Santa Fe Irrigation District customers will see an increase in water rates this spring as the board voted on March 28 to approve the new rate hike. In the 4-1 vote, Director Sandy Johnson representing Rancho Santa Fe was opposed. The new rates went into effect on April 1 and customers will see the impacts on bi-monthly bills in June.
San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Sandra L. Kerl delivered an inspiring keynote address at the 2023 Women in Water Symposium at Cuyamaca College. The conference was not held at the college in 2021 or 2022 due to the coronavirus pandemic. And Kerl’s address focused on the sixth annual conference theme, “Building Resilience In Post-Pandemic Times.”
At the March 29 symposium, Kerl shared insights and lessons from leading the Water Authority during the coronavirus pandemic. One lesson was learning how to do business in a different way while still meeting the Water Authority’s essential mission.
“We need talent, knowledge, and fresh ideas from a wide range of people with a wide range of perspectives and life experiences and that is how we navigate a volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world,” said Kerl.
Women In Water Symposium participants applauded Water Authority General Manager Sandra Kerl’s keynote remarks about workforce diversity and resilience. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
Conference organizers planned this year’s conference program to help attendees realign their focus following several years of unprecedented challenges. The goal is to give attendees tools and insights to help them navigate the new normal in the industry through both programming and career networking opportunities.
Today, said Kerl, new norms and a changing work culture remain. Among the benefits are an increased sense of collaboration, a recognition of the importance of human connection, and the importance of workforce diversity, equity, and inclusion. Kerl noted that resilient teams are diverse teams.
The Water Authority began efforts to survey its workforce before the pandemic. Rather than stalling the effort, it accelerated the work process.
“We had the opportunity to have conversations with people across the organization to work on those issues. From my standpoint, to be able to accomplish this work now and in the future, we need a diverse workforce. We need everybody coming to the workplace with their full selves. We need to empower our employees to reach their potential, whatever that may be,” said Kerl, drawing appreciative applause from the audience.
Water Authority General Manager Sandra L. Kerl emphasized the value of diverse workforce teams, and of bringing your “full selves” to the workplace. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
Kerl said she was drawn to a career in water because it allowed her to make the most meaningful impact on her community. “To me, there’s really no higher mission than being responsible for delivering critical, life-affirming water for our families and businesses,” she said.
She encouraged women to pursue water industry jobs at all levels, from engineering to management. The Brookings Institution, a nonprofit think tank, reports that in the United States, women currently represent only 15% of the water workforce.
“Water is complicated and fascinating.” Water Authority General Manager Sandra Kerl shares her personal story and how to build resiliency in the workforce at the Women in Water Symposium at @cuyamacacollege #womeninwater #workforwater pic.twitter.com/Lmy9TfJYzC
— San Diego County Water Authority (@sdcwa) March 29, 2023
“We’ve all faced a lot of uncertainty through the pandemic, but that has helped each of us develop resilience in big ways and small…. and now we can leverage that by courageously moving into uncharted territories – whether that’s a new project, a new position, or even a new career in the water industry,” added Kerl.
Kerl says thankfully it’s changing. Forty percent of the Water Authority’s workforce are women, and more than half its department heads. It takes raising awareness about opportunities in the industry.
“As we raise awareness about opportunities in our industry, through this forum and others, we can attract more women to the rewarding work we do,” said Kerl. “I view this Symposium as the next step in nurturing a new generation of water professionals.”
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. Water and wastewater treatment plant operators in California earn an annual mean wage of more than $74,590, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Proud to support and sponsor the 6th Annual Women in Water Symposium and excited to be back in person again!!! “Building Resilience in Post-Pandemic Times” Full house! Thanks to all the supporters & wonderful women attendees! pic.twitter.com/c3rG9TpRQe
— Otay Water District (@OtayWater) March 29, 2023
The San Diego County Water Authority announced the return of its free in-person WaterSmart Landscape Makeover workshops that has helped thousands throughout the region convert high-water-use lawn areas to WaterSmart landscapes.
The in-person landscape workshops began on March 18 and will continue every Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Water Conservation garden, adjacent to Cuyamaca College in Rancho San Diego, and at the Helix Water District Operations Center in La Mesa.
Talk of a 14% increase in the cost of water is the last straw for the agricultural communities of Fallbrook and Rainbow.
The San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) last week started a months-long public process to refine its next two-year budget and draft a preliminary proposed rate increase for 2024. The average rates charged by the Water Authority are currently projected to rise by approximately 14% next year, though agency staff and board members are assessing strategies to lower the number.
San Diego County Water Authority General Manager Sandra Kerl is the keynote speaker at the 2023 Women in Water Conference at Cuyamaca College Wednesday, March 29. This year’s theme is “Building Resilience In Post-Pandemic Times.” Kerl’s remarks will focus on the conference theme of building career resilience in a new post-pandemic work environment.
The conference starts at 11 a.m. followed by a reception and professional networking at The Water Conservation Garden from 5 to 7 p.m.
Conference topics include interview tips; advocating for needs in the workplace; working with diverse teams of differing personalities; and becoming a leader of influence and change. Participants can have a professional headshot taken at the start of the conference and visit exhibit booths featuring organizations from the industry.
This year’s conference is designed to help attendees realign their focus following several years of unprecedented challenges. The goal is to provide the tools and insights to help them navigate the new normal in the industry through both programming and career networking opportunities.
Women In Water Conference attendees will have opportunities to network with water industry professionals. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
The conference opens with a panel discussion about career opportunities for women in the water and wastewater industry.
