VOSD Podcast: The Sports Episode
We also broke down San Diego’s soaring water rates and discussed Councilmember Marni von Wilpert’s surprising suggestion that the city of San Diego should consider leaving the San Diego County Water Authority.
Tag Archive for: City of San Diego
Rainwater Harvesting Rebates Help San Diegans Meet Irrigation Needs
Weather scientists predict modest or below-average rainfall this winter due to the La Niña weather pattern arriving in late 2024. Capturing rainfall is a smart water management tactic. Now is an ideal time to take advantage of several upcoming rainwater harvesting workshops and rebate programs available in San Diego County and the rainfall available in the months ahead.
The National Weather Service predicts drier than average conditions. Photo: National Weather Service
City of San Diego rebate programs
City of San Diego residents can take advantage of rebates for rain barrels, rain gutter installation, downspouts and other water management tools. Visit the City’s Public Utilities Rebate page to learn about your options and requirements.
Rain barrel rebates are available through several programs in the San Diego region. Photo: Suzy Morris / Creative Commons
The Solana Center For Environmental Innovation offers a rain barrel purchase program for City of San Diego residents. The Solana Center will help set up your household for water harvesting success. Order your discounted rain barrel by January 11, 2025, for pick up at the North Clairemont Recreation Center on Saturday, January 25. You can attend a free rainwater harvesting workshop at 10 a.m. More information is available on the Solano Center website.
County of San Diego rebate programs
The County’s Waterscape Rebate Program will host free rainwater harvesting workshops in 2024. Workshops teach residents how to capture rainwater to supplement your irrigation needs, save money on water bills, and protect our region’s environment by preventing pollutants from spilling into regional watersheds.
Workshop dates are expected to be scheduled soon. For future workshops, check the County of San Diego Waterscape Rebate Program website.
Residents in unincorporated areas of San Diego County may be eligible to receive a free rain barrel. Workshop participants in incorporated areas can check their rebate eligibility on the San Diego County website’s interactive map.
If you live in unincorporated San Diego AND receive your water from the San Diego County Water Authority and its member agencies, you are eligible for ALL rebates listed under the County program.
The County of San Diego Watershed Protection Program (WPP) partners with the San Diego County Water Authority and Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (through SoCal WaterSmart) and can assist residents in determining which program benefits are available.
Reduce water use to preserve the environment and save costs
Using rain barrels and other rainwater diversion tools helps keep runoff pollutants out of stormwater systems and the environment. Photo: Pixabay/CC
During San Diego County’s limited periods of rainfall, any rainwater captured from your roof and property saves money. It also helps the region maintain its water supplies.
In addition to rain barrels, directing downspouts to fill containers lets you choose how to use the rainwater you capture. The overflow should empty onto your yard or a landscape feature to infiltrate the excess flow into the soil. Rain chains can assist with this.
The County is committed to protecting the water quality in creeks, streams, and coastal areas. Runoff from irrigation, storms, and even faulty septic systems can pollute our waterways and threaten public health.
When businesses and households make changes to reduce water use and use rainwater in their landscapes, we preserve healthy, safe waterways and more reliable water supplies while achieving cost savings.
How rain barrel rebates work
After you make your purchase of rain saving containers and any other items eligible for rebates and have installed them, you can apply for rebates. Current rain barrel rebates are $35 and limited to two per household for most San Diego County residents. You can submit for multiple projects. Learn more at SoCal Water Smart.
Conserve water for landscape maintenance
Directing downspouts into water collecting features in your landscaping makes use of rainfall. Photo: County of San Diego
Even light rain can provide enough water for later use. A roof with a 2,000-square-foot surface area can capture 300 gallons from only a quarter inch of rain.
Stored water can be released gradually into landscaping between winter rainstorms, building up the soil sponge and ensuring that native plants get adequate water during the winter months when they need it most. If you need additional water in the summer and capture enough of it during the winter, you may be able to use your stored water for supplemental irrigation.
