonstration. All water used for training and the demonstration is potable water rather than actual wastewater. A combination truck was set up downstream to demonstrate how a sewer spill would be mitigated and collected.
Water Operations field and lab testing equipment were on display. Several tests were run to show how lab testing in-house delivers faster, more cost-efficient results. Additionally, staff showed customers how, by adding CO2 to a water sample, the pH (measure of acidity or basicity) is changed.
Vallecitos Water District customers learn how to check their meters at home. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
Employees in the Meter Department showed customers how to read their own meters and how to check for leaks.
No Vallecitos Water District tour is complete without a stroll through its Sustainable Demonstration Garden, including its new seed library and garden features.
Positive Participant Feedback For Facilities Tour
Participants in the Vallecitos Water District facilities tour offered positive feedback from their experience. Photo: Vallecitos Water District
Participants received samples of PureGreen fertilizer from Encina and water bottles and had fun with trivia questions to conclude the tour.
Participant reviews highlighted the complexity of the operation, the friendly staff, and how much they learned.
“(The) complexity of providing water to a high population density coastal area. Good people with good management” wrote Frank Yakos.
“Previous to today I already had a very positive impression of VWD. Today’s information increased my positive impression immensely,” wrote Diane Veach.
“Learned something interesting from each presenter, learned a lot! Loved how friendly everyone is,” wrote Ann Kreile.
“I’m impressed with everything! Clean facility! Great staff! Great presentation!” raved Nancy Sims.
“Thanks! Keep up the good work!” said it all for Michael Wilkinson.
https://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/VWD-Tour-Demo.jpg7071080Gayle Falkenthalhttps://www.waternewsnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WNN-Horizontal-White-Blue2.pngGayle Falkenthal2024-10-28 11:43:112024-10-28 11:43:11Rave Reviews for Vallecitos Water Academy Facilities Tour
