For the Water Authority, Fiscal Year 2025 was about building trust with our communities and delivering improved results for our region. To achieve those goals, we had to stop doing things the way they have always been done, all of which is highlighted in the FY2025 annual report. To learn more about the achievements and […]
After more than 52 years in the water and wastewater industry, Valley Center Municipal Water District’s long-serving General Manager, Gary Arant, is retiring. Arant led the District as General Manager for nearly 37 years. Since March 1989, he guided the District through countless challenges, including multi-year droughts, wildfires, freezes, state-mandated water cutbacks, economic recessions, countywide […]
San Diego region’s water and wastewater agency employees pitched in to carry on a tradition of holiday giving in 2025, benefiting a wide array of nonprofit community services. Agencies Support Water For People Fundraising Effort Employees of the Padre Dam Municipal Water District and Olivenhain Municipal Water District assembled fundraising gift baskets for the nonprofit […]
California’s water, tribal, and agricultural leaders today presented a comprehensive framework for a durable, basin-wide operating agreement for the Colorado River and highlighted the state’s proposal for conserving 440,000 acre-feet of river water per year. At the annual Colorado River Water Users Association conference, California underscored the state’s leadership in conservation, collaboration, and long-term stewardship […]
San Diego County’s most popular reservoir recreation areas offer special holiday season events through 2025 and host winter activities during the region’s cooler months. Holiday Spirit at Santee Lakes Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve hosts the Winter Lantern Festival on Saturday, December 13 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The family-friendly festival encourages people to reflect […]
The Olivenhain Municipal Water District (OMWD) recognized the winners of its 2025 Pure Excellence Awards at its November board meeting. The winners were honored for their positive impact on OMWD and local communities. OMWD Board President Matthew Hahn said, “We are grateful for the efforts of our award winners for their partnership in delivering excellent […]
The San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors today voted unanimously to renew the Permanent Special Agriculture Water Rate (PSAWR) Program, ensuring discounted water remains available to the region’s farmers in the coming years. The extension of the program, which began in its current form in 2020, was backed by the San Diego County […]
The San Diego County Water Authority recently completed a redesign of its landscape at its Kearny Mesa headquarters to promote native vegetation. Originally laid out in 2008, the garden received an upgrade in 2017 and now, 8 years later, has gotten another major update. Spearheading the project was the Water Authority’s Senior Water Resource Specialist, […]
San Diego County ratepayers saved $29 million on newly completed state-mandated upgrades at the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, and some of the savings will lower the cost of water from the plant for years to come. The project benefitted from $19 million in federal grant funds and more than $10 million in savings […]
The San Diego County Water Authority’s award-winning Citizens Water Academy celebrated the graduation of its 1,000th community leader last Saturday at the conclusion of this year’s fall class. During the popular and long-running academy program, civic leaders learn about how the Water Authority has built the safe and reliable water supply San Diego County depends […]
The Padre Dam Municipal Water District is celebrating 70 years of service to the community with a public open house on Saturday, October 18. The fun-filled, educational open house will provide guests a behind-the-scenes look at the equipment, facilities and staff that provide water to the community. Everyone is welcome to attend, and there is […]
The San Diego County Water Authority and partners convened an expert panel conversation on the future of the Colorado River for a packed room of Citizen Water Academy alumni and special guests on Sept. 5. The conversation, co-sponsored by the San Diego Global Affairs Council and the Burnam Center for Community Advancement and titled “The […]
Starting the second week of August, pedestrians and motorists in Escondido will notice traffic impacts due to construction work on Water Authority facilities as part of the Southern First Aqueduct Facilities Improvement project. Beginning on August 11, work will take place on Bear Valley Parkway just north of San Pasqual Valley Road where a traffic […]
Encinitas resident Ramona Copley’s landscape makeover project was selected by the Olivenhain Municipal Water District as the 2025 winner of the annual WaterSmart Landscape Contest. The OMWD board honored Copley at its June board meeting. “To reduce our water use, my husband and I wanted to transform our yard of trees and grass into a […]
The transformation of the Claerman family’s landscaping began with research and field trips. The results of their landscaping makeover were named the 2025 City of Escondido Landscape Makeover contest winner. Yannick Claerman’s landscape transformation process included research on drought-tolerant plants, plant groupings, soil types, and how to use compost and mulch to enhance water efficiency. […]
Annual Report FY2025: Building Trust, Delivering Results
/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan BeaneFor the Water Authority, Fiscal Year 2025 was about building trust with our communities and delivering improved results for our region. To achieve those goals, we had to stop doing things the way they have always been done, all of which is highlighted in the FY2025 annual report. To learn more about the achievements and […]
Gary Arant Retires After Decades of Service to Valley Center Municipal Water District
/in Achievements, Features, Uncategorized /by Jordan BeaneAfter more than 52 years in the water and wastewater industry, Valley Center Municipal Water District’s long-serving General Manager, Gary Arant, is retiring. Arant led the District as General Manager for nearly 37 years. Since March 1989, he guided the District through countless challenges, including multi-year droughts, wildfires, freezes, state-mandated water cutbacks, economic recessions, countywide […]
