A San Francisco Superior Court judge ruled late Friday that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California owes the San Diego County Water Authority $43.4 million in prejudgment interest, in addition to the $188.3 million awarded on Aug. 28 as contract damages for illegal rates MWD charged from 2011 to 2014. The order brings the amount MWD owes the Water Authority to $231.7 million.
Category Archives: News Release
Regional Water Conservation Still Critical Despite Potential for Increased Rainfall
Despite strong El Niño conditions that could generate above-average rainfall in Southern California, the San Diego County Water Authority today urged residents and businesses to maintain extraordinary water conservation efforts in light of on-going state mandates and continued uncertainty about whether El Niño will deliver significant precipitation to critical watersheds in the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountains.
Water Authority to Test Seawater Intake Technologies for Possible Camp Pendleton Desalination Plant
The San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors today approved a new agreement with U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton to study seawater intake options for a potential desalination project on the base. The Board also authorized a $4.05 million contract for building, operating and reporting on a pilot-scale seawater intake testing program that’s expected to take about two years.
Discounts Available on Low-Water-Use Plants at Fall Plant Fairs
Once again this fall, the San Diego County Water Authority and 11 member agencies have partnered with The Home Depot to offer significant savings on water-efficient plants at San Diego County Garden Friendly Plant Fairs from Chula Vista to Oceanside starting Sept. 26. In addition, the Water Authority and member agencies are holding several free workshops around the region that teach homeowners the basics of WaterSmart landscape makeovers.
Urban Water Use Declined 27 Percent Countywide During Summer Months
Over the first three months of state-mandated savings, the San Diego region reduced urban potable water use by 27 percent compared to the same period in 2013, beating the regional aggregate target of 20 percent. Conserved water in San Diego County is being stored locally for future use, a valuable asset should drought conditions continue into 2016 or beyond.
Water Authority Saves $15.1 Million with Bond Refunding
The San Diego County Water Authority on Wednesday priced a $195 million bond sale that will reduce the cost of financing vital water supply reliability projects over the next two decades.
Governor Signs Water Authority Bill Preventing HOAs from Banning Artificial Turf
Gov. Jerry Brown today signed legislation sponsored by the San Diego County Water Authority that prohibits common interest developments (typically governed by homeowners associations, or HOAs) from banning artificial turf.
Documents Uncover Secret Public Relations Campaign Targeting San Diego County Water Authority
Documents obtained under the California Public Records Act show that the top official with the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District of Southern California participated in meetings on the development of a covert public relations campaign designed to discredit the San Diego County Water Authority and its long-term water supply diversification strategy. The sub-rosa campaign is the latest in a string of similar efforts by MWD and some of its member agencies dating back to the late-1990s, records show.
MWD Adopts Unnecessary Rate Increases for 2015 and 2016 While Over-Collecting $350 Million from Ratepayers
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California on Tuesday raised rates for 2015 and 2016 despite having projected cash reserves of $840 million – an amount that is $352 million above its board-adopted maximum reserve limit. MWD's board also voted to spend the over-collected revenue on unbudgeted expenses.
Water Agencies Warn of Misleading Calls by Scam Artists
For the second time in about six months, the San Diego County Water Authority has received several reports of scam artists attempting to mislead homeowners by telling them their water is polluted and offering to test it. There are no water safety problems in the Water Authority’s service area.
The Water Authority has received more than 15 reports of scam calls countywide. Similar regional cons occur periodically, most recently in September 2013.