Slowly but surely the San Diego County Water Authority has scaled back on next year’s proposed water rate increase. Officials initially proposed an 18 percent increase, then lowered their proposal to 12 percent. On Tuesday, they came down on the rate hike again, suggesting to the San Diego City Council an increase of 10.4 percent. That wasn’t good enough for several councilmembers.
San Diego County’s cash-strapped water authority is considering a plan that could remove a discount it gives to local farmers — something farmers claim could put them out of business. The authority gives a roughly 25% discount to about 1,000 farmers, who grow everything from flowers to avocados. Critics say removing the discount is shortsighted because it threatens to kill off a customer class the water authority can’t afford to lose. At the same time, rates for other customers may increase to cover the authority’s costs.
In late 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis produced some eye-catching numbers about our region. It found our gross domestic product (GDP) had reached roughly $262 billion. That’s bigger than 25 U.S. states and countries like Greece, Hungary and Morocco. It’s proof the path San Diego has been on over the last 30 years – a diversified economy that supports entrepreneurs and working families alike – has had positive results. Yet that success was not always a given.
Signaling a new era of collaboration, the San Diego County Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California today announced the settlement of a 15-year legal dispute over rates and the price term of an exchange agreement between the agencies.
At a news conference in San Diego, leaders from two of the state’s largest water agencies hailed the conclusion of all pending litigation, highlighting their commitment to fostering greater teamwork on a range of issues that affect nearly 19 million Southern California residents. The settlement dismisses all pending appeals, maintaining earlier judicial decisions on various matters. It includes provisions to reduce the potential for future litigation, improve certainty in budgeting, and increase flexibility in efficiently managing water supplies.
“For far too long, this legal battle sat at the center of Metropolitan’s relationship with the Water Authority,” Metropolitan board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr. said. “That era of conflict has finally come to an end and we can forge ahead, building a relationship based instead on cooperation and shared goals that will benefit the entire region. The agreement is acknowledgement of a regional approach to water supply management with mechanisms to efficiently squeeze every drop of water to assure future prosperity and our quality of life while protecting the sources of water we all depend upon.”
The agreement also opens a pathway for San Diego to provide water to other water agencies in Metropolitan’s service area.
“Ratepayers and water users across Southern California are the winners in this settlement. It provides a new revenue opportunity for San Diego, a new water supply opportunity for other communities, and greater budget certainty for the entire region,” said Water Authority board Chair Nick Serrano. “Only by working together could we produce these results. I greatly appreciate our colleagues at Metropolitan for their willingness to move past years of disagreement and chart a brighter future.”
Serrano made ending the litigation a cornerstone of his term that started in October 2024. He thanked prior Water Authority board leaders, including Chair Emeritus Mel Katz, for years spent laying the groundwork with Metropolitan’s Board Chair Ortega.
Ortega shared his gratitude.
“I greatly appreciate the partnership of board Chair Serrano and former Chair Katz, who serves on Metropolitan’s board, as well as the work of my Metropolitan board colleagues Vice Chair Nancy Sutley, Director Desi Alvarez and the members of Metropolitan’s ad hoc committee on the San Diego litigation, as we set the groundwork of trust that made this agreement possible.”
Metropolitan Water District Board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr. speaks at the press conference announcing an end to litigation.
The litigation centered on the price the Water Authority pays to Metropolitan for an exchange of water. The Water Authority has acquired conserved Colorado River water from two sources: the Water Authority purchases water from the Imperial Irrigation District, and Metropolitan assigned to the Water Authority water conserved by the lining of the All-American and Coachella canals.
This conserved Colorado River water totals up to 277,700 acre-feet a year (an acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons, enough to serve roughly three Southern California families for a year). The conserved Colorado River water is provided to Metropolitan at the Colorado River and, in exchange, Metropolitan delivers the same quantity of its water to San Diego. The Water Authority repeatedly challenged the price Metropolitan charged for this exchange starting in 2010, with both sides winning important legal judgments over more than a decade.
Under the settlement, the Water Authority will pay a fixed price to Metropolitan for delivery of the exchange water, adjusted annually for inflation. The price will no longer be tied to Metropolitan’s rates, which was a source of dispute and litigation. In addition, the Water Authority will be able to offer those deliveries to other Metropolitan member agencies or to sell the conserved Colorado River water to Metropolitan.