Visit the Solana Center For Environmental Innovation website for additional details on conservation rebate programs and to order rain barrels.
Goats Help Maintain Miramar Reservoir, Reduce Fire Risk
Visitors enjoy seeing the variety of wildlife when visiting the City of San Diego’s Miramar Reservoir in the Scripps Ranch community.
Recent visitors might have been surprised by an unusual group of animals: hundreds of goats grazing near the dam.
The City’s Public Utilities Department contracted with a local company to have more than 250 goats clear dry brush to allow for inspection of the dam and help reduce fire risk.
Under human supervision, several dozen goats can efficiently and safely clear an acre of brush per day. Photo: City of San Diego
Goat Herds Provide Energy-Efficient Reservoir Maintenance
Public Utilities operates and maintains dams for nine reservoirs that support the water supply for the City of San Diego. Routine maintenance and daily inspections help ensure the safety of this vital infrastructure.
Goats can play a vital role in this maintenance because they provide an energy-efficient and low-carbon alternative to mechanized equipment to remove dry brush and ensure proper visibility of the face of the dam.
Since 2005, the City of San Diego has allowed the use of goats to remove brush, which helps reduce the risk of wildfires. Goats are voracious eaters and are not picky about what they consume.
Twenty to thirty goats can clear an acre of brush in a few days. The goats eat plants down to the soil’s surface but leave root systems that help keep soil from washing away and causing hillside erosion.
Goats May Become A Regular Sight
Goats may be used at additional locations among the City of San Diego’s nine reservoirs. Photo: City of San Diego
After evaluating the goats’ work at Miramar Reservoir, the City will assess the feasibility of using their services in other locations.
Private property owners with large amounts of land needing brush clearance within the City of San Diego can also use goats to remove brush on their property. They must first receive a permit from the Fire-Rescue Department. There is no charge for the permit application.
Combustible vegetation, especially dry brush, should be cleared to reduce fire risk. Any material left in its natural state will readily ignite, burn, and cause fire to move to any structure or other vegetation. This includes dry grass, brush, weeds, litter, and waste.
For more information about brush management and guidelines, visit sandiego.gov/fire/services/brush.
Peters’ Bill to Streamline Permit Renewal for Wastewater Plant Passes in Committee
The legislation would simplify the city of San Diego’s permitting process to operate the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant, which will allow the city to move forward with its water-recycling project, Pure Water.
The program will supply half of San Diego’s drinking water by 2035 and help solidify the region’s water security amidst worsening conditions on the Colorado River.
City of San Diego Fixing Break in 36-Inch Water Main off Black Mountain
The City of San Diego is repairing a major leak in a 36-inch water main off Black Mountain in Rancho Peñasquitos.
City workers had to bring in heavy equipment to dig down and locate the break in the water transmission line of Carmel Valley Road.
VOSD Podcast: The Solution to Pollution is Not Dilution
The city of San Diego has embarked in a multibillion dollar effort to recycle its wastewater into drinking water. It’s a project years in the making, but officials expect to complete the first phase in 2027.
This week on the podcast, Voice of San Diego’s social media pro Bella Ross recaps what she learned on a recent tour of the new facility. And she gets into why people don’t want to drink the recycled water — but also why they need to get over it.
Water Districts Sue City of San Diego Over Lake Hodges Dam Maintenance
Two local water districts have filed a lawsuit in North County court alleging the city of San Diego failed for years to maintain the Lake Hodges Dam.
The water districts allege they have lost $21 million due to the release of water from Lake Hodges in recent months.
We’re About to Drink Toilet Water. Why That’s a Good and Safe Thing to Do.
Try driving up Morena Boulevard in Mission Valley, or north through Bay Park and Clairemont, and chances are you’ll be bottlenecked by an army of orange traffic cones demarking a huge construction project that will consume northern San Diego for years to come.
