After a wet and snowy start, California’s winter has gone bust. The 2019-2020 water year started off with robust precipitation after a series of storms in November and early December 2019. But the new year has not been as bountiful. Dry conditions in January and February added little to the Sierra Nevada snowpack. Drought-resilient water […]
To protect its employees, members of the public, and the environment from any accidental chemical releases or exposure, the Vallecitos Water District has established its own internal Hazardous Materials Response Team or HAZMAT team. Maintaining its own internal team allows a 24-hour response capability. Common hazardous chemicals play vital roles in the water and wastewater […]
City of Oceanside officials and regional water industry leaders gathered today to break ground on Pure Water Oceanside, the first advanced water purification facility in San Diego County. The $67 million project – scheduled to be completed in 2021 – will purify recycled water sourced from the San Luis Rey Water Reclamation Facility. “Today, we […]
Legislation co-sponsored by the San Diego County Water Authority and the Otay Water District is intended to make it easier for military veterans to launch careers in the water industry. After Lt. Jose Martinez retired from the U.S. Navy in 2007, he went from serving his country underwater to serving reliable, high quality water to […]
The Olivenhain Municipal Water District and Leucadia Wastewater District are reducing potable water use by switching to recycled water to flush sewer lines in their service areas. With the recent installation of new equipment by both agencies, recycled water is now available to Leucadia for sewer line maintenance in the Village Park neighborhood in Encinitas […]
You might not think ‘baking skills’ would come in handy to fix a recent problem at the Lake Hodges Hydroelectric and Pump Station Facility. But those skills, along with initiative and ingenuity, were demonstrated by San Diego County Water Authority staff as part of the creative and complex repair. The facility connects the City of […]
The San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors visited the Imperial Valley January 30 for a day-long tour that highlighted areas critical to the agency’s Regional Conveyance System Study. Board members approved a study in July 2019, to evaluate a new regional water conveyance system that would deliver water from the Colorado River to […]
A new pipeline inspection tool being used by contractors working for the Vallecitos Water District to determine pipeline integrity could become a standard tool saving time and money. After nearly completing construction in 2008, developers walked away from the 500-acre High Point subdivision in the City of Escondido. Water facilities installed for the subdivision were […]
One by one, small mammals and amphibians living within a construction zone in Mission Trails Regional Park are being relocated to safe areas. Protecting sensitive species is one part of the Mission Trails Project. A team of biologists from the San Diego County Water Authority, AECOM, and the San Diego Natural History Museum began surveying […]
North San Diego County fire agencies teamed up in November with the Vallecitos Water District for confined space training drills. The drills, held over a two-week period, prepare firefighting professionals to respond to emergencies in facilities such as wastewater treatment plants and maintain their confined space certification. The recent training took place at the Vallecitos […]
Three California state agencies today released a draft water resilience portfolio intended to help the state manage more extreme droughts and floods, aging infrastructure, declining fish populations and other challenges. The California Natural Resources Agency, California Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Food and Agriculture developed the draft to fulfill Governor Gavin Newsom’s April 29, […]
Two projects underway will enhance fish habitat and water quality at Murray Reservoir. The reservoir in Mission Trails Regional Park is owned by the City of San Diego and operated by its Public Utilities Department. “As stewards of the area, it is important for us to improve and enhance the environment in and around Murray […]
The National City Fire Department is learning more about the water system it relies on, thanks to some specialized training for firefighters from Sweetwater Authority staff. Firefighters wanted to learn more about the water distribution system and where the city’s water originates. The department also wanted to review the location of Sweetwater Authority’s treatment facilities, […]
The City of San Diego’s Public Utilities Department last week took a major step toward completing an innovative project to improve water quality in Lake Hodges. A newly installed oxygenation system, designed by city engineers, will introduce highly oxygenated water to the bottom of the reservoir to reduce the accumulation of excess nutrients and harmful […]
The San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors Nov. 21 approved a new and permanent Special Agricultural Water Rate program structure that offers lower water rates to farmers in exchange for lower water supply reliability. Unlike the current temporary program, the structure of the new water rate program will let new participants join as […]
California’s Winter: Wet Times, Dry Times and Water Supplies
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Mike LeeAfter a wet and snowy start, California’s winter has gone bust. The 2019-2020 water year started off with robust precipitation after a series of storms in November and early December 2019. But the new year has not been as bountiful. Dry conditions in January and February added little to the Sierra Nevada snowpack. Drought-resilient water […]
Vallecitos Water District HAZMAT Team Ready to Respond
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalTo protect its employees, members of the public, and the environment from any accidental chemical releases or exposure, the Vallecitos Water District has established its own internal Hazardous Materials Response Team or HAZMAT team. Maintaining its own internal team allows a 24-hour response capability. Common hazardous chemicals play vital roles in the water and wastewater […]