“This agreement will allow San Diego to take advantage of our past investments in diverse water supplies to benefit regional ratepayers while addressing water reliability challenges more broadly,” Water Authority General Manager Dan Denham said. “We look forward to building on the foundation of collaboration laid today.”
Board members and leaders from the San Diego County Water Authority and the Metropolitan Water District celebrate the end of 15 years of litigation.
“And from Metropolitan’s perspective, the agreement provides increased revenue certainty, potential access to additional water, and the confidence that years of litigation are behind us,” Metropolitan General Manager Deven Upadhyay said. “Today truly marks a new beginning. Through dialogue, negotiation and mutual understanding, we have found a common path forward. And we are all far better off for it.”
The settlement agreement was drafted and refined over the past year by Ortega, Upadhyay, General Counsel Marcia Scully and Metropolitan’s in-house litigation team, who worked with the Water Authority team of Serrano, Katz, Denham and General Counsel David Edwards.
Settlement Agreement Highlights
• Pending appeals are dismissed, all previous final judicial decisions remain in place and parties retain already decided attorneys’ fees and costs awarded.
• Water Authority to pay Metropolitan an agreed upon fixed price for the delivery of exchange water, instead of the past price that was based on Metropolitan’s rates. The fixed price will start at $671 per acre-foot in 2026, and increase annually based on a specified consumer price index escalator.
• Water Authority to pay Metropolitan a fixed payment for 227,000 acre-feet of exchange water a year, rather than making payments based on volume of water exchanged. If more than 227,000 acre-feet of water is exchanged, then the Water Authority will pay the unit price based on volumetric deliveries.
• Provides Water Authority potential new revenue. The Water Authority can first offer to Metropolitan member agencies the right to receive exchange water, and then can offer to Metropolitan the right to purchase conserved water.
• Metropolitan and Water Authority will meet every five years to discuss ongoing implementation of the Exchange Agreement.
The San Diego County Water Authority operates an impressive water delivery system capable of delivering up to 900 million gallons of water a day. But as the infrastructure naturally ages, it’s critical to actively monitor, replace, and repair pipelines to maintain water supply reliability.
The Vallecitos Water District was recognized with a One Water Award from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) for its efforts to work with homeowners associations in its district on turf replacement projects.
Public Information/Conservation Supervisor Chris Robbins accepted the award on behalf of the Vallecitos Water District in a recognition event at Metropolitan’s headquarters in Los Angeles on May 21.
L to R: Metropolitan General Manager Deven Upadhyay, Metropolitan Senior Water Specialist Gary Tilkian, Vallecitos Public Information/Conservation Supervisor Chris Robbins, and Metropolitan Board Chairman Adan Ortega at the One Water Awards. Photo: Metropolitan Water District
Now in its third year, Metropolitan’s One Water Awards honors businesses and non-residential industries for achieving remarkable water savings with assistance from its various water efficiency programs.
Award-winning projects are located throughout Metropolitan’s six-county service area and are recognized for accomplishments in sustainability, innovation, community engagement, collaboration, and leadership.
“The honorees here with us today are remarkable not only for their dedication to saving water, but for the example they set in their communities,” said Metropolitan board Chair Adán Ortega, Jr. “They are proving what’s possible – and showing how Southern California can rise to the challenge of adapting to a changing climate. That’s a vision Metropolitan shares.”
“I’m so pleased to get this award. I feel a little guilty; I get to stand up here and get this award, but really it was a partnership,” said Robbins. “It was the incentives offered by the Metropolitan Water District. It was the partnering between the San Diego County Water Authority and the County of San Diego. And then it was the individual homeowners associations,” working with Vallecitos to make its projects a reality.
Robbins said videos featuring the projects and articles in the District’s newsletter generated additional interest from eligible HOAs.
Water News Network featured all three of the winning Vallecitos Water District projects as they were completed.
The bowl-shaped common space at the Mall III Homeowners Association property in Lake San Marcos was once dominated by turf, which wasn’t being used while requiring significant irrigation.
The San Elijo homeowner association had attempted to remodel its landscaping for nearly a decade. Not only was irrigation a significant expense, but the runoff from rain and irrigation polluted the lake. After a water-smart landscape upgrade, it’s now a point of pride that’s easier on the budget.
