Facilities and Operations
News on the processes, people, and places working to deliver a safe and reliable wholesale water supply to the San Diego region’s 24 member water agencies.
The Water News Network is San Diego County’s source for water news and information.
Major Rehabilitation of First Aqueduct Complete
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Kristiene GongThe San Diego County Water Authority recently completed a major rehabilitation project on the historic First Aqueduct in North San Diego County. The project renovated and replaced dozens of structures on two large-diameter pipelines, including the historic Pipeline 1. Pipeline 1 delivered the first imported water to the San Diego region in 1947 and remains […]
Water Authority Prevails in Rate Litigation
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Ed JoyceThe San Francisco Superior Court has ruled the San Diego County Water Authority is the prevailing party in the agency’s first two lawsuits to be heard challenging rates and charges set by the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The order entitles the Water Authority to recover its attorneys’ fees and costs in […]
FRS II: Mission Trails Water Project Takes Shape
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Kristiene GongWhen looking from the right vantage point towards Mission Trails Regional Park, a brown hill can be seen. This is the San Diego County Water Authority’s Mission Trails Flow Regulatory Structure II Project, or FRS II, under construction. Once complete, the dirt hill will be leveled to its previous contours and revegetated with native plants […]
Pure Water Oceanside Installing New Pipelines and Drilling Wells
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalPure Water Oceanside is installing new pipelines and drilling wells as the recycled water project continues on track for completion in 2022. The advanced water purification project, and expansion of the City of Oceanside’s existing recycled water system, will deliver a new, local source of high-quality drinking water supplying more than 30% of the city’s […]
Lake Jennings Trout Season Opening A Success
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalLake Jennings, the Helix Water District reservoir in Lakeside, is one of San Diego County’s hot spots for trout fishing, ranked second in the county by SDFish.com. The 2020 fall trout fishing season got underway on November 20, with enthusiastic anglers enjoying safe outdoor recreation with pandemic precautions in place. “It’s one of those family […]
Veterans Day Salute to San Diego Water Industry Vets
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalMany of the San Diego region’s 4,500 water and wastewater workers are military veterans. The San Diego County Water Authority and its 24 member agencies are recognizing those veteran water industry professionals this week in honor of Veterans Day. One of those water industry employees with a military background is Sam Pacheco, a field service […]
Hauck Mesa Storage Reservoir to Improve Water Reliability
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Kimberlyn VelasquezThe San Diego County Water Authority is gearing up to construct a 2.1 million-gallon drinking water reservoir on the Valley Center Pipeline to enhance service reliability throughout the region. The Hauck Mesa Storage Reservoir project in northern San Diego County is part of the Water Authority’s Capital Improvement Program. Construction work is scheduled to begin […]
El Camino Real Infrastructure Project Reaches Milestone
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalThe Olivenhain Municipal Water District project to replace aging water infrastructure along El Camino Real in Encinitas has now reached the halfway point. After getting underway in March 2020 at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the project is making steady progress. District officials expect the entire project to be completed in Spring 2021. During […]
Water Agencies Assist in Fighting Valley Fire
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Ed JoyceThe Sweetwater Authority and the Otay Water District collaborated with multiple agencies during the recent Valley Fire in San Diego County. Water infrastructure played a key role in the firefighting effort. Cooperation and collaboration are critical elements during wildfires. Both water agencies worked with multiple responders, including U.S. Forest Service firefighters, CALFIRE and SDG&E, to […]
Olivenhain Social Media Solves Water Infrastructure Mysteries
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalIf you’ve ever driven past pipes sticking out of the ground and wondered, “What is that thing?” you aren’t alone. While sitting at a red light one day, Olivenhain Municipal Water District Customer Services Manager John Carnegie glanced at a pipe and realized there were probably members of the public who are unaware of the […]
Solar Project Saves Energy, Costs for Vallecitos Water District
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalThe Vallecitos Water District is pursuing greater use of renewable resources, increasing capacity to the electrical grid, and reducing long term operational costs with an innovative solar power project. In 2017, the Vallecitos Water District Board of Directors agreed to pursue development of districtwide renewable power sources using existing open space to benefit the District […]
Major Relining Project Honored by the American Public Works Association
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Kristiene GongThe San Diego and Imperial Counties Chapter of the American Public Works Association recently recognized a San Diego County Water Authority pipeline relining project for its excellence as a public works project. The award commends the successful partnership between Water Authority staff, the contractor and local agencies working together to complete this critical repair to […]
Pure Water Oceanside Recycling Project Gets $69 Million EPA Loan
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Ed JoyceThe Pure Water Oceanside project is getting a $69 million loan from the U.S. EPA that will finance nearly half of the project’s construction cost. EPA officials announced the loan at an event today in Oceanside attended by federal, regional and local officials. The innovative water reuse project will purify recycled water to create a […]
San Diegans #AskAnExpert Reservoir Recreation Questions
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalReservoir Keeper Viviana Castellon shared her expertise with citizens during the City of San Diego’s #AskAnExpert series on Instagram as part of the City’s community outreach to citizens. The City regularly offers the opportunity for the public to ask employees about its services including parks, libraries, streets, and water. “We find that it’s a great […]
New Lake Jennings Boat Dock Open
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalA new floating boat dock at popular reservoir and recreation facility Lake Jennings was unveiled with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 31 and opened to the public for boating and fishing activities. The dock is reinforced concrete encapsulating a solid polystyrene core, which makes the dock float. Numerous safety features include a nonskid concrete surface, […]