Achievements
News featuring innovations, accomplishments, and awards by water industry professionals and water agencies.
The Water News Network is San Diego County’s source for water news and information.
The Water News Network is San Diego County’s source for water news and information.
State Agencies Commend COVID-19 Wastewater Monitoring by City of San Diego
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalThe City of San Diego Public Utilities Department’s wastewater monitoring of coronavirus has received recognition from two state agencies. The City’s Public Utilities Department was one of five California utilities participating in the Center for Disease Control’s National Wastewater Surveillance System program in cooperation with the State Water Quality Control Board. The California Water Monitoring […]
Otay Water District Celebrates 65 Years of Service to Southeast Communities
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalSixty-five years ago in 1955, six South Bay community leaders met at Christie’s Restaurant in Chula Vista to discuss ways to import water into the southern part of San Diego County. The shared vision of a plumber, civil engineer, an attorney, a newspaper publisher, and two regional landowners created the framework and found seed funding […]
Santee Lakes is Park of the Year
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalThe National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds named the Santee Lakes Recreation Preserve its Park of the Year in the Large Park category for its guest experience and overall excellence. The association, or ARVC, also recognized Santee Lakes as a “Plan-It Green Friendly Park of the Year” for its environmentally-friendly practices across all park […]
Water Authority Earns Climate Registered Gold Status for Climate Initiative
/in Achievements, Features /by Mike LeeThe San Diego County Water Authority has earned Climate Registered gold status from The Climate Registry for verifying and publicly reporting its greenhouse gas emissions. The effort fosters transparency for the agency’s climate mitigation initiatives and will help the Water Authority track and validate emissions reductions in the future. The Climate Registry operates North America’s largest voluntary […]
Water News Network Website Honored
/in Achievements, Features /by Mike LeeThe Water News Network was honored with awards from several organizations recently, including the Public Relations Society of America. On November 18, the WNN received a Bronze Bernays Award of Merit in the websites category from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) San Diego/Imperial County chapter. It is the second consecutive year the WNN […]
Water News Network is Best Public Website for 4th Consecutive Year
/in Achievements, Features /by Mike LeeThe Water News Network was awarded first place as the Best Public Service or Consumer Advocacy Website in the 48th annual San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards. It’s the fourth consecutive year the WNN website has won first place in that category. The award was announced during a virtual ceremony on October 25. […]
Water Authority Wins National 2021 EPA WaterSense Excellence Award
/in Achievements, Features /by Mike LeeThe U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized the San Diego County Water Authority with a 2021 WaterSense Excellence Award for advancing water efficiency through its Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper, or QWEL, program. The Water Authority received one of 34 WaterSense awards last week at the national WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas. Due to the […]
Vista Irrigation District Honored for Governance and Transparency
/in Achievements, Features /by Mike LeeThe Vista Irrigation District has received two major statewide honors, the District of Distinction Platinum Recognition award and the Transparency Certificate of Excellence. The District of Distinction recognition is awarded by the Special District Leadership Foundation to special districts that show their commitment to good governance, transparency, prudent fiscal policies and sound operating practices. The […]
Carlos Quintero is New Sweetwater Authority General Manager
/in Achievements, Features /by Mike LeeCarlos Quintero was appointed as General Manager of the Sweetwater Authority. He starts his new position September 27. The Sweetwater Authority Governing Board approved Quintero’s contract at its September 8 meeting. “After a highly-competitive recruitment process, the Governing Board is excited to have Carlos Quintero joining the Authority as General Manager,” said Governing Board Chair […]
National Awards for Pure Water San Diego’s John Carroll
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalJohn Carroll, the City of San Diego’s Pure Water Treatment Plant superintendent, received the 2021 Robert O. Vernon Membrane Plant Operator of the Year Award from the American Membrane Technology Association and the American Water Works Association. This award recognizes outstanding contributions to water supply improvement by an individual working at a membrane filtration, desalination, […]
Mayor, EPA Chief Celebrate First Phase of San Diego’s Drought-Resistant Water Recycling Project
/in Achievements, Features /by Mike LeeMayor Todd Gloria, along with state and federal leaders, formally kicked off construction of Phase 1 of the city’s Pure Water program August 20. The project is intended to provide nearly 50% of the city’s drinking water by 2035 and reduce the need for imported water. Helping the mayor celebrate the historic occasion in University […]
Gary Bousquet Named Director of Engineering for Water Authority
/in Achievements, Features /by Mike LeeGary Bousquet, a 30-year civil engineering professional, has been appointed Director of Engineering for the San Diego County Water Authority as the agency launches the development of a major energy storage project that promises substantial long-term benefits for the region. Bousquet fills the position vacated by the retirement of Jerry Reed, whose 26-year career with […]
Winning Waterwise Landscapes in the Vallecitos Water District
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalSan Diego County residents continue to embrace a conservation ethic by creating beautiful, waterwise landscapes. The Vallecitos Water District reports that more District water customers are reducing their outdoor water use and adopting WaterSmart practices. Three Vallecitos customers are the most recent examples of the landscape makeover trend, creating beautiful landscapes, and winning the regional […]
Trio of Waterwise Landscapes Win Vista 2021 Contest
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalThree homeowners in the Vista Irrigation District won recognition recently from the VID board of directors in its 2021 WaterSmart Landscape Contest. The annual contest recognizes outstanding water-wise residential landscapes based on overall attractiveness, appropriate plant selection, design, appropriate maintenance, and efficient irrigation methods. Winning plan solves erosion problem with beautiful blooms The “Best in […]
Hard Work Pays Off for Padre Dam Landscape Makeover Winner
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalFrank Edward’s Santee home is bursting with bright colors and textures. Vibrant yellow, orange, red, green, and purple flowers, and drought-tolerant, native plants spring to life where there was once just dry and patchy grass. “It was a lot of hard work but it was also a lot of fun,” said Edward. “It was great […]