The transformation, made possible in part by incentives offered through the Water Authority’s rebate program, is one that local officials hope will inspire other communities.
Fairways at Lake San Marcos HOA replaced 23,000 square feet of common area turf grass with native and drought-tolerant plants. A rock-lined swale cascades down a slope to prevent stormwater runoff and provides an attractive entrance to the community. A butterfly garden with a gravel walkway near the clubhouse provides accessibility and education.
Fairways HOA president Terry Brown said her community was introduced to the program and decided to move forward.
Preventing runoff into Lake San Marcos is a benefit of the new landscaping. Photo: County of San Diego
“We removed 23,000 square feet, and then we got three dollars for each square foot that we removed, plus we got 40 cents for the drip irrigation system. We’re going to receive one dollar per square foot for at least 10,000 square feet of California native plants. So, we did all of that. And we’re pleased with everything that has happened,” said Brown.
While rebates defrayed the initial costs, the real savings will be realized in the years ahead on one of the HOA’s major expenses, the cost of irrigation.
There are more than 6,700 homeowners associations in San Diego County. Two million County residents live within an HOA, according to the California Association of Community Managers.
Launched in 2021 by the County of San Diego’s Watershed Protection Program and the San Diego County Water Authority, the WaterScape Rebate Program is open to HOAs and commercial properties in unincorporated areas of San Diego County.
The Landscape Optimization Service (LOS) offered through the Waterscape Rebate Program is a technical assistance program for large-scale landscaping projects in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County. The program helps applicants with large landscapes, such as HOAs, parks, and commercial properties, to navigate the requirements, overcome any barriers, and maximize their rebate eligibility.
Thoughtful inclusion of grass for play areas, pets, and other uses is incorporated into the new landscaping. Photo: County of San Diego
Makeovers don’t require removing all grass. Instead, grass is retained where it is most useful and practical. For the Fairways HOA board members, it meant accommodating the many residents who like to walk their dogs in the neighborhood, and wanted to retain some grassy spaces for them to enjoy with their pets.
As part of the program, LOS staff analyzes estimated water and cost savings, which helps decision-makers justify the investment with an understanding of how quickly the project will pay for itself. The program also offers discounted designs to participants.
The enhanced incentives include rebates for turf replacement, smart controller stations, rain barrels, and cisterns.
More information on the Landscape Optimization Service can be found here, or contact your member water agency for details.
The popular Women in Water Conference achieved a sellout for its second straight year with its eighth annual full-day event on March 20, 2025, at Cuyamaca College.
The in-person event welcomed high school and college students, along with industry veterans. Under this year’s theme, “Riding Your Career Wave,” attendees took advantage of the opportunity to network and learn from peers and leaders in the water industry.
Now in its eighth year, the Women In Water Conference continues to grow and build its reputation as a vital resource for water and wastewater industry professionals. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
“It’s been very organic the way it’s grown,” said event chairperson Maria Rose, a management analyst with the San Diego County Water Authority. “People hear about it, and they talk about it.
“One thing we really try to do is have every speaker tell their own story. No matter what topic they’re speaking to, everybody has a story. How did you get to where you are? It makes it more personal, and you can connect more with them,” said Rose.
Olivenhain Municipal Water District General Manager Kimberly Thorner talks about career advancement at the 2025 Women In Water Conference. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
Speakers represented multiple disciplines, discussing a variety of topics from the water industry’s history in San Diego County to current career opportunities and career paths. Rose said the Women In Water Conference works hard to have something for everyone.
“We try to touch on what’s going on and what’s relevant at that time. What are we going through as a community? What would be of interest to us? What are we missing? We want to have topics that touch a variety of levels, but touch everyone as a woman, so that when they leave, they feel connected and they feel like a part of something,” said Rose.
Conference participants visited displays and talked to member agencies and other organizations about employment opportunities, including the Padre Dam Municipal Water District. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
Presenters represented the San Diego County Water Authority, City of Oceanside, City of San Diego, Helix Water District, Hoch Consulting, Olivenhain Municipal Water District, Otay Water District, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Santa Fe Irrigation District and Santa Margarita Water District.
