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.
Sweetwater Authority Taps Innovative Technology to Ensure Water Quality
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalThe Sweetwater Authority recently began a multiyear water main flushing program using innovative technology to clean all 400 miles of pipeline in its system. It’s part of Sweetwater Authority’s use of the latest technology to deliver a safe, reliable water supply to its South San Diego County customers. Water main flushing cleans pipeline interiors by […]
Vallecitos Water District Crews Rehab Manhole, Protecting Environment
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalVallecitos Water District crews sprang into action to repair and rehabilitate a manhole in danger of failing, successfully preventing a spill, which could have resulted in significant environmental damage. Located just off Palomar Airport Road in a shared 30-foot easement with the Buena Sanitation District in Carlsbad, the manhole is part of a 30-inch outfall […]
Reservoirs Begin Reopening to Recreational Use Countywide
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalCity of San Diego lakes and reservoirs previously closed in response to the coronavirus pandemic are now in the process of reopening for public recreation. “A lot of San Diegans have a passion for fishing and boating, and we’ve been able to partner with the County [of San Diego] to reopen all of our lakes […]
Stimulus Funds Would Create Regional Jobs, Enhance Water Reliability
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Mike LeeWater suppliers in San Diego County say future COVID-19 federal and state stimulus packages should include funding for shovel-ready projects that would create jobs in the region. In a letter to members of California’s congressional delegation, a group of 13 agencies, including the San Diego County Water Authority and 10 of its member agencies, and […]
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 Mike LeeThe 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 Mike LeeAn 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 […]