Gulf states are among the most water-scarce in the world. With few freshwater resources and low rainfall, many countries have turned to desalination (where salt is removed from seawater) for their clean water needs. But Gulf states are heading for “peak salt”: the more they desalinate, the more concentrated wastewater, brine, is pumped back into […]
The Santa Clara Valley Water District provides water and flood control to nearly 2 million people in 15 cities and owns and operates the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center (SVAWPC), the largest advanced water purification plant in Northern California. Jim Fiedler is the chief operating officer of the San Jose-based organization, and leads its water […]
/in California and the U.S./by Mike Lee /The San Jose Mercury Newsby Patrick May, Eric Kurhi, Tatiana Sanchez, and Lisa M. Krieger
Lurching for a third day through the bone-dry chaparral of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Loma Fire by Wednesday morning had grown in size by 10 percent, a sizzling 2,250-acre blaze with 300 homes in its path and more than 1,000 firefighters trying to rein it in. The human force fighting the Loma had doubled […]
A transparent and universal platform for sharing water data across the state will result from a new law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown and authored by Assemblyman Bill Dodd, D-Napa. “The drought has exposed the need for a modern water information system to address the state’s water supply,” Dodd said. “California does not suffer from […]
California’s State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), regulators and environmental organizations want more water diversions to flow into the San Francisco Bay Delta Watershed to help save the declining Delta Smelt and Salmon. They have targeted three tributaries of the lower San Joaquin River; one of which is the Tuolumne River. Phase 1 of the Bay-Delta Plan is […]
Since the historic California drought began five years ago the public has been inundated with water news. Governments and governing agencies have been bludgeoned with new policies and regulations. And there is little sense to be made of it all. Nonetheless, water policy in California is prepared to move forward and more confusion may be […]
Peak Salt: Is The Desalination Dream Over For The Gulf States?
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Guardian (New York)by Stephen Leahy and Katherine PurvisGulf states are among the most water-scarce in the world. With few freshwater resources and low rainfall, many countries have turned to desalination (where salt is removed from seawater) for their clean water needs. But Gulf states are heading for “peak salt”: the more they desalinate, the more concentrated wastewater, brine, is pumped back into […]
BLOG: Water Works: Jim Fiedler on The Drought’s Impact on Water Management
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Eline GordtsThe Santa Clara Valley Water District provides water and flood control to nearly 2 million people in 15 cities and owns and operates the Silicon Valley Advanced Water Purification Center (SVAWPC), the largest advanced water purification plant in Northern California. Jim Fiedler is the chief operating officer of the San Jose-based organization, and leads its water […]
Loma Fire Grows in Size With Little Sign of Relief
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The San Jose Mercury Newsby Patrick May, Eric Kurhi, Tatiana Sanchez, and Lisa M. KriegerLurching for a third day through the bone-dry chaparral of the Santa Cruz Mountains, the Loma Fire by Wednesday morning had grown in size by 10 percent, a sizzling 2,250-acre blaze with 300 homes in its path and more than 1,000 firefighters trying to rein it in. The human force fighting the Loma had doubled […]
Dodd’s Bill Enables Sharing of Water Data
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Davis EnterpriseA transparent and universal platform for sharing water data across the state will result from a new law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown and authored by Assemblyman Bill Dodd, D-Napa. “The drought has exposed the need for a modern water information system to address the state’s water supply,” Dodd said. “California does not suffer from […]
More Planned Water Diversions From Farms to Fish-Not Just by Federal, but Also State Officials
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /California AG Today (Sacramento)by Patrick CavanaughCalifornia’s State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), regulators and environmental organizations want more water diversions to flow into the San Francisco Bay Delta Watershed to help save the declining Delta Smelt and Salmon. They have targeted three tributaries of the lower San Joaquin River; one of which is the Tuolumne River. Phase 1 of the Bay-Delta Plan is […]
State Proposes 50 Percent Unimpeded Water Flow
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /The Foothills Sun-Gazetteby Paul MyersSince the historic California drought began five years ago the public has been inundated with water news. Governments and governing agencies have been bludgeoned with new policies and regulations. And there is little sense to be made of it all. Nonetheless, water policy in California is prepared to move forward and more confusion may be […]