Panel discussions included “Silent Currents: Things Left Unsaid in the Workplace,” “Riding the Waves of Leadership: Navigating Executive-Level Challenges”, “Beneath the Surface: A Day in the Life of Unseen but Essential Positions” and a review of the county’s current potable reuse programs, including Pure Water San Diego, Pure Water Oceanside, and East County Advanced Water Purification Project.
Seevani Bista, San Diego County Water Authority principal water resources specialist, talked with conference attendees about the San Diego region’s water history. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
Seevani Bista, a principal water resources specialist with the San Diego County Water Authority, presented a popular session to start the day, discussing the San Diego region’s water history.
“A lot of people assume that everybody in the water industry knows that, but many don’t,” said Rose. “There’s quite an interesting history here in San Diego, and it’s something that connects all of us there, how water was first brought to San Diego. I thought that was a pretty interesting way to start the day.”
Conference participants have offered positive feedback about the programs at the 2025 Women In Water Conference. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
Positive feedback is already being received and will help guide next year’s event. Among the comments:
“I felt honored to participate and be a part of this special event, which showcases the accomplishments of women and where we can grow.”
“This event highlights women’s collective power to make changes in the water industry, despite the climate on the outside, and we can speak to the things that are left unsaid and inspire those in the future.”
Lisa Marie Harris, CFO and Director of Finance for the San Diego County Water Authority, was among the featured speakers at the 2025 Women in Water Conference. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
The water and wastewater industry offers vast opportunities in engineering, operations, finance, public affairs, human resources, administration, and information technology.
Approximately 4,500 professionals serve the San Diego region in water and wastewater careers. More than 1,400 of those workers are expected to reach retirement age within the next five years. California is one of the states with the greatest employment opportunities in this career field.
Deciding to undertake a landscape makeover involves many choices. Choosing your new landscape plants is one of your most enjoyable tasks. But walking into your local nursery can present so many choices that it’s overwhelming. What plants work best in the San Diego climate regions, and which ones use water efficiently?
San Diego County Water Authority Senior Water Resources Specialist Debby Dunn created two convenient plant lists homeowners can use to help them choose plants that will thrive and look beautiful in your new landscape with minimal irrigation.
The Nifty 50 is all new with update plant choices and helpful information. Photo: Water Authority
The Nifty 50 Plant list has helped San Diegans pick good plants for our climate for many years. It was recently updated with new choices. “Not only do the style of plants change over time, like many things do, but some plants become less hearty due to pests and disease,” said Dunn.
“Feedback from local nurseries and state mandates regarding non-functional turf led Water Authority staff to update the list. We focused on low- and very low-water plants. Half of the plants on the new list are native, and 98% invite pollinators.”
The Nifty 50 list offers care tips and a checklist to help you make the right choices for your project. Photo: Water Authority
The Nifty 50 list includes a 10-step checklist for plant selection and care tips to help your new plants thrive.
Superb Grevillea is featured on the Happy 100 list. It’s a great choice for year-round, eye-catching flowers with lush, evergreen foliage. It grows quickly in well-draining soils. Good for cut flowers, and attracts birds, bees and hummingbirds. Photo: Water Authority
The State of California has new regulations banning commercial turf grass in areas where it is ornamental or “nonfunctional.” To help commercial landscapers adhere to the new guidelines, Dunn and the Water Authority staff created a new, more comprehensive plant list called the Happy 100 Plant List.
The list actually contains 103 low and very low-water using plants, with specific information about each plant. These plant choices are well suited to landscapes for homeowner association common areas, public parks, and commercial buildings.
Beautiful Cleveland Sage (Salvia clevelandii) is a “Sturdy 30” list choice. The evergreen shrub has soft green/gray to silvery fragrant foliage with spring flowers. Its flowers and seeds attract birds, bees,
butterflies, and hummingbirds. Photo: Water Authority
To help gardeners who need easygoing plants that will tolerate a little neglect, Dunn created a special list from the Happy 100 named the “Sturdy 30.” By sorting the online Happy 100 database, the 30 suggested plants sort into their own list.
The Happy 100 plant database can be sorted by plant common name, plant botanic name, light requirements, size at maturity, bloom color and bloom season, and which plants are native to California. Pruning and maintenance information helps homeowners care for their plants as they mature.
