Posts

Gary Croucher-Board Chair-San Diego County Water Authority-Primary

$35.9 Million More Returned to Local Water Agencies, Drought Plan Activated

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I am so pleased to announce that the San Diego County Water Authority has distributed $35.9 million more to our 24 member agencies across the region as another piece of our successful rate case litigation. The current payments, combined with another set last February, add up to more than $80 million in rate-case payments we secured on behalf of our member agencies in 2021 as part of our ongoing effort to advocate for the San Diego region.

While the litigation was necessary to protect San Diego County ratepayers, we are looking forward and embracing the new spirit of collaboration at MWD under General Manager Adel Hagekhalil and Board Chair Gloria Gray as we focus on the challenges ahead with a united front. The Water Authority and MWD continue to seek resolution outside of court on remaining issues, and we are building a partnership to address challenging issues in Southern California such as water supply reliability, conservation, affordability, and climate change.

Current drought

One such challenge is the current drought. The Water Authority’s Board of Directors unanimously voted to activate Level 1 – Voluntary Conservation of our Water Shortage Contingency Plan in support of Governor Gavin Newsom’s efforts to sustain California after two record-dry years. This is the third time this century the plan has been activated due to recurring drought. The Governor extended his drought emergency declaration last month to cover the entire state and directed water suppliers to implement Water Shortage Contingency Plans, which are responsive to local supply-demand conditions.

As I have mentioned before, the San Diego region continues to have reliable water supplies due to decades of conservation efforts and ratepayer investments. But San Diegans have always stepped up when duty calls. I encourage residents and businesses to conserve water, avoid water waste, and take advantage of rebates to improve water-use efficiency indoors and outdoors. We offer numerous tools to make the most of every drop at www.watersmartsd.org.

Thank you for your continued investments in supply reliability and commitment to water efficiency that have helped to ensure we have enough water to meet the region’s needs both now and for the future, even in the face of climate change. I will continue to keep you updated on the latest drought news in the weeks and months ahead.

In the November Garden, Carry On Cool-Weather Planting, But Cut Back on Water

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Nan Sterman Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

While fall rains have already begun, climatologists predict a dry winter, courtesy of the long-anticipated La Niña conditions. Reservoirs are at dangerously low levels. There’s little chance of their being replenished this winter, according to predictions used by federal forestry and fire agencies.

Our governor has asked all Californians to voluntarily cut water use by 15 percent. San Diego County Water Authority asked residents to reduce water use by 10 percent. No matter where in California we garden, it’s time we look hard for ways to use less water.

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Carlsbad to Increase Water, Sewer Rates

/in , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribune Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Carlsbad plans to increase its water and sewer rates in 2022, the first of three steps that will boost the average family’s current monthly combined water and sewer bill by a total of $24.78 in 2024.

The City Council voted unanimously last week to set a public hearing on the new rates for 5 p.m. Jan. 11. If approved, the first higher rate will take effect on March 1 with additional increases on Jan. 1 of the next two years.

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Sweetwater Authority Logo 2019Sweetwater Authority Logo 2019

$1M Rebate From San Diego County Water Authority to Help Offset Costs for Sweetwater Authority Customers

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Chula Vista, Calif. – Sweetwater Authority (Authority) received a rebate of $1,070,931 from the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA). The money from SDCWA comes as a portion of $35.9 million in rebate funds the regional wholesaler recently distributed to its 24-member agencies.

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Water Authority Completes Pipeline 3 Relining in Mission Trails Regional Park

/in , , /by /Water News Network Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

San Diego County Water Authority Operations and Maintenance staff recently completed a complex relining project on a section of Pipeline 3 in central San Diego, within Mission Trails Regional Park. Pipeline 3 traverses the western portion of the region from the Riverside County border in the north to Lower Otay Reservoir in the south. The proactive Pipeline 3 relining project is part of the asset management program to make preventative repairs to large-scale infrastructure.

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Worker relines water pipeline

Water Authority Completes Pipeline 3 Relining in Mission Trails Regional Park

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San Diego County Water Authority Operations and Maintenance staff recently completed a complex relining project on a section of Pipeline 3 in central San Diego, within Mission Trails Regional Park. Pipeline 3 traverses the western portion of the region from the Riverside County border in the north to Lower Otay Reservoir in the south.

