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.
Watershed Survey Helps Maintain San Diego Regional Water Quality
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalThe City of San Diego Public Utilities Department conducts regular surveys of its watersheds to monitor and maintain high water quality within those watersheds. The City recently released its 2020 Watershed Sanitary Survey. Conducted and issued every five years since 1996 as required by California law, the report identifies actual or potential causes of local […]
Sweetwater Authority Reservoirs Provide Safe Public Recreation
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalOne year into the coronavirus pandemic, San Diego County’s reservoirs and lakes have provided welcome opportunities for safe, accessible outdoor family recreation. After shutting down in March 2020, facilities began to slowly reopen through the summer months by carefully implementing safety guidelines, including increased sanitation, social distancing, and restricted attendance to allow San Diegans to […]
Over $2.7 Million in Federal Grants Awarded to San Diego Water Agencies
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Mike LeeThe U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has awarded three San Diego County water agencies a total of $2,788,500 in 2021 WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants. A total of $42.4 million in grants was given to 55 projects across 13 states to improve water reliability and efficiency, conserving more 98,000 acre-feet of water per year. “The […]
Credit Agencies Affirm Water Authority’s Strong Ratings Despite Headwinds
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Mike LeeAll three major rating agencies – S&P, Moody’s, and Fitch – have affirmed the San Diego County Water Authority’s strong credit ratings, which will help the Water Authority optimize its debt portfolio and minimize the cost of financing important water reliability projects. The reports cited the Water Authority’s strategic management, its conservative approach to water […]
Volunteers Offer Birds Eye View at South Lake Reservoir
/in Facilities & Operations, Features /by Gayle FalkenthalFor decades, it was a source of drinking water for the San Marcos area. Today, the South Lake Reservoir has new life as a local wildlife habitat. South Lake was built with an earthen dam and provided drinking water to the Lake San Marcos area, most of downtown San Marcos, and the Coronado Hills area. […]
Water Main Breaks Decline in San Diego for Fourth Year in a Row
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalIncreased maintenance efforts by the City of San Diego of its water system infrastructure is paying off for ratepayers. For the fourth year in a row, the number of water main breaks has decreased in the City of San Diego. Thirty-three water main breaks were reported in 2020, the lowest total in more than 15 […]
Helix Water District Demonstration Landscape Blossoms
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Mike LeeThe plants are thriving at Helix Water District’s demonstration landscape just eight months after the project was completed. The WaterSmart plants at the District’s administration office in La Mesa beautify the neighorhood while inspiring people to install sustainable, WaterSmart landscaping. “Everything is growing in beautifully,” said Helix Water District General Manager Carlos Lugo. “We started […]
Vallecitos Water District Valve Maintenance Program Ensures Reliable Service
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalJust as owners perform routine maintenance to keep their cars running smoothly, water systems need regular maintenance to provide reliable service. The Vallecitos Water District’s Valve Maintenance Program ensures these vital components in its water distribution remain in good working condition throughout the District. Valves left without proper maintenance for long periods can become a […]
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 Mike LeeThe 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. It ranks second in the county according to the recreational fishing website SDFish.com. The 2020 fall trout fishing season got underway on November 20, with enthusiastic anglers enjoying safe outdoor recreation with pandemic precautions in […]
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 […]