Agency News

News from the Water Authority and its 24 member agencies.

WaterSmart Landscape Contest Winner Showcases More Beauty With Less Water

Chula Vista, Calif. – Sweetwater Authority (Authority) named Nancy Cavanah of Chula Vista this year’s winner of the WaterSmart Landscape Contest at last night’s Governing Board (Board) Meeting. Cavanah’s landscape was selected from a diverse pool of applicants as the best example of how to create a beautiful landscape using less water. After years of […]

Olivenhain Municipal Water District Logo landscape design workshops

Encinitas Landscape Transformation Project Wins Local Contest

Encinitas, Calif. — Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors honored at its June 22 meeting Mike and Cathy Godfrey as OMWD’s winner of the 2022 WaterSmart Landscape Contest. “Maximizing water efficiency outdoors is especially important as drought conditions remain in effect across the state,” said OMWD Board Director Neal Meyers. “Showcasing the diversity and […]

Olivenhain Municipal Water District Logo landscape design workshops

Encinitas Residents Asked to Step-Up and Conserve Water

Encinitas, Calif.  — As California enters its third consecutive dry year and following the driest first three months of a year in the state’s recorded history, Governor Gavin Newsom and the State Water Resources Control Board took steps to drive water conservation at the local level, calling on local water suppliers to take locally appropriate […]

Olivenhain Municipal Water District Logo landscape design workshops

OMWD Certifies Hydroelectric Turbines at David C. McCollom Water Treatment Plant

Encinitas, Calif. — Hydroelectric generators at Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s David C. McCollom Water Treatment Plant have qualified for the California Energy Commission’s Renewables Portfolio Standard Program and will now generate Renewable Energy Certificates that contribute to the state goal of achieving 60% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. The California Energy Commission’s […]

Helix Water District Logo Square officers for 2021

Helix Water District Announces 2022 WaterSmart Landscape Contest Winner

What was once a thirsty lawn is now a peaceful, thriving, water-efficient paradise. Helix Water District announced Nick Voinov as the winner of its 2022 WaterSmart Landscape Contest. The annual competition recognizes outstanding water-wise residential landscapes based on overall attractiveness, design, efficient irrigation and appropriate plant selection and maintenance.

San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Issues Statement on Colorado River Conditions and Sustainability

June 14, 2022 – Sandra L. Kerl, general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority, issued the following statement on U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton’s testimony today before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on the severity of the drought on the Colorado River and need for near- and long-term innovation […]

SWA Governing Board Approves $72.7M Budget For Fiscal Year 2022-23

Chula Vista, Calif. – The Sweetwater Authority (Authority) Governing Board approved the $72.7M budget for fiscal year (FY) 2022-23 at its June 8, 2022 meeting. The FY 2022-23 Budget provides a balanced approach to maintaining the Authority’s financial condition. The Authority’s volumetric, or commodity rate used to fund operations, will increase by an inflationary index […]

SWA Remains in Drought Level 1 of Drought Response Plan; Adds Additional Restrictions

Chula Vista, Calif. – On June 8, the Governing Board (Board) of Sweetwater Authority (Authority) voted to implement additional drought measures to encourage additional water conservation. A full list of the demand reduction levels can be found on the Authority’s website at www.sweetwater.org/drought. On May 24, 2022, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) adopted […]

Vista Irrigation District Logo

Vista Irrigation District Declares Level 2 Water Conservation Condition

Vista, Calif. —  Vista Irrigation District board of directors has declared a Water Supply Response Program Level 2 Water Conservation condition, which requires residents and businesses to implement more stringent mandatory water use restrictions beginning June 18, 2022.

Vista Irrigation District Logo

Vista Irrigation District Board Appoints Peter Kuchinsky II To Fill Division 3 Vacancy

Vista, Calif. —  The Vista Irrigation District (District) board of directors approved, by a unanimous vote, the appointment of Peter Kuchinsky II as the new representative for division 3 at a special board meeting. Division 3 encompasses central and northeast Vista and unincorporated areas of the county of San Diego. He immediately fills the seat […]

Padre Dam Announces New CEO/General Manager

June 7, 2022 – Padre Dam Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors unanimously appointed Kyle Swanson as the new CEO/General Manager for the District. Swanson’s tenure as CEO/General Manager began on June 2, 2022 following the retirement of prior CEO/General Manager Allen Carlisle. “I am excited about this opportunity to serve both the organization and […]

Public Encouraged to Learn About Our Marine Environment Through Video Series on World Oceans Day

SAN DIEGO – Ahead of World Oceans Day this Wednesday, June 8, the City of San Diego is encouraging the public to learn about local coastal waters through a series of videos that describe the diverse work of its Ocean Monitoring Program in studying the effects of regional wastewater treatment processes on the marine environment.

Elementary School Poster Contest Winners Illustrate The Importance of Water

Chula Vista, Calif. – Last week, twenty local elementary school students were named winners of the Sweetwater Authority (Authority) “Water is Life” Poster Contest. The yearly contest gives K-6 students the chance to demonstrate how water is a precious and essential resource. By creating water-related art, students enhance their understanding of the importance of water. […]

Fallbrook Public Utility District logo

Big Event Marks FPUD Turning 100 Years Old

Fallbrook, Calif. – Fallbrook Public Utility District has been providing water and sewer service in Fallbrook for nearly 100 years. Now thanks to a unanimous vote by the San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission, or LAFCO, the process is moving forward for the district to be able to provide additional community services under the umbrella […]

Vallecitos District Logo

Vallecitos Customers Can Irrigate Three Times Per Week

San Marcos, Calif. – To comply with Governor Newsom’s executive order N-7-22, the Vallecitos Water District Board of Directors voted to move to a Level 2 Drought Alert at their regular meeting on April 20, 2022. Now that the calendar has moved to June, Vallecitos customers can irrigate three times per week on a schedule […]