Poway’s average residential customers could see a nearly $33 bimonthly increase on their water bill next spring.
The city has planned for 6 percent annual water rate increases since January 2022. The increases are considered adjustments for rate increases by the city’s water supplier, San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA). On Jan. 1, 2025 customers will see an increase of $23.51 to their bimonthly billing period.
Every October 17, the US Water Alliance hosts “Imagine a Day Without Water” — a chance to collectively acknowledge the critical role water plays in every aspect of our lives.
Imagine rolling out of bed in the morning, going to brush your teeth, and no water coming out of the tap. You check the dishwasher, which was supposed to run last night, and see the plates and glasses are still dirty. The shower runs dry, the lawn isn’t watered, and the washing machine is idle.
A world without water. It’s a scary proposition.
While this may seem like science fiction, some cities have come extremely close to this terrifying reality. A few years ago, huge water shortages forced residents of Cape Town, South Africa, to shrink their water use to all-time lows. “We are now limited to using 13 gallons of water per person per day,” wrote Time Magazine. “That’s enough for a 90-second shower, a half-gallon of drinking water, a sinkful to hand-wash dishes or laundry, one cooked meal, two hand washings, two teeth brushings and one toilet flush.”
This year Mexico City faced similar catastrophic cuts to keep preserve their dwindling water reserves. “Bernardo Nonato Corona, a resident of the hills surrounding Mexico City, told ABC News he spends 25% of his income on water.”
Cataclysmic water shortages, safety and supply problems aren’t just an international issue. They’re happening right here in California as well. An annual assessment released by the State Water Resources Control Board found that “almost 400 water systems serving nearly a million Californians don’t meet state requirements for safe and reliable drinking water supplies.”
Climate change, poor planning and other factors have caused residents around the world to face a world without water.
Now think about how a similar situation would impact our region. More than 3 million residents across the county and hundreds of millions of dollars in economic activity would grind to a halt, making the basic activities we take for granted impossible.
Thankfully, the San Diego region has planned to make sure that scenario stays a hypothetical.
On Oct. 1, the San Diego County Water Authority announced that the region had plenty of water to meet demands during the year ahead regardless of the weather. That’s because our region’s work on new supplies, conservation and water storage over the past 30 years were a down payment on sustainable water supplies for future generations.
We know there are challenges ahead to provide our growing region the reliable water supply it needs in a hotter and drier world. We’re working to make sure that a world without water is just a one day thought experiment instead of reality.
Olivenhain Municipal Water District will hold a public hearing at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct.16 to receive comments on proposed water charges. The proposed charges would increase a residential customer’s bill with average usage by less than five percent, beginning Jan. 1, 2025, according to a news release.
OMWD buys all of its drinking water supply from its wholesaler, San Diego County Water Authority. Buying wholesale water makes up approximately 60 percent of OMWD’s operating costs. Effective Jan. 1, 2025, SDCWA will increase the price OMWD pays for water by 14 percent.
San Diego County is in a good place to meet water demands through the next water year, which began Tuesday, officials announced.
The 12-month water year cycle begins Oct. 1 for counts of snowfall and precipitation for the next year. The San Diego County Water Authority, which brings in new leadership Tuesday, said that two consecutive wet winters have the area prepared for water needs, even with La Niña conditions likely to replace wet El Niño weather this winter.
San Diego County is well set to meet water demands through the water year 2025, even with La Niña conditions likely to replace wet El Niño weather this winter, it was announced Tuesday.
Oct. 1 serves as the start of the 12-month water year cycle, counting winter snowfall and summer precipitation for the next year. For the San Diego County Water Authority, which brings in new leadership Tuesday, two consecutive wet winters have the area prepared for water needs regardless of weather.
Eight beautiful, intelligent, selfless, and phenomenal women — including San Diego County Water Authority’s Karla Sanchez — inspired many at the Liberty Station Conference Center on Saturday, September 21st. From 11am-3pm the San Diego Section of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), whose mission is to lead, advocate for, and empower women of African descent, their families, and communities, celebrated and treated these eight women and their supportive families to a luncheon and an afternoon filled with tunes, delicious food, and great company to share their accomplishments with.
A prominent aide to San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria will start a two-year term as chair of the San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors on Oct. 1.
Nick Serrano, Gloria’s deputy chief of staff, has served as vice chair of the board for the past two years while representing the city. He was unanimously elected as chair Thursday and will serve with incoming vice chair Frank Hilliker from the Lakeside Water District, and incoming secretary Joy Lyndes from the San Dieguito Water District.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s deputy chief of staff, Nick Serrano takes over as leader of the governing board for the region’s major water wholesaler.
The board of the San Diego County Water Authority voted Thursday to elect Serrano as chair, installing Lakeside Water District representative Frank Hillaker as vice chair and San Dieguito Water District representative Joy Lyndes as Secretary. Serrano took over the top board spot after serving as vice chair under the former leader, Mel Katz, a Del Mar representative, as is general practice for power succession at the Water Authority.
When Shawn McCoy graduated from American Military University after 20 years of military service, he thought he’d become a park ranger.
With a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and a concentration in fish and wildlife management and sustainability now under his belt, he was fully equipped to head into his new career.
However, after his kids decided they wanted to stay in San Diego County, DOD SkillBridge — a program aimed toward connecting exiting military members with civilian work — redirected McCoy to an internship that satisfied both his family’s wishes and his desire to work in environmental science.
After completing 20 years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps, Shawn McCoy sought job training through the SkillBridge program. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
During his 20 years in the service, McCoy worked as a helicopter mechanic for the U.S. Marine Corps and completed two deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq. In January 2023, he became a water resources intern for the San Diego County Water Authority, entering a completely different world.
“I was so used to structure, but coming out, there’s obviously a lot more freedom,” said McCoy. “The Water Authority was a good way to reintroduce me to the real world when I got out. Something as simple as, ‘Do I have to check in with you when I go to lunch,’ were all things I had to get used to.”
As a water resources intern, he took on roles that pulled from his environmental science education. In addition to his daily tasks of documenting, screening, and reviewing reports for the department, he went on field visits to monitor vegetation restoration and participated in construction projects.
He also became acquainted with the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant during his time as a Water Authority intern — where he would later spend much of his time.
Shawn McCoy now works full-time as an environmental manager for Channelside Water Resources LP at the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
After hearing about a job opening at Channelside Water Resources LP, McCoy applied and was hired on as an environmental manager in July 2023, directly after his internship with the Water Authority.
In his current role, McCoy manages day-to-day activities at the Carlsbad plant, including overseeing maintenance and operations and ensuring environmental health and safety.
He credits his time at the Water Authority for his smooth transition into his role with Channelside.
“The Water Authority is where I was first introduced to the water purchase agreement and how it ties to the desal plant,” said McCoy. “So, I got to learn about the desal plant prior to even coming into this role.”
As for the future of his career, McCoy hopes to eventually go back to school to receive his master’s degree and work his way up to the director of operations. Thanks to SkillBridge and the San Diego County Water Authority, McCoy is already on the road to reaching those goals.
While the process of paving over underground repairs and refilling the feeder main line brought a collective sigh of relief in Calgary, critical water quality tests loomed as workers focused on the finish line in the dwindling days of June.
The more than three-week ordeal of repairing the nearly 50-year-old, 11 kilometre-long, two-metre diameter feeder main was a significant challenge for Calgary’s Water Services Director, Nancy Mackay, her team, and other municipal departments, not to mention the city’s 1.6 million residents.