Each of the afternoon’s breakout sessions offers three specific career level tracks to address needs at each level: entry level for individuals new to water industry careers; people looking for career advancement; and established professionals interested in honing their leadership skills and advocating for workforce diversity.
Lunch, refreshments, and parking are included in the $25 general fee. Registration is free for students. Cuyamaca College is at 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway, El Cajon. Register here.
City of Escondido Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Carrie Selby is among a growing number of women working in water and wastewater industry careers. Photo: City of Escondido
The water and wastewater industry offers vast opportunities in engineering, operations, finance, public affairs, human resources, administration, and information technology.
Since 2017, the Water Authority’s “Faces of the Water Industry” campaign has highlighted nearly 200 employees in San Diego County across multiple water agencies and job types.
The informational campaign is designed to introduce the wide variety of career opportunities available at all skill levels with an emphasis on welcoming a wide-ranging talent pool of candidates including women.
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. Water and wastewater treatment plant operators in California earn an annual mean wage of more than $74,590, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant supplies about 50 million gallons of water to the San Diego region every day, enough to fill 75 Olympic swimming pools.
Currently the seven-year-old plant, built at a cost of more than $1 billion, is in the process of implementing a $274 million upgrade to its intake-discharge system. The result will be a new pumping facility that will keep the water flowing while greatly lessening the operation’s environmental impact.
San Diegans are facing a tidal wave of rate increases in coming years for so-called drought-proof water — driven in large part by new sewage recycling projects coupled with the rising cost of desalination and importing the Colorado River.
While many residents already struggle to pay their utility bills, the situation now appears more dire than elected leaders may have anticipated.
According to Public Information Officer Noelle Denke for the Fallbrook Utility District, over the last decade, the San Diego County Water Authority has raised water costs for the Fallbrook and Rainbow Municipal Water Districts by an average of 8% per year.
As a result, the region has lost an estimated 10,000 acres of groves and 1 million trees. And now, water rates could go up 14%.
Fix a Leak Week is an opportunity for all water users to repair leaks and save our most precious resource. The week (March 20-26) is a reminder every March to check indoor and outdoor plumbing systems for costly, wasteful water leaks.
Increasing awareness of opportunities to repair leaks is supported by the San Diego County Water Authority and its 24 member agencies, and by other regional WaterSense partners throughout North America.
“While Fix a Leak Week is a reminder to save water by repairing leaks, San Diegans continue to be WaterSmart by upgrading plumbing devices with high-efficiency toilets and low-flow showerheads, and by using smart irrigation controllers that automatically adjust with the weather,” said Water Resources Specialist Debby Dunn, with the San Diego County. “We encourage residents and businesses to take advantage of the rebates available to save water indoors and outdoors.”
Minor water leaks account for more than a trillion gallons of water wasted each year in homes across the United States. For example, repairing a leaky toilet can save up to 500 gallons of water a day. In just a month, that’s enough to fill a backyard swimming pool.
According to the EPA, an average household’s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year. Homes with easily correctable leaks can waste 90 gallons or more per day. By fixing easily correctable leaks, consumers can save water cut an average of 10% off their monthly water bill.
Adding water efficient upgrades will help meet long-term regional conservation goals. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority
The Water Authority has partnered with San Diego Gas and Electric to install nearly 4,000 WaterSense-labeled showerheads and 2,213 water-efficient toilets for residents. A $3 million grant from the California Department of Water Resources Urban Community Drought relief grant program will fund the installation of 7,300 additional toilets and smart irrigation controllers. The upgrades will save about 6,000 acre-feet of water. Replacing inefficient or leaking toilets with high-efficiency models reduces water use by 60%.
The Vallecitos Water District added a new video for 2023 to its award-winning series helping customers find and fix leaks to save water and money. This year, Vallecitos Water District asks viewers to take the “10 Minute Challenge.”
The Sweetwater Authority is offering tips for consumers and rebates of up to $75 for leak repairs made through June 30. Consumers can schedule a free water audit by calling the Water Efficiency Hotline at 619-409-6779 or email
The Sweetwater Authority also offers customers a $75 rebate to replace or install a new pressure-reducing valve at their home. The valves help to address high pressure that can cause increased wear on fittings, making them more prone to leaks.
A rebate of up to $100 is also available for qualifying leak detectors and flow monitors, which can alert customers to potential leaks through an app on their smartphone. Check out all the water efficiency rebates: www.sweetwater.org/rebates.
Minor water leaks account for more than a trillion gallons of water wasted each year in homes across the United States. Photo: Rajesh Balouria
The Otay Water District offers helpful tips to fix leaks and save water on its website and its social media, including:
Leaky showerheads or dripping faucets are often easy to fix, requiring common tools and hardware that can pay for themselves in water savings. How much? According to the EPA Fix-A-Week-Leak website, each average household with unaddressed leaks can account for 10,000 gallons of water loss every year, enough to wash 300 loads of laundry.
Investing just 10 minutes to perform a quick search of your home and fixing them can save an additional 10% on your water bill.
Check WaterSmartSD.org for tips and for more information about Fix a Leak Week.
To educate water users and promote the importance of repairing leaks to conserve and protect the water supply, Fix a Leak Week was created in 2009 by the Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense program.
(Editor’s note: The Vallecitos Water District, Otay Water District and Sweetwater Authority are three of the San Diego County Water Authority’s 24 member agencies that deliver water across the San Diego County region.)
The Water News Network is San Diego County’s source for water news and information.
