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.
National Public Works Week Recognizes Essential Employees
/in Facilities & Operations, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalEvery time you fill up a water bottle or give the kids a bath, it’s due to the people working as essential employees behind the operation of water and wastewater systems within the San Diego County region’s public works infrastructure. National Public Works Week takes place the third week of May annually in recognition of […]
Olivenhain MWD, City of Encinitas Work Together to Keep Water and Traffic Flowing
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalThe City of Encinitas and the Olivenhain Municipal Water District are working together on a project that keeps water supply and traffic flowing. To prevent water main breaks and ensure reliable service to its customers, Olivenhain Municipal Water District is proactive in its repair and replacement of aging water infrastructure. Year-long construction project underway In […]
Three San Diego Reservoirs Reopen for Public Recreation
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalThree City of San Diego reservoirs will reopen for public recreation this weekend. Miramar Reservoir in Scripps Ranch and Lake Murray in San Carlos open on Friday. The Lower Otay Reservoir will reopen on Saturday, May 16. The three reservoirs will be open during regular business hours for walking, jogging, cycling, fishing, and boating, with […]
Essential Repairs Completed on Pipeline 5 in North County
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Kristiene GongThe San Diego County Water Authority and its contractors have completed essential repairs on a section of Pipeline 5 in North San Diego County between Fallbrook and Escondido. The repairs included installing 156 feet of carbon fiber liner inside the 96-inch pre-stressed concrete cylinder pipe to extend its service life. The pipeline was returned to […]
Water Authority Distributes Protective Masks to SoCal Water Agencies
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Ed JoyceThe San Diego County Water Authority is distributing 25,000 cloth masks to water and wastewater agency employees in six Southern California counties as part of the national effort to ensure essential workers have enough protective gear during the COVID-19 pandemic. The masks are available to public and private water and wastewater utilities in Mono, Inyo, […]
Water Quality Lab Team Rises to Coronavirus Pandemic Challenges
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalThe coronavirus pandemic forced the City of Escondido’s Water Quality Laboratory to rethink its lab operations without compromising community health or employee wellbeing while ensuring the clean, safe, and efficient operation of the city. Through teamwork and creative thinking, the lab found success in maintaining its essential work. “Whether we have a pandemic or not, […]
Construction Begins on Essential Water Project in Mission Trails Regional Park
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Kristiene GongThe San Diego County Water Authority is making progress on the construction of a new 5 million gallon underground reservoir in Mission Trails Regional Park. The underground reservoir is also known as a flow regulatory structure. Classified as a “critical or essential” infrastructure project during the COVID-19 response, the project is moving forward to stay […]
Tank Cleaning Program Helps Vallecitos Water District Maintain Safe Water Supply
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalSeventeen above ground steel tanks and two underground concrete reservoirs play a vital role in the Vallecitos Water District’s mission to provide clean, safe, and reliable water to its 105,000 district residents. Maintenance and cleaning of the tanks and reservoirs is a critically important process. Without regular washouts, tanks can accumulate large amounts of sediment, […]
San Diego Regional Water Agencies Boost Efforts to Fight Hunger
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Ed JoyceAn effort to bolster food bank supplies and fight hunger in San Diego County is getting a helping hand from the region’s public water agencies. The San Diego County Water Authority and its member agencies are supporting a virtual food drive in partnership with the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. The campaign allows donors to select and purchase items such as canned meats, […]
San Diego Mayor Thanks Water Treatment Plant Employees
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalThe City of San Diego’s public utilities team including water treatment plant employees continues to work to provide its customers with high-quality drinking water during the coronavirus pandemic. Following efforts to increase safety measures throughout all City departments to stop the spread of COVID-19, San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer toured the Alvarado Water Treatment Plant […]
Pipeline 5 Upgrades in North San Diego County Halfway Complete
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Kristiene GongThis week, crews are installing a carbon fiber lining inside Pipeline 5 in North San Diego County between Fallbrook and Escondido. The work is essential to maintain the 96-inch pipeline that delivers untreated water from Lake Skinner in southwest Riverside County to the Lower Otay Water Treatment Plant in southern San Diego County. The work […]
Water Pros Working Round the Clock To Ensure Service
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalMore than a month into the coronavirus crisis in California, water pros continue to work around the clock to deliver essential services to San Diego County residents. From the Fallbrook Public Utilities District south to the Sweetwater Authority and east to the Padre Dam Municipal Water District, essential employees at the San Diego County Water […]
Reservoirs, Lakes Remain Closed to Fishing Due to COVID-19 Pandemic
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalAlthough San Diego County’s lakes and reservoirs remain closed to fishing and other recreational activities for safety reasons due to the coronavirus pandemic, staff and volunteers continue to work. Crews are maintaining facilities, providing security, and sharing photos of wildlife and native blooms enjoying the arrival of spring. Popular overnight campsites remain open at Santee […]
Customer Thanks Vallecitos Water District Employees for Their Efforts
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalMost Americans take a safe and reliable water supply for granted. Dedicated water and wastewater professionals, including Vallecitos Water District employees, work to provide a secure, plentiful supply of drinking water. Vallecitos Water District customer Manisha Bambhania has a deeper appreciation. A native of India, Bambhania grew up in a home where running water was […]
Water Utilities Aim to Keep Specially Trained Employees Healthy and Working
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Ed Joyce /NPRby Clay Masters Quoted: San Diego County Water AuthoritySome municipal water utilities are taking emergency measures to sequester some employees to assure that they can keep the water flowing as the coronavirus spreads. In this country, millions of Americans can follow advice to stay at home so long as the electricity stays on and the water and the phone service. Utility workers need to keep […]