The city of San Diego is currently building a massive wastewater-to-drinking water recycling system – but it must tear up the streets to do it. The new pipe route tunnels from Morena Pump Station near the San Diego International Airport, then 10 miles north to University City and then another 8 miles to Miramar Reservoir, the final stop for all our transformed toilet water.
Water Professionals Honored at 95th CWEA Awards
Ruby Dela Cruz from the City of San Diego and Raul Villalpando from the City of Escondido were two of eight individuals honored at the 95th Annual California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Awards.
Both have served their city for the past 23 years, and their awards recognize their contributions to enhancing California’s water environment.
Ruby Dela Cruz Named Electrical Instrument Person of the Year
Dela Cruz received the “Electrical Instrumentation Person of the Year” award, celebrating her achievements as the city’s Instrumentation and Control Supervisor.
Dela Cruz is responsible for supervising, training, and participating in the maintenance of the control systems and instrumentation of the North City Pure Water Facility, Pure Water Pump Station, and Dechlorination Facility.
As a supervisor, she appreciates being challenged in her role while simultaneously passing on her expertise to others.
“I enjoy troubleshooting electrical and electronic circuits because it sharpens my analytical thinking,” said Dela Cruz. “[And] I like imparting my knowledge and sharing my technical experience to my subordinates to help them achieve their aspirations and goals in their career.”
Yet, after over two decades of working for the City of San Diego, she acknowledges the people are what make the job.
“Everyone is treated as family,” said Dela Cruz. “Just like a family, nobody is perfect, but everyone is there for you when you need them. My superiors never fail to acknowledge my accomplishments and contributions to the group.”
Raul Villalpando Named Operator of the Year
City of Escondido winner Raul Villalpondo (center) with (L to R) Keith Hobson, Vice President, Water Environment Federation (WEF), FOX Strand; Victor Corrales, City of Escondido; Wastewater Operations Manager; Villalpondo; Kyle Morgan, City of Escondido Assistant Director of Utilities Wastewater; and Chuck Greely, CWEA past president, Dudek. Photo: CWEA
Similar to Dela Cruz, Raul Villalpando values the opportunity to pass along his knowledge and expertise to his newer colleagues. This attribute led his supervisors to push for his “Operator of the Year” award.
“He’s really been the main guy that’s been kind of passing along his knowledge, not just of wastewater, but of the plant itself,” said Victor Corrales, wastewater operations manager for the City of Escondido. “He’s setting an example to those newer operators of the value of staying at a place, watching and helping it grow.”
As a senior wastewater operator, Villalpando is one of four lead operators in charge of overseeing the City of Escondido’s wastewater plant. Every day, he works alongside electricians, mechanics, and other plant operators to ensure business runs smoothly. While he wears many hats around the plant, he considers this award a group effort.
“This award that I was lucky enough to win as an individual is for everyone on this team,” said Villalpando. “I oversee all those people, but those people worked hand-in-hand with me to win that. To be able to find a good core group of people to work with is the hardest and best thing to find, and I’m lucky to say I’ve found that.”
CWEA Awards Recognize Exemplary Efforts
Founded in 1927, the CWEA is a not-for-profit association of 9,000-plus professionals in the wastewater industry. The association trains and certifies wastewater professionals, disseminates technical information and promotes sound policies to benefit society through protection and enhancement of the water environment.
For the past 95 years, the CWEA awards program has honored exemplary efforts of individuals and agencies throughout the state who are leaders in engineering, wastewater operations, collection systems, laboratory work, and pretreatment programs.
For more information about the California Water Environment Awards, visit awards.cwea.org
San Diego to Spend up to $100 Million for Dam Safety Consultant Over Next 10 Years
In recent years, the city of San Diego has released more than 11 billion gallons of freshwater from city-owned reservoirs into the ocean.
It has been done because many of the dams holding the water in are failing and have been placed on water restrictions to prevent a breach.
Now, the city of San Diego is looking to hire an outside consultant to manage its dam safety program for the next ten years at a price of up to $100 million.
