Media Coverage

Daily media clips about water issues affecting San Diego County.
(Note: Some media sources require subscriptions to read stories in their entirety).

San Diego County
and Southern California

Turning Wastewater Into Tap Water for East County Residents

Construction on the new East County Advanced Water Purification facility is well underway. When completed, it will turn 15 million gallons of wastewater into purified water for people in Lakeside, Santee, El Cajon and the surrounding areas.

WaterSmart Makeover: A Gardenful of Succulents

When Catalina Schultz and her husband, Steve, bought their National City home in 2011, the front yard was basically just lawn. And Catalina, a self-described housewife, had no interest in mowing it.

Agencies File Claims Against City of San Diego For Loss of Water From Lake Hodges

Two local water agencies are pursuing legal action against the City of San Diego over loss of access to water from Lake Hodges, resulting in the release of billions of gallons of water from Hodges Dam.

CWA Approves Rate Redesign Recommendation

A CWA board vote Thursday, Feb. 22, approved the recommendation of the CWA’s Finance Planning Workgroup. The calendar year 2025 changes include apportioning 40% of the transportation charge as a Transportation Fixed Rate allocated to member agencies by a seven-year rolling average with the current volume-based Transportation Rate designed to recover the remaining 60% of […]

Rainbow Water Appoints New Board Member to Division 3

The Rainbow Municipal Water District Board of Directors announced the appointment of Cari Dale to the Division 3 vacancy. Dale, a resident of Fallbrook since 2001 with 30 years of management experience in water and wastewater utilities, was sworn into office at the Tuesday, Feb. 27, board meeting.

San Diego’s Water Strategy: Selling Desal Water While Eyeing Expansion Amid Drought

Amid rising costs and decreasing sales, San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) is navigating the complexities of water management by considering the sale of its costly desalinated water, while simultaneously exploring options for the expansion of its desalination capabilities.

Rainfall Totals: San Diego Surpasses Rainy Season Average

San Diego has surpassed its annual rainfall average since the water year began on Oct. 1, according to the National Weather Service. San Diego has seen an above-average rainy season. Since the water year began on Oct. 1, San Diego International Airport has received 10.31 inches of rain, which has now surpassed San Diego’s annual […]

California and the U.S.

California Proposes Delaying Rules Aimed at Reducing Water on Lawns, Concerning Environmentalists

California regulators this week proposed delaying new rules aimed at reducing how much water people use on their lawns, drawing praise from agencies that said they needed more time to comply but criticism from environmentalists who warn that the delay would damage the state’s already scarce supply.

California’s Largest New Reservoir Project In 50 Years Gains Momentum

Colusa County is known for sprawling rice farms and almond orchards, wetlands full of migrating ducks and geese, staunch conservative politics, and the 19th-century family cattle ranch where former Gov. Jerry Brown retired five years ago.

Colorado River States Remain Divided On Sharing Water, and Some Tribes Say Their Needs Are Still Being Ignored

The states that use the Colorado River have put out their latest proposals on how to manage the river’s shrinking amount of water, and the two plans reveal that there are still big differences in how upstream and downstream states want to divvy up future cuts to their water consumption.

Federal Judge Finds Flint, Michigan, in Contempt Over Lead Water Pipe Crisis

A federal judge has found the city of Flint in contempt for failing to comply with a court order that spelled out the steps it needed to take to finish replacing old lead pipes following the Michigan city’s lead-contaminated water scandal.

California Facing ‘Invisible Water Surcharge’

Crop water demand in California’s San Joaquin Valley has increased to the size of a major reservoir in just 12 years due to climate change, a study has found. An integral region for agriculture, particularly in fruit and nut production, it has been subjected in the past 10 years to severe drought conditions, with extreme […]

This State Program Offers Assistance With Your Water Bill | Dollars & Sense

Many families across California are struggling to afford their residential water and sewage bills. A state program offers help in paying those bills, but the deadline to apply is fast approaching.

The Water Authority’s public outreach team compiles news stories about water and related issues each work day. Stories may contain factual errors, and they do not necessarily reflect the agency’s views. Some media outlets require subscriptions. Please send comments or questions about the service to Mike Lee at .