Cooler weather and residents and businesses heeding calls for increased water conservation led to a significant drop in region wide water use during the first half of this year, the San Diego County Water Authority reported today.äóÂäóÂ
Urban water use between January 2009 and June 2009 decreased by nearly 9 percent compared to the same six-month period in 2008, according to estimates Water Authority staff presented to the Board of Directors.
The Emergency & Carryover Storage Project, a multi-decade effort of the San Diego County Water Authority to increase the reliability and resiliency of the region’s water system, won an Award of Merit in the annual Global Best Projects competition held by the industry publication Engineering News-Record. It is the second time in four months that a Water Authority project has earned international honors.
The San Diego County Water Authority received its 13th Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada, which is the highest form of recognition in governmental budgeting. It also received the Excellence Award in Operating Budget from the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers.
SAN DIEGO—The board of directors of the San Diego County Water Authority today approved terms for an agreement with the Semitropic-Rosamond Water Bank Authority (SRWBA) to store between 60,000 and 100,000 acre-feet of water in the two separate groundwater aquifers that encompass the SRWBA. The water, once stored, may be called upon by the Water Authority to help meet water demands in San Diego County in times when imported water supplies are constrained by drought or other factors.
The San Diego County Water Authority formally opened its new outreach office in El Centro today with an open house and reception. The office will be staffed by Grace Sesma, Water Authority public affairs representative and local resident. It will be used to facilitate dialogue, hold meetings and provide local access to the Water Authority in Imperial County.
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.
Today the San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors approved extending a temporary agricultural water rate program through January 1, 2015. The action provides the region’s agriculture industry with a measure of economic relief while providing urban water customers increased protection from water shortages.
Several popular rebates for water-saving devices will once again be available to San Diego County residents and businesses starting next week.
Beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, September 21, SoCal Water$mart and Save A Buck rebate programs will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted or until May 31, 2010, whichever comes first.
For more information and a virtual tour of the dam project please click here: Olivenhain Dam Virtual Tour.
The San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of the American Public Works Association has selected the San Diego County Water Authority's Olivenhain Dam and Reservoir project as its "2003 Project of the Year." The award was presented at the Sept. 9 APWA luncheon in the environmental category for projects over $10 million.