Member Agencies Give Generously to Nonprofits During Holidays
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalSan Diego region’s water and wastewater agency employees pitched in to carry on a tradition of holiday giving in 2025, benefiting a wide array of nonprofit community services. Agencies Support Water For People Fundraising Effort Employees of the Padre Dam Municipal Water District and Olivenhain Municipal Water District assembled fundraising gift baskets for the nonprofit […]
California Commits to Conservation, Collaboration in New Colorado River Framework
/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan BeaneCalifornia’s water, tribal, and agricultural leaders today presented a comprehensive framework for a durable, basin-wide operating agreement for the Colorado River and highlighted the state’s proposal for conserving 440,000 acre-feet of river water per year. At the annual Colorado River Water Users Association conference, California underscored the state’s leadership in conservation, collaboration, and long-term stewardship […]
2025 Community Holiday Activities at San Diego Reservoirs
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalSan Diego County’s most popular reservoir recreation areas offer special holiday season events through 2025 and host winter activities during the region’s cooler months. Holiday Spirit at Santee Lakes Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve hosts the Winter Lantern Festival on Saturday, December 13 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. The family-friendly festival encourages people to reflect […]
OMWD Announces 2025 Pure Excellence Awards
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalThe Olivenhain Municipal Water District (OMWD) recognized the winners of its 2025 Pure Excellence Awards at its November board meeting. The winners were honored for their positive impact on OMWD and local communities. OMWD Board President Matthew Hahn said, “We are grateful for the efforts of our award winners for their partnership in delivering excellent […]
Water Authority Supports Farm Economy with Rate Discount
/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan BeaneThe San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors today voted unanimously to renew the Permanent Special Agriculture Water Rate (PSAWR) Program, ensuring discounted water remains available to the region’s farmers in the coming years. The extension of the program, which began in its current form in 2020, was backed by the San Diego County […]
Debby Dunn’s Fab 4: A look Inside SDCWA’s New Water-Smart Garden
/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan BeaneThe San Diego County Water Authority recently completed a redesign of its landscape at its Kearny Mesa headquarters to promote native vegetation. Originally laid out in 2008, the garden received an upgrade in 2017 and now, 8 years later, has gotten another major update. Spearheading the project was the Water Authority’s Senior Water Resource Specialist, […]
Ratepayers Save $29 Million on Desalination Plant Upgrades
/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan BeaneSan Diego County ratepayers saved $29 million on newly completed state-mandated upgrades at the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, and some of the savings will lower the cost of water from the plant for years to come. The project benefitted from $19 million in federal grant funds and more than $10 million in savings […]
1000th Community Leader Graduates from Citizens Water Academy
/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan BeaneThe San Diego County Water Authority’s award-winning Citizens Water Academy celebrated the graduation of its 1,000th community leader last Saturday at the conclusion of this year’s fall class. During the popular and long-running academy program, civic leaders learn about how the Water Authority has built the safe and reliable water supply San Diego County depends […]
Padre Dam Municipal Water District Hosts Open House on October 18
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalThe Padre Dam Municipal Water District is celebrating 70 years of service to the community with a public open house on Saturday, October 18. The fun-filled, educational open house will provide guests a behind-the-scenes look at the equipment, facilities and staff that provide water to the community. Everyone is welcome to attend, and there is […]
Water Leaders Discuss the Future of the Colorado River
/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan BeaneThe San Diego County Water Authority and partners convened an expert panel conversation on the future of the Colorado River for a packed room of Citizen Water Academy alumni and special guests on Sept. 5. The conversation, co-sponsored by the San Diego Global Affairs Council and the Burnam Center for Community Advancement and titled “The […]
Traffic Impacts Planned for Two Escondido Sites During Aqueduct Upgrades
/in Achievements, Features /by Jordan BeaneStarting the second week of August, pedestrians and motorists in Escondido will notice traffic impacts due to construction work on Water Authority facilities as part of the Southern First Aqueduct Facilities Improvement project. Beginning on August 11, work will take place on Bear Valley Parkway just north of San Pasqual Valley Road where a traffic […]
Encinitas Resident Wins OMWD 2025 Landscape Contest
/in Achievements, Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle FalkenthalEncinitas resident Ramona Copley’s landscape makeover project was selected by the Olivenhain Municipal Water District as the 2025 winner of the annual WaterSmart Landscape Contest. The OMWD board honored Copley at its June board meeting. “To reduce our water use, my husband and I wanted to transform our yard of trees and grass into a […]
Escondido Landscape Contest Winner Inspired By Local Gardens
/in Achievements, Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle FalkenthalThe transformation of the Claerman family’s landscaping began with research and field trips. The results of their landscaping makeover were named the 2025 City of Escondido Landscape Makeover contest winner. Yannick Claerman’s landscape transformation process included research on drought-tolerant plants, plant groupings, soil types, and how to use compost and mulch to enhance water efficiency. […]