The San Diego County Water Authority’s Lake Hodges Pumped Storage Project is now fully operational and delivering up to 40 megawatts of electricity to the region, helping San Diego Gas & Electric meet San Diego County’s energy needs in the hot weather of late summer.
Category Archives: Environmental Sustainability
Wildlife Agencies, Water Authority Sign 55-year Habitat Conservation Agreement
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Game, and the San Diego County Water Authority have entered into a long-term agreement that will help conserve San Diego County’s natural heritage for future generations while providing a more efficient endangered species permitting process for the Water Authority as it builds and maintains vital water supply infrastructure.
San Diego County Water Authority to host workshop on energy issues for water agencies
The San Diego County Water Authority in partnership with SDG&E will host a workshop on energy issues for water wastewater, landscape and agricultural communities and agencies:
When: August 23, 9:00 am – 11:30 am
Where: Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park
How: Registration at: www.fypower.org/feature/waterworkshop/
Purpose of Workshops – the workshops will target energy saving activities by addressing several subject areas:
Water Authority Using Solar Panels to Power Up Savings for Ratepayers
Solar electric systems capable of producing approximately 2.6 million kilowatt-hours of electricity combined per year are now in operation at three San Diego County Water Authority facilities. Based on current rates, the systems are projected to save the region’s ratepayers $1.7 million in energy costs over the next 20 years and will enable the agency to meet a significant portion of its power needs with renewable energy.
San Diego County Water Authority’s plan for future water reliability wins awards
The San Diego County Water Authority’s Regional Water Facilities Master Plan recently received top honors in two awards competitions. Both the California Association of Environmental Professionals and the San Diego Section of the American Planning Association selected the master plan as the “Outstanding Planning Document” for 2003.
Water Authority, City of San Diego Measuring Interest in Potential Renewable Energy-Supporting Pumped Storage Project
The San Diego County Water Authority and the City of San Diego on Wednesday took a step toward the possibility of helping the region meet its future energy needs through a new pumped storage opportunity at the San Vicente Reservoir site. The potential project would create a new, up to 500-megawatt source of renewable energy that could provide electric grid stability to the region during peak times for energy use or other days when demand for electricity is high and renewable energy supplies are scarce. Through Wednesday’s release of a joint Request for Letters of Interest in the proposed San […]
San Diego County Water Authority Wetland Creation Project Completed
The San Diego County Water Authority today announced the completion of its first wetland creation project, eight acres at the northeast end of the San Elijo Lagoon Ecological Reserve in Encinitas. The project has restored the former wetland, which had been damaged from years of farming and grazing.
Water Authority board authorizes new discussions on regional seawater desalination project
The San Diego County Water Authority board of directors today authorized staff to convene meetings with key stakeholders in the development of a regional seawater desalination project at the Encina Power Station in Carlsbad.
Award-Winning WaterSmart Landscape Makeover Program Holding Free Workshops in October
The San Diego County Water Authority, in partnership with its member agencies, will hold seven free workshops around the region in October to help homeowners learn the basics of transforming their yards into beautiful and sustainable WaterSmart landscapes. The workshops are led by local landscaping professionals and are part of the Water Authority’s award-winning WaterSmart Landscape Makeover Program. During the three-hour Landscape Design for Homeowners Workshops, participants will learn the basic principles of a WaterSmart landscape, including soil amendments, landscape design, turf removal, plant selection, planning, irrigation and rainwater catchment. Fall is an ideal time to plant in San Diego […]
Metropolitan, Water Authority Join Other Major U.S. Water Agencies to Form New National Climate Alliance
United by the fact that climate change poses a major long-term challenge to delivering high-quality drinking water, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the San Diego County Water Authority joined some the nation’s largest water agencies today in announcing the formation of an unprecedented coalition, the Water Utility Climate Alliance (WUCA). The alliance will work to improve research into the impacts of climate change on water utilities, develop strategies for adapting to climate change and implement tactics to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.