In an effort to conserve water and promote sustainable landscaping, California has enacted Assembly Bill 1572 (AB 1572), which prohibits the use of potable water for irrigating non-functional turf on specific property types, including commercial, industrial and institutional properties, and common areas of homeowners’ associations (HOAs). Signed into law in 2023, it begins to take […]
The County of San Diego’s Waterscape Rebate Program will host rainwater harvesting workshops throughout the fall months of 2025. It’s an ideal time for homeowners to explore their options for water-saving improvements that also benefit the San Diego region’s watershed. The first rainwater harvesting workshop scheduled for Fall 2025 takes place on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at […]
Sweetwater Authority invites the public to a community celebration and ribbon cutting for a new public artwork project titled “Ripple Effect” at the Sweetwater Spigot, the only publicly owned well station providing potable drinking water in San Diego County. The event takes place on Wednesday, September 10, at 9:30 a.m. in El Toyon Park in […]
Summer 2025 marks the third year of construction on the East County Advanced Water Purification Program facilities in Santee. Progress on the East County Advanced Water Purification Program (East County AWP) continues on schedule at multiple East County locations, with significant steps forward reached as the project works its way toward completion. A major project […]
The Otay Water District’s efforts to preserve local habitat contribute to the region’s biodiversity and support healthy ecosystems, which are crucial for maintaining water quality for its customers and throughout San Diego County. The San Miguel Habitat Management Area (HMA) is a 240-acre biological reserve owned and maintained by the Otay Water District. It is […]
The Helix Water District’s new 2024 Water Quality Report shows that throughout 2024, the district continued to deliver healthy, top-quality drinking water, which was 100% compliant with federal and state standards. The characteristics of each specific local water supply depend on its original source and the route it travels through rock, soil, lakes, and rivers. […]
National Hydration Day is June 23, a time to recognize the essential role of one of humanity’s resources: safe, reliable drinking water. National Hydration Day was originally established in 1991 at the start of the summer season to remind athletes of the importance of hydration and to promote the benefits of proper hydration for overall health. […]
Construction is complete on new recycled water pipelines by the Olivenhain Municipal Water District (OMWD) in Carlsbad and Encinitas, resulting in significant annual drinking water savings. The installation of over 5,600 feet of new pipelines will allow several HOA communities in the project area to convert their irrigation systems to recycled water, resulting in more […]
The California Green Business Network and the City of La Mesa presented the Helix Water District with its Green Business certification at the June board of directors meeting. Achieving this certification recognizes the district’s ongoing commitment to environmentally responsible business practices. To achieve certification, businesses and government entities must meet an extensive set of core […]
As part of its initiative to transition to a zero-emission vehicle fleet, Helix Water District leaders broke ground in late March on a retrofitting project at the district’s operations center in El Cajon. The $11 million project, which is almost entirely grant-funded, will increase electrical capacity and charging infrastructure needed for the transition at its […]
With the threat of heightened wildfire risk ever present in the San Diego region, the City of San Diego’s Public Utilities staff employs multiple strategies, including preventative maintenance and rapid response efforts, to ensure the continued reliability of the City’s water system in an emergency. In the event of public safety power shutoffs impacting water […]
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted its third snow survey of the 2025 season on February 28 at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada. The survey recorded 34 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 13.5 inches, which is 58 percent of the average for this location. Statewide, the snowpack […]
Dry weather in January led to a reduced snowpack in the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) second snow survey of the 2025 season at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. The snow […]
Progress on the East County Advanced Water Purification Program (East County AWP) continues on schedule at multiple East County locations, with an increasing number of milestones being reached as the project nears completion in 2025. The East County Advanced Water Purification Program is an important water project for East San Diego County. When complete, it […]
The Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant offers an environmentally responsible water supply in an era of increasing water scarcity, according to results of a new scientific study being released next week at a statewide conference of desalination experts. The report – the largest environmental assessment to date of the nation’s largest seawater desalination plant […]
Partnerships Support San Marcos Turf Replacement Projects
/in News, Science/Environment, Supply & Demand /by Gayle FalkenthalIn an effort to conserve water and promote sustainable landscaping, California has enacted Assembly Bill 1572 (AB 1572), which prohibits the use of potable water for irrigating non-functional turf on specific property types, including commercial, industrial and institutional properties, and common areas of homeowners’ associations (HOAs). Signed into law in 2023, it begins to take […]
Rainwater Harvesting Workshops Begin September 27 in Lakeside
/in Features, Supply & Demand, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle FalkenthalThe County of San Diego’s Waterscape Rebate Program will host rainwater harvesting workshops throughout the fall months of 2025. It’s an ideal time for homeowners to explore their options for water-saving improvements that also benefit the San Diego region’s watershed. The first rainwater harvesting workshop scheduled for Fall 2025 takes place on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at […]