First Advanced Water Purification Facility in San Diego County is On the Map
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Kristiene GongCity of Oceanside officials and regional water industry leaders gathered today to break ground on Pure Water Oceanside, the first advanced water purification facility in San Diego County. The $67 million project – scheduled to be completed in 2021 – will purify recycled water sourced from the San Luis Rey Water Reclamation Facility. “Today, we […]
New California Law Creates Pathway to Water Industry Jobs for Military Veterans
/in Capitol Insider, News /by Mike Lee /Association of California Water Agencies by Will HolbertLegislation co-sponsored by the San Diego County Water Authority and the Otay Water District is intended to make it easier for military veterans to launch careers in the water industry. After Lt. Jose Martinez retired from the U.S. Navy in 2007, he went from serving his country underwater to serving reliable, high quality water to […]
Water Agencies Team Up to Reduce Potable Water Use
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Mike LeeThe Olivenhain Municipal Water District and Leucadia Wastewater District are reducing potable water use by switching to recycled water to flush sewer lines in their service areas. With the recent installation of new equipment by both agencies, recycled water is now available to Leucadia for sewer line maintenance in the Village Park neighborhood in Encinitas […]
‘Baking Skills’ Used for Repair at Lake Hodges Pumped Storage Facility
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Mike LeeYou might not think ‘baking skills’ would come in handy to fix a recent problem at the Lake Hodges Hydroelectric and Pump Station Facility. But those skills, along with initiative and ingenuity, were demonstrated by San Diego County Water Authority staff as part of the creative and complex repair. The facility connects the City of […]
Imperial Valley Conservation Efforts Benefit San Diego, Southwest
/in Colorado River Basin, News /by Mike LeeThe San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors visited the Imperial Valley January 30 for a day-long tour that highlighted areas critical to the agency’s Regional Conveyance System Study. Board members approved a study in July 2019, to evaluate a new regional water conveyance system that would deliver water from the Colorado River to […]
New Inspection Tool Aids Vallecitos Pipeline Assessments
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalA new pipeline inspection tool being used by contractors working for the Vallecitos Water District to determine pipeline integrity could become a standard tool saving time and money. After nearly completing construction in 2008, developers walked away from the 500-acre High Point subdivision in the City of Escondido. Water facilities installed for the subdivision were […]
Wildlife Protected for New Underground Reservoir Project
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Kristiene GongOne by one, small mammals and amphibians living within a construction zone in Mission Trails Regional Park are being relocated to safe areas. Protecting sensitive species is one part of the Mission Trails Project. A team of biologists from the San Diego County Water Authority, AECOM, and the San Diego Natural History Museum began surveying […]
Vallecitos Water District Training Preps Firefighters for Wastewater Plant Emergencies
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalNorth San Diego County fire agencies teamed up in November with the Vallecitos Water District for confined space training drills. The drills, held over a two-week period, prepare firefighting professionals to respond to emergencies in facilities such as wastewater treatment plants and maintain their confined space certification. The recent training took place at the Vallecitos […]
California Agencies Release Draft Water Resilience Portfolio
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Mike LeeThree California state agencies today released a draft water resilience portfolio intended to help the state manage more extreme droughts and floods, aging infrastructure, declining fish populations and other challenges. The California Natural Resources Agency, California Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Food and Agriculture developed the draft to fulfill Governor Gavin Newsom’s April 29, […]
San Diego Projects Improve Water Quality, Fish Habitat
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Mike LeeTwo projects underway will enhance fish habitat and water quality at Murray Reservoir. The reservoir in Mission Trails Regional Park is owned by the City of San Diego and operated by its Public Utilities Department. “As stewards of the area, it is important for us to improve and enhance the environment in and around Murray […]
National City Firefighters Get WaterSmart with Sweetwater Authority
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Gayle FalkenthalThe National City Fire Department is learning more about the water system it relies on, thanks to some specialized training for firefighters from Sweetwater Authority staff. Firefighters wanted to learn more about the water distribution system and where the city’s water originates. The department also wanted to review the location of Sweetwater Authority’s treatment facilities, […]
New Oxygenation System to Improve Reservoir Water Quality
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Kristiene GongThe City of San Diego’s Public Utilities Department last week took a major step toward completing an innovative project to improve water quality in Lake Hodges. A newly installed oxygenation system, designed by city engineers, will introduce highly oxygenated water to the bottom of the reservoir to reduce the accumulation of excess nutrients and harmful […]
New Agricultural Water Rate Program Benefits San Diego County Growers
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Mike LeeThe San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors Nov. 21 approved a new and permanent Special Agricultural Water Rate program structure that offers lower water rates to farmers in exchange for lower water supply reliability. Unlike the current temporary program, the structure of the new water rate program will let new participants join as […]