All Features
Behind-the-scenes stories about regional water issues, projects, and people.
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.
How Low Can Your Landscape Water Savings Go?
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalIn places like San Diego County where water is a very precious resource, landscape designs that use the least potable water necessary are a growing part of the regional ethic. That means property owners should think about the efficiency and sustainability they can achieve in their landscaping. As a general rule, it’s smart to maximize […]
Giant Beach Ball Sparks Countywide Conversations on Water
/in Features /by Gayle Falkenthalby Water News Network staffIn the wake of a successful summer kickoff event aboard the USS Midway on June 21, the San Diego County Water Authority and its member agencies are taking the new Brought To You By Water outreach and education program to events throughout the region this summer, including farmers’ markets, concerts in the park, and street […]
Inspiring Change at The Water Conservation Garden
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle Falkenthalby Water News Network staffHorticulture director embraces educational mission WaterSmart landscapes are transforming San Diego County’s neighborhoods in part due to the work of Paul Redeker and his colleagues at The Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon. “We’re a learning center, not just a place where you’re surrounded by beautiful plants,” said Redeker, who recently returned for a second […]
Otay Water District Announces 2018 WaterSmart Landscape Contest Winner
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalAs part of the countywide WaterSmart Landscape Contest, the Otay Water District has selected water conservation class graduate and rebate recipient Rosalba Ponce of Chula Vista as the 2018 winner of its “Best in District” award. Each year, participating water agencies in San Diego County honor residential customers who showcase the best water-efficient features in […]
Knowing Your Plants’ Water Needs
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalLandscaping professionals use a resource called the Water Use Classification of Landscape Species (WUCOLS) to classify plants according to their water needs. It might sound really complex, but it’s really useful because it breaks down the water requirements for each type of plant into four categories: Very Low, Low, Moderate, and High. These water requirements […]
1954: Final Pipe Installed for Pipeline 2, San Vicente Aqueduct
/in Features, From the Archives /by Gayle FalkenthalThanks to an intensive lobbying effort and consensus building by the San Diego County Water Authority’s first chairman, Fred Heilbron, the San Vicente Aqueduct’s second pipeline was constructed between 1951 and 1954. The effort paid off when the second pipeline, parallel to and the same size as the first, began delivering water to the San […]
Balboa Park Sustainability Efforts Set World-Class Standards
/in Features /by Gayle Falkenthalby Water News Network staffMost visitors know San Diego’s Balboa Park for its world-class museums, gardens, and performing arts venues. Behind the scenes is a learning laboratory of environmental best practices. Aaron L. Boyles, sustainability manager for the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership, describes an active, collaborative effort moving quickly to make Balboa Park the most sustainable urban park in […]
1895: Sweetwater Dam Spurs South Bay Growth
/in Features, From the Archives /by Gayle FalkenthalAs early as 1853, farmers in the San Diego region started making the transition from dry land farming and ranching to irrigated agriculture, specifically lucrative citrus crops. With the prospect of large profits looking, farmers scrambled to develop local water supplies for irrigation. A pair of enterprising brothers stepped up to fill the need for […]
Evapotranspiration: The Key To Watering Your Plants
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalHow much water do plants really need in your landscaping? Evapotranspiration (ET) is the process of assessing various factors to determine how much water plants use, and when they need it. ET is a quick, simple way for landscape experts to explain environmental conditions such as solar radiation (sunshine) or cloud cover. The stronger the […]
San Diego Region Expects Sizzling Summer Heat
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle Falkenthalby Water News Network staffWater Authority offers tips to keep things cool while using water resources efficiently The first major heat wave of summer 2018 in the San Diego region arrived Friday, and it is expected to continue through the weekend. Temperatures hit a record 111 degrees in communities including El Cajon, Escondido, and Ramona on Friday. The City […]
1911: Laying Water Pipe To Serve San Diego’s Growing Population
/in Features, From the Archives /by Gayle Falkenthal /San Diego Historical SocietyAt the turn of the century, San Diego County began experiencing tremendous urban growth. To meet the growing need of the population, water development began in earnest. It started a transition from relying on well water to impounding river water in the county’s mountains, and then moving it into the urbanized areas. The next few […]
Cook Up A Soil Lasagna
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalHealthy, living soil is full of oxygen, water, and life to support your plants. Building healthy soil using layers uses a process called soil sheet mulching, or “Soil Lasagna.” If you have ever cooked lasagna, this will seem familiar. Soil Lasagna boosts healthy microbes so much that they actually cook down the organic matter and […]
Carlsbad Resident Wins 2018 Olivenhain MWD Landscape Contest
/in Achievements, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalEncinitas, Calif. — Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors honored Munira Coomber as OMWD’s 2018 winner of the annual Watersmart Landscape Contest at its June 20 meeting. Coomber’s landscape features attractive water-efficient plants in both front and back yards as well as creative design ideas. The centerpiece in the front of the home is […]
1951: Construction Milestone for Pipeline 2, San Vicente Aqueduct
/in Features, From the Archives /by Gayle FalkenthalWhen World War II concluded, most experts expected San Diego’s population to decrease, but that was not the case. Pipeline 1 proved inadequate to meet the region’s water needs. Drought years in 1950-51 increased concerns about water shortages. The Water Authority appealed to the U.S. Navy to help build a second pipeline. It was willing, […]
The Right Way to Remove Your Lawn
/in Conservation Corner, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalIf you have made the decision to replace your thirsty, water-guzzling grass, you need to plan your grass removal process carefully to ensure you leave healthy living soil ready for new landscaping in its place. Here’s how to do it: First, keep your grass moist until you remove it. Don’t withhold irrigation and let it […]