Ribbon Cutting For New Public Art at Sweetwater Spigot on Sept. 10
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalSweetwater Authority invites the public to a community celebration and ribbon cutting for a new public artwork project titled “Ripple Effect” at the Sweetwater Spigot, the only publicly owned well station providing potable drinking water in San Diego County. The event takes place on Wednesday, September 10, at 9:30 a.m. in El Toyon Park in […]
Construction Heats Up This Summer On East County AWP
/in Facilities & Operations, News, Supply & Demand /by Gayle FalkenthalSummer 2025 marks the third year of construction on the East County Advanced Water Purification Program facilities in Santee. Progress on the East County Advanced Water Purification Program (East County AWP) continues on schedule at multiple East County locations, with significant steps forward reached as the project works its way toward completion. A major project […]
Otay Water District Habitat Management Preserves Biodiversity, Water Quality
/in News, Science/Environment /by Gayle FalkenthalThe Otay Water District’s efforts to preserve local habitat contribute to the region’s biodiversity and support healthy ecosystems, which are crucial for maintaining water quality for its customers and throughout San Diego County. The San Miguel Habitat Management Area (HMA) is a 240-acre biological reserve owned and maintained by the Otay Water District. It is […]
Helix Water District Water Quality Report: 100% Compliance
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Gayle FalkenthalThe Helix Water District’s new 2024 Water Quality Report shows that throughout 2024, the district continued to deliver healthy, top-quality drinking water, which was 100% compliant with federal and state standards. The characteristics of each specific local water supply depend on its original source and the route it travels through rock, soil, lakes, and rivers. […]
National Hydration Day Highlights Safe, Reliable Drinking Water
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalNational Hydration Day is June 23, a time to recognize the essential role of one of humanity’s resources: safe, reliable drinking water. National Hydration Day was originally established in 1991 at the start of the summer season to remind athletes of the importance of hydration and to promote the benefits of proper hydration for overall health. […]
New OMWD Recycled Water Pipelines Provide Savings
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Gayle FalkenthalConstruction is complete on new recycled water pipelines by the Olivenhain Municipal Water District (OMWD) in Carlsbad and Encinitas, resulting in significant annual drinking water savings. The installation of over 5,600 feet of new pipelines will allow several HOA communities in the project area to convert their irrigation systems to recycled water, resulting in more […]
Helix Water District Recognized As Certified Green Business
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalThe California Green Business Network and the City of La Mesa presented the Helix Water District with its Green Business certification at the June board of directors meeting. Achieving this certification recognizes the district’s ongoing commitment to environmentally responsible business practices. To achieve certification, businesses and government entities must meet an extensive set of core […]
Helix Water District Working Toward Zero-Emission Future
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalAs part of its initiative to transition to a zero-emission vehicle fleet, Helix Water District leaders broke ground in late March on a retrofitting project at the district’s operations center in El Cajon. The $11 million project, which is almost entirely grant-funded, will increase electrical capacity and charging infrastructure needed for the transition at its […]
City of San Diego Working to Ensure Water System Readiness For Fire Emergencies
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalWith the threat of heightened wildfire risk ever present in the San Diego region, the City of San Diego’s Public Utilities staff employs multiple strategies, including preventative maintenance and rapid response efforts, to ensure the continued reliability of the City’s water system in an emergency. In the event of public safety power shutoffs impacting water […]
California Snowpack Helped By Storms, But Averages Continue To Drop
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Gayle FalkenthalThe California Department of Water Resources (DWR) conducted its third snow survey of the 2025 season on February 28 at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada. The survey recorded 34 inches of snow depth and a snow water equivalent of 13.5 inches, which is 58 percent of the average for this location. Statewide, the snowpack […]
Snowpack Dips Well Below Average in Second Snow Survey of Season
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Gayle FalkenthalDry weather in January led to a reduced snowpack in the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) second snow survey of the 2025 season at Phillips Station in the Sierra Nevada. The snow water equivalent measures the amount of water in the snowpack and is a key component of DWR’s water supply forecast. The snow […]
East County AWP Updates Construction Progress for 2025
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Gayle FalkenthalProgress on the East County Advanced Water Purification Program (East County AWP) continues on schedule at multiple East County locations, with an increasing number of milestones being reached as the project nears completion in 2025. The East County Advanced Water Purification Program is an important water project for East San Diego County. When complete, it […]
Study Shows Carlsbad Desal Plant Offers Eco-Friendly Water
/in Conservation Corner, Features, Science/Environment /by Jordan BeaneThe Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant offers an environmentally responsible water supply in an era of increasing water scarcity, according to results of a new scientific study being released next week at a statewide conference of desalination experts. The report – the largest environmental assessment to date of the nation’s largest seawater desalination plant […]