When the Colorado River Compact was signed 100 years ago, the negotiators for seven Western states bet that the river they were dividing would have ample water to meet everyone’s needs – even those not seated around the table. A century later, it’s clear the water they bet on is not there. More than two […]
The San Diego County Water Authority’s First Aqueduct will be shut down periodically over the next four months for maintenance projects to ensure a safe and reliable water supply for the region. A series of three shutdowns on the First Aqueduct is scheduled from December through March, when portions of the aqueduct will be relined, […]
/in California and the West, News/by Mike Lee /Public Policy Institute of Californiaby Sarah Bardeen Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority
After three years of virtual events, the PPIC Water Policy Center’s annual fall conference made a welcome return to an in-person format in Sacramento on Friday, November 18. The half-day event began with a welcome from PPIC Water Policy Center assistant director Caity Peterson and a presentation by senior fellow Jeffrey Mount. This year was […]
Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District reports that it completed an initiative to provide nearly $1.2 million in rebates to customers and has received overwhelmingly positive feedback about the program. The rebates were made possible following years of litigation by the San Diego County Water Authority against the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for […]
Recognizing that a reliable water supply is critical to all economies and communities relying on the drought-stricken Colorado River Basin, more than 30 water agencies and providers have committed to take additional actions to reducing water demands and helping protect the Colorado River system. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was delivered to the […]
The Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant has served more than 100 billion gallons of high-quality, locally controlled water over the past seven years – a milestone passed in late October, as California entered a fourth consecutive year of severe drought. The plant produces an average of more than 50 million gallons of high-quality, locally […]
A proactive approach to developing diversified water sources, including water recycling projects and conservation efforts, are helping the San Diego region weather the current drought. The Olivenhain Municipal Water District is working on multiple projects to expand the use of recycled water. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation awarded the North San Diego Water Reuse Coalition, […]
Sections of the regional aqueducts in San Diego County will be shut down over the next six months for maintenance projects to ensure a safe and reliable water supply for the region. The San Diego County Water Authority and its member agencies are coordinating on the annual “shutdown season” to minimize impacts to residents and […]
Collaboration among all water users is key to developing solutions for the Colorado River Basin, which is in the midst of a 22-year megadrought. That was one of the common themes during a webinar Thursday, in which water managers and other officials discussed ways to slow or stabilize the rate of decline of the major […]
Water affordability for ratepayers was the topic of discussion during a legislative roundtable Thursday at the San Diego County Water Authority. The Water Authority convened state, regional and local officials in search of winning strategies for enhancing water affordability for ratepayers across the county and the state. Water agency managers, board members, elected officials and […]
The Helix Water District has received an $18 million loan from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to support the Drinking Water Reliability Project. Helix will use the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, or WIFIA loan, to increase the region’s drinking water resiliency by expanding water reuse opportunities and reducing the reliance on imported water. […]
Poseidon Resources (Channelside) LP and the San Diego County Water Authority are temporarily reducing water production at the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant to support statewide emergency energy conservation efforts during the extreme heat wave. While the plant accounts for less than 1% of peak energy demand in San Diego Gas & Electric’s service […]
The North San Diego Water Reuse Coalition was awarded a grant of up to $17.8 million for the development of recycled water infrastructure. The grant funds come from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. “As we face increasingly devastating drought conditions, it’s imperative that we continue to diversify our water supplies and strengthen our local water […]
Sandra L. Kerl, general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s 24-month projection for water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell. “Today’s announcement by the Bureau of Reclamation is a reminder of just how important it is to increase water conservation across […]
A team led by Kristen Guirguis, a climate researcher at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, found evidence that the risk of hazardous weather is increasing in the Southwest. The researchers investigated the daily relationships among four major modes of weather affecting California. How they interact governs the formation of weather events such […]
Colorado River Compact: As Colorado River Flows Drop and Tensions Rise, Water Interests Struggle to Find Solutions That All Can Accept
/in Colorado River Basin, News /by Mike Lee /Western Water (Water Education Foundation)by Nick CahillWhen the Colorado River Compact was signed 100 years ago, the negotiators for seven Western states bet that the river they were dividing would have ample water to meet everyone’s needs – even those not seated around the table. A century later, it’s clear the water they bet on is not there. More than two […]
Work Begins on Water Authority’s Historic First Aqueduct
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Mike LeeThe San Diego County Water Authority’s First Aqueduct will be shut down periodically over the next four months for maintenance projects to ensure a safe and reliable water supply for the region. A series of three shutdowns on the First Aqueduct is scheduled from December through March, when portions of the aqueduct will be relined, […]
