San Diego County / Southern California

The latest news and analysis covering water issues in the San Diego County region and Southern California.

‘Creative and Constructive’: Supervisors Advance Borrego Springs Water Rights

The Board of Supervisors Wednesday unanimously advanced a proposed ordinance amendment that would align county regulations with a court ruling in connection with water rights in the Borrego Springs community. Supervisors also voted to find that the amended ordinance complies with state Environmental Quality Act guidelines. The supervisors will consider adopting the updated ordinance during a second […]

Long Beach Gears Up to Fight Upstream Sewage Spills That Pollute Its Coastline

Long Beach had to close its coastline for 63 days over the last five years because of upstream sewage spills, but city staff told council members Tuesday that the total amount of economic or environmental damage caused by the recurring spills is hard to estimate. Beach closures caused by raw sewage are a perennial problem in Long Beach because […]

Council Member Defends Water Rate Increases for Residents

Reacting to the City Council’s recent approval of his amendment to spread out an approximately 19% increase in water rates Citywide over a longer period, District 1 Councilmember Joe LaCava (above) said it was necessary to soften the financial blow. The City Council voted 5-3 to increase water rates by 5% beginning Dec. 1, 2023, […]

The East County Advanced Water Purification project is making significant progress on construction toward its 2026 opening. Photo: East County AWPThe East County Advanced Water Purification project is making significant progress on construction toward its 2026 opening. Photo: East County AWP

East County Advanced Water Purification Project Progressing

The East County Advanced Water Purification project is progressing, with construction underway at multiple East San Diego County locations. The project will create a new, local, sustainable, and drought-proof water supply using state-of-the-art technology to purify East San Diego County’s recycled water. Construction for the East County AWP is expected to be completed in 2025, and water […]