All Features

Behind-the-scenes stories about regional water issues, projects, and people.

Volunteers participate in the City of San Diego's Arbor Day tree planting event in 2023. Photo: City of San Diego

Celebrate Arbor Day: Discover How San Diego’s Tree Planting Programs Combat Climate Change and Save Water

With climate change creating new challenges for managing safe and reliable water supplies, trees are increasingly recognized and relied on for their importance in helping mitigate weather extremes and contributing to water conservation efforts. Trees are among the most valuable investments in San Diego County’s landscape – including your own waterwise landscaping. No other landscape […]

Vallecitos Water District intern Phlavia Oryem works in the testing lab as part of the program. Photo: Vallecitos Water District internship program

Palomar College and Vallecitos Water District Internship Program Develops Water Workforce

A partnership between Palomar College’s Water Technology Program and the Vallecitos Water District’s workforce development program gives students a hands-on opportunity to explore water and wastewater industry jobs and increase their career readiness. Palomar College professor Jacob Shiba and Vallecitos Water District Public Information/Conservation Supervisor Chris Robbins first discussed the idea in 2019. “We talked […]

A pioneering education partnership inspires students regionwide to pursue careers in the water and wastewater industry. Photo: San Diego County Office of Education

Education Partnership Inspires Future Water Leaders 

The San Diego County Water Authority and San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) have embarked on a pioneering education partnership to inspire students regionwide to pursue careers in the water and wastewater industry. This new program is the latest initiative in a long history of regional education outreach reaching hundreds of thousands of students […]

The Fairways HOA landscape makeover in Lake San Marcos retains some turf mixed with low-water use plants for substantial water savings. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Fairways HOA Achieves Savings Through Landscape Optimization

A Lake San Marcos homeowners association successfully upgraded its community landscape to achieve water savings and cost savings with assistance from a joint program offered through a partnership between the San Diego County Water Authority and the County of San Diego. The Landscape Optimization Service (LOS) offered through the Waterscape Rebate Program is a technical […]

Fix a Leak Week is a reminder every March to check indoor and outdoor plumbing systems for leaks. Graphic: EPA

Fix-A-Leak Week 2024 Brings WaterSense To Work

Water leaks don’t happen just in the home. This year, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) annual Fix-A-Leak Week 2024 program focuses on the importance of repairing leaks and saving water in the workplace and commercial buildings such as hospitals, schools, hotels, retail stores, and community centers. Fix-A-Leak Week was created in 2009 by the Environmental […]

The Water Authority’s WaterSmart spring Landscape Makeover Program classes are now open for registration. free landscape makeover classes

Register Now For Free Spring WaterSmart Landscape Classes

Following a winter with generous rainfall, this spring is an ideal time for San Diego County residents to turn their water-thirsty landscaping into a beautiful, sustainable landscape ideal for the region’s Mediterranean climate. The Water Authority’s WaterSmart Landscape Makeover Program’s classes are open for registration. The free WaterSmart landscaping classes offer several choices designed to […]

EPA WaterSense-Excellence Award-QWEL-water conservation

Women in Water Conference Speakers List Announced

The speakers list for the 2024 Women in Water Symposium, “Empowering The Next Generation of Women,” is now set. The event returns for its seventh year with a full-day event on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at Cuyamaca College. Registration remains open. Panelists representing a wide variety of disciplines at all levels will discuss career opportunities […]

Vermiculture and vermicomposting using earthworms to help you turn kitchen scraps into compost has multiple environmental benefits including the prevention of stormwater runoff. Photo: Sippakorn Yamkasikorn/PixabayCC

Worms Boost WaterSmart Landscaping

One of the most valuable tools for managing water retention and avoiding stormwater runoff while improving your landscaping soil harnesses the power of worms – earthworks, to be specific. Vermiculture and vermicomposting are eco-friendly tools using earthworms to transform organic waste into nutrient-rich compost. This process benefits gardeners and the environment. In the San Diego […]

Since the Water Authority’s formation in 1944, engineers have played a pivotal role in the establishment and growth of the agency and its commitment to delivering safe, reliable water supplies to San Diego County.

Water Authority Celebrates National Engineers Week

The San Diego County Water Authority is celebrating National Engineers Week, February 18-24, by highlighting the agency’s engineers and the important work they do. Since the Water Authority’s formation in 1944, engineers have played a pivotal role in the establishment and growth of the agency and its commitment to delivering safe, reliable water supplies to […]

The 2024 Women in Water Symposium welcomes everyone interested in exploring water and wastewater industry careers at all experience levels. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority

2024 Women in Water Conference Fosters Workforce Diversity

Registration is now open for the 2024 Women in Water Symposium. The event returns for its seventh year with a full-day event on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at Cuyamaca College. While open to all participants, the full-day, in-person program theme is “Empowering The Next Generation of Women.” It offers valuable opportunities for networking, education, and […]

Board members Mark Gracyk and Joel Scalzitti, Board Vice President Don McMillan, Lily Martinez, and Board President Kathleen Coates Hedberg. Scholarship programs throughout San Diego County and California for 2024 are now open. Photo: Helix Water District 2024 scholarhip applications

2024 Scholarship Applications Open for Aspiring Water Professionals 

Water agencies across San Diego County and California water associations offer multiple college scholarship opportunities in 2024 to help candidates secure their education as water and wastewater professionals. The acceleration of industry retirements, as well as the increasing need for a skilled workforce trained to implement new technologies, result in an increased effort to develop […]

Summer 2023 Citizens Water Academy participants tour Olivenhain Dam. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority

Applications Open for Spring 2024 Citizens Water Academy 

The San Diego County Water Authority is accepting applications for the Spring 2024 Citizens Water Academy class. In three class sessions, participants will learn firsthand about critical water issues affecting the region and go behind the scenes with water planners, managers, engineers, and other staff to gain a deeper understanding of the Water Authority’s life-sustaining […]

The winning landscape makeover using Nifty Fifty plant choices. Photo: City of Escondido

2024 Landscape Makeover Contest Open For Entries

The 2024 WaterSmart Landscape Makeover competition seeks the best in landscaping makeover projects from 12 participating San Diego County water agencies. This popular annual competition is now open for entries. Its goal is to showcase residential water-saving landscaping ideas, inspiring others to consider their own projects. Different approaches by the winning entrants from past years […]

Six San DIego County students will have their artwork featured in the annual "Water Is Life" calendar for 2024.

San Diego County Student Artwork Featured in 2024 Calendar

Six San Diego County student artists from four member water agencies are among the 37 Southern California students whose artwork will appear in the 2024 “Being Water Wise Is… ” Student Art Calendar. The “Being Water Wise Is… ” Student Art Calendar is produced annually by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. It showcases […]

“Lights at the Lake” at the Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve features 100,000 lights and three dozen displays nightly through December 28. Photo: Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve holiday activities

San Diego Regional Reservoirs Offer Holiday Activities

Several of San Diego County’s most popular reservoir recreation areas offer special holiday events through 2023 and host winter activities during the region’s cooler months. Santee Lakes shows its holiday spirit Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve hosts the “Lights at the Lake” drive through holiday show through December 28. It features more than 100,000 lights and […]