Large-diameter pipelines operated by the Water Authority and its 24 member agencies extend approximately 310 miles to convey water throughout the region.

By relining pipes ahead of time or conducting timely repairs, the Water Authority and its member agencies avoid pipeline failures and improve the reliability of future water supplies. The proactive Pipeline 3 relining project is part of the asset management program to make preventative repairs to large-scale infrastructure.

Pipeline 3 Relining

In June 2020, O&M staff performed an inspection of Pipelines 3 and 4 within Mission Trails Park during a routine shutdown. They inspected an area of Pipeline 4 that had previously been repaired, and the repairs were found to have held up successfully. Pipeline 3 has similar characteristics to Pipeline 4 in that area, and during the shutdown, staff inspected and found a 32-foot section of pipeline that had sustained lining damage. Between August and September 2021, staff completed the complex repairs on Pipeline 3.

Operations and Maintenance teams collaborate, overcome challenges

“The project was challenging due to several geographical factors, including the distance of access structures from the damaged section and the steep grade of the hill that the section of pipeline traverses,” said David Hernandez, maintenance technician at the Water Authority. “Our asset management, facility maintenance, and mechanical maintenance teams collaborated closely to plan and execute the complex repairs.”

To begin the relining project, heavy concrete covers at access point structures were first removed to allow staff to access the pipeline. Piping and an air valve at the top and pumping well at the bottom of the hill were then removed to allow for safe access. Staff installed an atmospheric ventilation fan that moved fresh air into the pipeline. Once the piping and valves were removed, they were able to enter the pipeline.

Staff then hiked through the pipeline to perform a visual inspection and locate the damaged area. They located the broken lining section and loaded broken pieces into buckets and manually hauled the buckets to access structures. Then the metal pipeline was prepared for the application of new liner. Preparation of the pipe took several days – it involved carefully cutting out any remaining damaged liner, descaling rust from the metal, and cleaning up and wiping down the metal to prepare for new lining. O&M staff then mixed the new lining material – approximately 4,400 pounds of dry material was mixed and lifted over the course of the project. The new liner was then manually applied to the pipe, starting from the bottom half for traction and then applied up to the crown of the pipe. Finally, every inch of the new lining was carefully inspected.

Careful planning protects crews during critical repairs

The highly specialized work effort was performed in a safe and efficient manner due to careful planning and execution by the Water Authority’s O&M staff. Throughout the process, staff took multiple safety measures, including wearing personal protective equipment, having a confined space rescue team on standby, and tying hand and foot loops into a safety rope. The entire project took approximately one month. It will extend the lifetime of Pipeline 3, a crucial component to the region’s water supply.

Water Authority Kicks Off 2023 Water Facilities Master Plan Update

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November 2, 2021 – The San Diego County Water Authority has begun crafting its 2023 Water Facilities Master Plan Update and will advertise for professional service support in early November following an update last week to the Board of Directors. The plan, updated every 10 years, will lay out strategies to optimize Water Authority facilities to serve the region under a range of future conditions through the 2045 planning horizon.

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Nine-Thousand Trees for Salton Sea Wildlife Marsh Habitat

/in , , /by Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

Nine-thousand trees, mostly willows, are being planted in the 1,000 acre Managed Marsh wildlife habitat in northern Imperial County.

The planting is part of  the final construction phase of the Managed Marsh, located off Highway 111 between the city of Calipatria and Niland.

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Opinion: There Are No More Water Miracles

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union-Tribuneby Michael Smolens Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

It’s not March and there was no miracle.

A strong atmospheric river dumped record rain on Northern California last weekend and sent some modest showers to San Diego.

The downpours helped replenish the state’s dwindling reservoirs some, but not enough for Gov. Gavin Newsom to lift the drought emergency he expanded to the entire state last week.

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Oceanside Wastewater Treatment Plant Preparing to Open

/in , , /by /KGTV-TV (ABC 10 News)by Leah Pezzetti Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

San Diego County has been planning ways to increase its sustainable water supply and one of the planned methods is through turning wastewater into potable water. There are three sites planned in the county and the first one, Pure Water Oceanside, is set to open before the end of 2021.

Pure Water Oceanside should begin operations mid-December and initially will help produce 30% of Oceanside’s water supply. The city has a goal of creating 50% of the water supply locally by 2030, and this facility will help make that happen.

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