Prioritizing pollinators with your plant choices, such as Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), provides healthy habitat. Photo: Water Authority
Numerous plants support the life cycle of butterflies, including the threatened monarch butterfly. Plant several in the garden to help the larvae and caterpillars as well as the full-grown, nectar-seeking adults. The Happy 100 notes which plant choices attract pollinators and which pollinators favor each plant choice.
Choosing pollinator-friendly plants allows checks and balances in a garden. You can attract insects and creatures, which will help maintain the health of a garden without pesticides.
“Lush, water-wise, pollinating plants in our landscapes cool and clean the air, invite and feed pollinators, enhance the beauty of our homes and businesses, and lift our spirits. Consider adding a few (dozen) to your landscape today,” recommended Dunn.
Dunn has worked with thousands of people seeking gardening advice and realized they need detailed plant lists to help create water-wise, year-round blooming gardens that would fit their visual preferences and maintenance needs. Dunn sought input from dozens of local landscape professionals in the nursery and design field, ultimately making a list that anyone can use and enjoy the results.
The Valley Center Municipal Water District (District) has been advised by its wholesale supplier, the San Diego County Water Authority, of the following aqueduct shutdown. The shutdown of the San Diego Aqueduct that delivers water to the District will be out of service for rehabilitation repairs and will begin at 1:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 22, 2025, through 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.
The popular WaterSmart Landscape Makeover annual competition is now open for 2025 entries. The contest highlights residential landscaping with grass areas that have been transformed into flourishing and colorful water-smart landscapes.
Contest judges look for winners who represent the best in landscaping makeover projects from 12 participating San Diego County water agencies.
Winning entrants feature unique approaches to their landscape projects. They demonstrate the wide range of options for creating lush, beautiful landscapes that rely more on native plants and less on large areas of thirty grass.
Jason and Taylor McAllister turned a tired Santee yard into a tropical landscape visited by pollinators and other wildlife. Photo: Padre Dam Municipal Water District
Entries are judged on overall attractiveness, efficient irrigation methods, design, and appropriate plant selection and maintenance. The creative results and personal stories help inform and inspire other homeowners to consider their own new yard designs.
“The cooler winter months are the ideal time to make changes to your landscaping,” said Water Authority Senior Water Resources Specialist Debby Dunn. “Take advantage of our ongoing educational programs and rebates to create your own water-wise wonderland.
“To help choose the plants that best fit your style and climate, check out the Water Authority’s Nifty 50 and Happy 100 plant lists. These lists can help everyone create beautiful, lush, colorful, thriving landscapes filled with birds, bees, and butterflies.”
Rain barrels help supplement the irrigation system in this year’s Vista Irrigation District Landscape Makeover Contest winner. Photo: Vista Irrigation District
Participating agencies in 2025 include the cities of Escondido, and Oceanside, Helix Water District, Olivenhain Municipal Water District, Otay Water District, Padre Dam Municipal Water District, Rincon Del Diablo Water District, San Dieguito Water District, Sweetwater Authority, Vallecitos Water District, and Vista Irrigation District.
Each agency winner receives a $250 gift certificate and public recognition for their efforts. Homeowners may also be eligible for turf removal rebates and additional incentives, which can help defray project costs. Applications must be complete and approved prior to beginning your landscape work.
The winning Olivenhain Municipal Water District 2024 landscape contest design includes a seating area to let visitors sit and enjoy the space Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District
This year’s contest deadline for all participating agencies is Friday, May 9, 2025. Homeowners may submit their entry online or through their participating agency. This is where you pay your water bill. You must be a resident within agency boundaries to participate.
Find the application for your participating water agency here, or on your agency’s website.
The Palmer family’s winning entry in the 2024 City of Escondido Landscape Makeover Contest. Photo: City of Escondido
Outdoor water use accounts for 62% of San Diego County’s water consumption, mainly for landscape irrigation. Yards with a lot of grass can greatly increase overall water consumption.
Conservation education efforts, including the WaterSmart Landscape Contest, provide ways to create landscapes customized for your favorite activities, incorporating the needs of children, pets, accessible areas, pollinators, and specialty gardens.
The Water Authority offers free options to help homeowners plan their makeovers. Homeowners can get started by viewing step-by-step videos on the Water Authority website. Additional online resources includes free video workshops.
Each winner will receive a $250 gift certificate and recognition in the appropriate agency’s newsletter, on their website, and other promotional materials.
