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As soon as 2026, the East County Advanced Water Program will deliver water to the faucets of customers. Photo: East County AWP milestone

East County Advanced Water Program Hits Multiple Milestones  

Work on the East County Advanced Water Purification Program facilities and pipelines reached multiple milestones at the start of 2024, and construction continues on schedule at multiple East County locations through 2025. As soon as 2026, the AWP will deliver water to the faucets of customers in the Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Helix Water […]

The San Diego County Water Authority issued its Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report, focusing on the need to adopt, engage, and transform its operations to ensure a healthy and resilient regional water system in the face of change. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority FY23 annual report

Year Of Impact: Water Authority Issues FY2023 Annual Report

The San Diego County Water Authority issued its Fiscal Year 2023 Annual Report, recapping the agency’s efforts to adapt, engage, and transform in ways that ensure a safe and resilient regional water system today and for future generations. The annual report can be accessed on the Water Authority website. Commitment to public transparency The Water […]

Low water conditions reveal the light-colored rink traces along the rock-wall shoreline at Lake Mead, showing the decreased water level from years of drought conditions in the Colorado River basin. Innovative water sharing agreements can help to mitigate this. Photo: Christopher Clark / U.S. Department of the Interior - Bureau of Reclamation

Water Agencies Evolving to Address Changing Realities

California water agencies including the San Diego County Water Authority are exploring ways to better manage sporadic periods of abundant rainfall — part of a larger effort to meet the ever-changing realities they face logistically and economically. Water Authority General Manager Dan Denham recently discussed the evolution of regional water management on the Southern California […]

The San Diego County Water Authority added desalinated seawater to its supply portfolio in 2015 with the start of commercial operations at the nation’s largest seawater desalination plant. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority

Water Agencies Explore Innovative Transfer Deal for Drought-Resilient Water

For the second time in recent months, the San Diego County Water Authority is considering an innovative water transfer that could eventually deliver drought-resilient water supplies to South Orange County through the Moulton Niguel Water District and help combat increasing water rates for San Diegans. Both districts have signed a Memorandum of Understanding MOU to […]

North County Water Agencies Partner to Offer Free California-friendly Landscape Design Workshop

Encinitas, CA — In order to promote outdoor water use efficiency, Olivenhain Municipal Water District, San Dieguito Water District, and Santa Fe Irrigation District invite members of the public to attend a free California-friendly landscape design workshop on Wednesday, March 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The event will be held at the OMWD […]

Sweetwater Authority customer affected by flood damage should contact the agency to apply for available assistance programs. Photo: Sweetwater Authority

Sweetwater Authority Offers Help To Flood Damage Victims

Sweetwater Authority customers impacted by flooding due to San Diego County rainstorms in early 2024 can seek assistance as they begin recovery efforts. The Sweetwater Authority Governing Board approved a 12-month freeze on late fees and discontinuation of water service for non-payment for customers who sustained flood damage. The moratorium aims to alleviate financial stress […]

OMWD Hosts Complimentary Rain Harvesting Workshop

Encinitas, CA — Olivenhain Municipal Water District, San Dieguito Water District, and Santa Fe Irrigation District have partnered to offer a free workshop for area residents to learn about the benefits of rain barrels and best practices for rainwater collection. This workshop will be held on January 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at […]

Northern California water industry leaders tour the FlorAbunda Nursery in the Elfin Forest area to see water use efficiency measures in place. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority

Water Management and Efficiency Highlight San Diego Tour

Officials from Northern California visited San Diego County this week as part of a tour focused on regional water use and reliability investments that have been touted as a national model of water management. San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Dan Denham welcomed about two dozen leaders at the start of the event, explaining […]

Jose Lopez (L) has been appointed president of the Otay Water District for 2024; Paulina Martinez-Perez (R) has been appointed board president of Sweetwater Authority for 2024. Photos: Otay Water District and Sweetwater Authority

New Leadership at South Bay Water Agencies in 2024

The Otay Water District and the Sweetwater Authority start 2024 with new officers to lead their respective boards of directors. Lopez elected President of Otay Water District Board The Otay Water District board elected director Jose Lopez, who represents division four, as president. Lopez’s election as president follows one year of board leadership under past […]

Sweetwater Authority Board Appoints New Leadership For 2024 Term; Adjusts Meeting Times For New Year

Chula Vista, CA – Last month, the Sweetwater Authority (Authority) Governing Board (Board) appointed Director Paulina Martinez-Perez as Board Chair and Director Hector Martinez as Vice Chair for the 2024 term. Martinez-Perez has served on the Board since 2020 and Martinez has served since 2018. At the same meeting, the Board adopted Resolution 23-23, adjusting […]

Funding is still available in 2024 to install water-efficient toilets and smart irrigation controllers in underrepresented communities across the region. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority low-flow upgrades

Funding Still Available in 2024 For Free Low-Flow Upgrades

Income-qualifying residents in the San Diego region can still benefit from a grant-funded program replacing outdated toilers with high-efficiency models in 2024. More than 6,000 high-efficiency toilets have been installed free of charge to date in under-represented communities across the region through a grant-funded program run by the San Diego County Water Authority. Funding remains […]

Two North County water districts will pay $25 million to the San Diego County Water Authority in a settlement over their detachment. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority

Water Authority Settles Detachment Issue with Water Districts

The San Diego County Water Authority has agreed to a settlement with the Rainbow Municipal Water District (RMWD) and Fallbrook Public Utility District (FPUD), allowing both to detach from the Water Authority while dropping all litigation. In exchange, the two districts agreed to an immediate $25 million payment plus related costs and fees. The settlement […]

North County Water Agencies Offer Low-Cost Rain Barrels to Help Customers Save Water

Encinitas, CA — To encourage water conservation, Olivenhain Municipal Water District, San Dieguito Water District, and Santa Fe Irrigation District have partnered to offer discounted rain barrels to area residents. Fifty-gallon barrels are on sale for $97, with a final cost of $62 after a $35 rebate from water wholesaler Metropolitan Water District of Southern […]

Olivenhain Municipal Water District Logo landscape design workshops

Olivenhain Municipal Water District Partners with Village Park Manor Condos to Reduce Drinking Water Demand

Encinitas, CA—Olivenhain Municipal Water District continues to reduce its imported drinking water demand by converting seven meters within the Village Park Manor Condominium community to recycled water. Village Park Manor is located in Encinitas and began in December irrigating its common areas using recycled water. With the successful conversion of the seven meters to recycled […]

Long term drought and dwindling Colorado River supplies have Phoenix urgently pursuing highly treated recycled sewage as a drinking water supply. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Colorado River Shortages Drive Major Advances in Recycled Sewage Water Use

After more than two decades of drought, water utilities serving the largest urban regions in the arid Southwest are embracing a drought-proof source of drinking water long considered a supply of last resort: purified sewage. Water supplies have tightened to the point that Phoenix and the water supplier for 19 million Southern California residents are […]