The San Diego County Water Authority is calling on residents across the region to significantly increase water conservation as it works with state regulators to improve draft water-use regulations released this week. The Water Authority is recommending fixes to ensure that the final regulations don’t punish ratepayers who already have conserved, undermine communities that have invested in new supplies, or unnecessarily threaten state and regional economies.
Category Archives: News Release
Water Authority Board Adopts Enhanced Efforts to Reduce Regional Water Use
The San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors today acted to help local water agencies meet state mandated water-use reduction targets by restricting irrigation of ornamental landscapes to no more than two days a week across the region and immediately boosting regional conservation and outreach efforts by $1 million. In addition, the Board established local urban and agricultural water supply cutbacks based on reduced water deliveries from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and set penalties for local agencies that exceed their supply allocations.
Contract Talks Launched for Potential 500MW San Vicente Energy Storage Facility
The San Diego County Water Authority’s Board of Directors on Thursday authorized negotiations with Tenaska Inc.-Diamond Generating Corp. Joint Venture to assess the potential for developing a major energy storage facility at San Vicente Reservoir near Lakeside. The project would leverage existing water and energy infrastructure to reduce upward pressure on water rates while expanding the potential for renewable energy use across the region. The Water Authority and its partner, the City of San Diego, are seeking to draft a Project Development Agreement by spring 2018 for consideration by their governing boards. In November, the agencies identified Tenaska-Diamond as the […]
Second May Storm Offers Big Chance to Save Water
A storm expected to douse San Diego County on Thursday and Friday offers a big opportunity to conserve large volumes of water by turning off irrigation systems before the rain hits and leaving them off for as long as possible. The predicted showers and cool temperatures follow a storm last week that provided much-needed rain across the region – an unusual weather pattern for May.
Wanted: Large Landscapes for Program Proven to Reduce Irrigation Water Use
The San Diego County Water Authority is seeking approximately 20 commercial-scale landscapes for participation in a program that has demonstrated significant outdoor water-use reductions through a combination of training, hardware upgrades and technical assistance valued at more than $15,000 per site. Applicants have until March 31 to file statements of interest in the WaterSmart Landscape Efficiency Program, using the form at watersmartsd.org. An interest meeting is scheduled from 2-4 p.m. on Feb. 15 at San Diego Gas & Electric’s Energy Innovation Center, 4760 Clairemont Mesa Blvd. In two earlier iterations of the landscape efficiency program, water savings topped 30 percent, […]
Water Authority Recommends Regional Water-Use Reduction Strategies
New regional drought-response measures recommended by the San Diego County Water Authority’s staff would assist local water agencies in meeting state mandated water-use reduction targets by restricting watering of ornamental landscapes to two days a week and boosting regional conservation and outreach efforts by $1 million.
Water Authority’s Proposed 2019 Rate Increases Smallest in Years
Water rate increases proposed by the San Diego County Water Authority staff for 2019 are among the smallest in the past 15 years due to financial benefits secured through litigation against the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and the Water Authority’s planned use of its Rate Stabilization Fund. Rates charged to the Water Authority’s 24 member agencies would increase by 0.9 percent for treated water and 2.9 percent for untreated water in calendar year 2019, according to a proposal to be presented to the Water Authority’s Board of Directors on Thursday, May 24. The Board is scheduled […]
Water-Efficient Landscape Workshops Offered for Industry Professionals
The San Diego County Water Authority and its partners are holding two free water conservation workshops for landscapers, nursery industry professionals, master gardeners, public agency facilities management staff and specialists in related industries on May 13 and 14. The workshops – “Strategies for Water-Efficient Landscapes” – are offered in cooperation with the University of California, Davis, the University of California Cooperative Extension, the SDG&E Energy Innovation Center and others.
Trial Challenging MWD Rates Concludes in Superior Court
The second phase of the San Diego County Water Authority’s landmark rate case against the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California ended today in San Francisco Superior Court. A tentative decision is anticipated by June, and a final ruling is expected by August.
Regional Photo Contest Highlights the Value of Water Across the San Diego Region
Sharing images that highlight the importance of safe and reliable water supplies in San Diego County will win valuable prizes for dozens of participants during a social media contest that spans Water Awareness Month in May. The San Diego County Water Authority’s “Brought to You by Water” contest on Instagram is designed to promote a regional conversation about the countless ways that water makes everything possible in our semi-arid region – from baseball fields to brewpubs to vibrant industries such as biotech, and everything in between. Participants are encouraged to think creatively about how to highlight the value of water […]