When the Obama administration announced $30 million for Salton Sea restoration last month, local officials praised the federal government for finally starting to address the deterioration of California’s largest lake. But they also acknowledged $30 million isn’t nearly enough: It will ultimately take several billion dollars to avert an environmental and public health disaster at the Salton Sea. Now, Riverside County […]
More than 55,000 California residents get public water that’s tainted with unsafe levels of arsenic, according to the nonprofit advocacy organization Environmental Integrity Project. The chemical is a carcinogen that’s been linked to cancer, developmental difficulties, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. “The longer you are exposed, the more likely you are to suffer serious health effects,” said […]
Last month, California’s Water Resources Control Board took the easy way out on water conservation. In 2015, California nearly met Governor Brown’s mandatory water conservation goal of 25% thanks to transparent monthly reporting and identifying profligate water wasters. The water board even fined a few of the worst water hogs to demonstrate how serious it was […]
California is considering becoming the first state in the country to allow people to drink recycled sewer water. For years, the state has allowed this to go on indirectly, by permitting water utilities to put treated wastewater into reservoirs and groundwater, where it is diluted with other water sources. Now, the goal is to skip […]
Riverside County Has a New Plan to Fund Salton Sea Restoration, and it Involves Tax Revenue
/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /The Desert Sun (Palm Springs)by Sammy RothWhen the Obama administration announced $30 million for Salton Sea restoration last month, local officials praised the federal government for finally starting to address the deterioration of California’s largest lake. But they also acknowledged $30 million isn’t nearly enough: It will ultimately take several billion dollars to avert an environmental and public health disaster at the Salton Sea. Now, Riverside County […]
Arsenic Still Taints Some California Drinking Water
/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /KPBSby Erik AndersonMore than 55,000 California residents get public water that’s tainted with unsafe levels of arsenic, according to the nonprofit advocacy organization Environmental Integrity Project. The chemical is a carcinogen that’s been linked to cancer, developmental difficulties, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. “The longer you are exposed, the more likely you are to suffer serious health effects,” said […]
OPINION: California is Backsliding on Water Conservation. L.A. Can’t and Won’t Follow Suit
/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /Los Angeles Timesby Mark GoldLast month, California’s Water Resources Control Board took the easy way out on water conservation. In 2015, California nearly met Governor Brown’s mandatory water conservation goal of 25% thanks to transparent monthly reporting and identifying profligate water wasters. The water board even fined a few of the worst water hogs to demonstrate how serious it was […]
California Considers New Rules to Allow Direct Consumption of Treated Sewer Water
/in San Diego County /by Mike Lee /89.3 KPCC (Pasadena)by Emily GuerinCalifornia is considering becoming the first state in the country to allow people to drink recycled sewer water. For years, the state has allowed this to go on indirectly, by permitting water utilities to put treated wastewater into reservoirs and groundwater, where it is diluted with other water sources. Now, the goal is to skip […]