PPIC Video: Surplus and Shortage — California’s Water Balancing Act
/in California and the West, News /by Mike Lee /Public Policy Institute of Californiaby Sarah Bardeen Quoted: San Diego County Water AuthorityAfter three years of virtual events, the PPIC Water Policy Center’s annual fall conference made a welcome return to an in-person format in Sacramento on Friday, November 18. The half-day event began with a welcome from PPIC Water Policy Center assistant director Caity Peterson and a presentation by senior fellow Jeffrey Mount. This year was […]
Rincon Water Rebates a Hit With Customers
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Mike LeeRincon del Diablo Municipal Water District reports that it completed an initiative to provide nearly $1.2 million in rebates to customers and has received overwhelmingly positive feedback about the program. The rebates were made possible following years of litigation by the San Diego County Water Authority against the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California for […]
Water Agencies Unite and Commit to Reducing Demands on Colorado River
/in Colorado River Basin, News /by Mike LeeRecognizing that a reliable water supply is critical to all economies and communities relying on the drought-stricken Colorado River Basin, more than 30 water agencies and providers have committed to take additional actions to reducing water demands and helping protect the Colorado River system. Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was delivered to the […]
Carlsbad Desalination Plant Celebrates 100 Billion Gallons Served
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Mike LeeThe Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant has served more than 100 billion gallons of high-quality, locally controlled water over the past seven years – a milestone passed in late October, as California entered a fourth consecutive year of severe drought. The plant produces an average of more than 50 million gallons of high-quality, locally […]
Water Recycling Projects Expanding in San Diego County
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Gayle FalkenthalA proactive approach to developing diversified water sources, including water recycling projects and conservation efforts, are helping the San Diego region weather the current drought. The Olivenhain Municipal Water District is working on multiple projects to expand the use of recycled water. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation awarded the North San Diego Water Reuse Coalition, […]
“Shutdown Season” for Regional Aqueducts in San Diego County
/in Facilities & Operations, News /by Mike LeeSections of the regional aqueducts in San Diego County will be shut down over the next six months for maintenance projects to ensure a safe and reliable water supply for the region. The San Diego County Water Authority and its member agencies are coordinating on the annual “shutdown season” to minimize impacts to residents and […]
Collaboration Key to Stabilizing Colorado River Basin Decline
/in Colorado River Basin, News /by Mike LeeCollaboration among all water users is key to developing solutions for the Colorado River Basin, which is in the midst of a 22-year megadrought. That was one of the common themes during a webinar Thursday, in which water managers and other officials discussed ways to slow or stabilize the rate of decline of the major […]
Water Affordability Focus of Water Authority Roundtable
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Mike LeeWater affordability for ratepayers was the topic of discussion during a legislative roundtable Thursday at the San Diego County Water Authority. The Water Authority convened state, regional and local officials in search of winning strategies for enhancing water affordability for ratepayers across the county and the state. Water agency managers, board members, elected officials and […]
Helix Water District Gets $18 Million Loan for Water Reuse Projects
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Mike LeeThe Helix Water District has received an $18 million loan from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to support the Drinking Water Reliability Project. Helix will use the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act, or WIFIA loan, to increase the region’s drinking water resiliency by expanding water reuse opportunities and reducing the reliance on imported water. […]
Carlsbad Desalination Plant Cuts Energy Demand to Help Avoid Blackouts
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Mike LeePoseidon Resources (Channelside) LP and the San Diego County Water Authority are temporarily reducing water production at the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant to support statewide emergency energy conservation efforts during the extreme heat wave. While the plant accounts for less than 1% of peak energy demand in San Diego Gas & Electric’s service […]
North San Diego Water Reuse Coalition Awarded Up to $17.8 Million in Federal Funding
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Mike LeeThe North San Diego Water Reuse Coalition was awarded a grant of up to $17.8 million for the development of recycled water infrastructure. The grant funds come from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. “As we face increasingly devastating drought conditions, it’s imperative that we continue to diversify our water supplies and strengthen our local water […]
Water Conservation is Critical in San Diego County as Colorado River Declines
/in News, Supply & Demand /by Mike LeeSandra L. Kerl, general manager of the San Diego County Water Authority, issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s 24-month projection for water levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell. “Today’s announcement by the Bureau of Reclamation is a reminder of just how important it is to increase water conservation across […]
More Evidence that California Weather is Trending Toward Extremes
/in California and the West, News /by Mike LeeA team led by Kristen Guirguis, a climate researcher at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego, found evidence that the risk of hazardous weather is increasing in the Southwest. The researchers investigated the daily relationships among four major modes of weather affecting California. How they interact governs the formation of weather events such […]