Though he knows it makes no financial sense, Sam Lipson regularly drives to a local sewer plant to haul home free effluent to irrigate the trees in his yard. A year ago, at the height of California’s drought when residents faced higher rates and penalties for using too much water, the time and effort saved […]
What image does the term “water infrastructure” conjure up for you? Likely something engineered, such as a pipe carrying water, a reservoir storing drinking water or a treatment plant purifying wastewater. But the definition should actually be broadened to include natural water infrastructure that was moving and treating water long before pipelines and anaerobic digesters […]
California’s Native American tribes have not been immune to the drought. In some cases, the effects have been worse because some tribes have limited resources to manage their water shortage problems. Case in point: The La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians in northern San Diego County was recently awarded $605,000 from the Indian Community Development Block […]
The last in a series of “October surprise” storms drenched the Bay Area on Sunday, filling reservoirs, downing power lines, and causing flash flood warnings in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Though the water was welcome to much of the parched region, the deluge brought more trials and misery to the hardy folk who survived the devastating Loma fire […]
Snow flurries are continuing to fall in the Sierra as the Sacramento Valley is expected to remain mainly dry Monday after a very soggy weekend. Two inches of fresh powder had already fallen at Donner Summit by 6 a.m., prompting chains to be required up Interstate 80. Another 1 to 2 inches of snow is […]
California is poised to become an early adopter of the direct reuse of purified wastewater as a source of drinking water. The State Water Board recently released a report for public comment that indicates it is feasible to regulate direct potable reuse to produce safe and reliable drinking water (comments are due by noon on […]
Sewer Water Die Hards Refuse To Give Up
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /East Bay Times (Walnut Creek)by Denis CuffThough he knows it makes no financial sense, Sam Lipson regularly drives to a local sewer plant to haul home free effluent to irrigate the trees in his yard. A year ago, at the height of California’s drought when residents faced higher rates and penalties for using too much water, the time and effort saved […]
OPINION: Rethinking ‘Infrastructure’ To Protect California’s Water Future
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Kirsten JamesWhat image does the term “water infrastructure” conjure up for you? Likely something engineered, such as a pipe carrying water, a reservoir storing drinking water or a treatment plant purifying wastewater. But the definition should actually be broadened to include natural water infrastructure that was moving and treating water long before pipelines and anaerobic digesters […]
BLOG: How One California Tribe Is Coping With Drought
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Water Deeply (New York)by Matt WeiserCalifornia’s Native American tribes have not been immune to the drought. In some cases, the effects have been worse because some tribes have limited resources to manage their water shortage problems. Case in point: The La Jolla Band of Luiseño Indians in northern San Diego County was recently awarded $605,000 from the Indian Community Development Block […]
Bay Area Rain Hits Santa Cruz Mountains Hard
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /East Bay Times (Walnut Creek)by Sharon NoguchiThe last in a series of “October surprise” storms drenched the Bay Area on Sunday, filling reservoirs, downing power lines, and causing flash flood warnings in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Though the water was welcome to much of the parched region, the deluge brought more trials and misery to the hardy folk who survived the devastating Loma fire […]
Snow Continues To Fall In Sierra As Valley Dries Out
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /KCRA (Sacramento)by Sarah HeiseSnow flurries are continuing to fall in the Sierra as the Sacramento Valley is expected to remain mainly dry Monday after a very soggy weekend. Two inches of fresh powder had already fallen at Donner Summit by 6 a.m., prompting chains to be required up Interstate 80. Another 1 to 2 inches of snow is […]
BLOG: Recycled Drinking Water: The Next Frontier
/in California and the U.S. /by Mike Lee /Public Policy Institute of California (San Francisco)by Lori PottingerCalifornia is poised to become an early adopter of the direct reuse of purified wastewater as a source of drinking water. The State Water Board recently released a report for public comment that indicates it is feasible to regulate direct potable reuse to produce safe and reliable drinking water (comments are due by noon on […]