San Diego regional water news roundup Oct 10-14, 2010
Posted by George J Janczyn on October 15, 2010
(click headlines to see sourced stories)
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Manager of small water district makes $299,005 / SignOnSanDiego : ” Serving customers at 350 meters, the Yuima Municipal Water District is among the smallest public water agencies in San Diego County. It also offers one of the richest compensation plans in the region to its general manager, who runs a staff of eight employees in North County’s Pauma Valley.” |
Safety lines being installed in border canal to prevent drownings / North County Times : “A nearly decade-long fight by John Hunter of Escondido to install safety lines along the All-American Canal to keep illegal immigrants from drowning is coming to an end.” |
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Carlsbad State Beach opens following sewer spill / Encina Wastewater Authority : “Signs warning of possible contamination were removed from the beach near the Encinitas Creek outlet, which had been posted following Thursday’s sewage spill…Construction activities are underway to replace the damaged pipeline, which caused the spill event.” |
[IPR] New source of drinking water hinges on pilot project / SignOnSanDiego : “After years of planning and debate, construction will start in January on a pilot water-purification plant that could lead to a new source of drinking water for San Diego.” |
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Water rate debate divisive in Poway / SignOnSanDiego : “The ongoing debate exposes a long-running difference in water usage between the city’s north and south. The north is filled with expensive homes in gated communities that tend to have lush landscaping. The south typically has smaller houses with smaller lawns.” |
Four-year drought in La Mesa’s weather history; priceless data being lost daily / La Mesa Patch : “Paul Richmond sends info to the National Weather Service every 10 minutes. But his measurements don’t count.” |
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Experts discuss ‘rain harvesting’ in San Diego / SignOnSanDiego : “the Rainwater Harvesting Symposium, a gathering of storm water experts from the city, county and Los Angeles…will include a presentation about a free rain-barrel program in Los Angeles that’s been so successful there is a waiting list.” |
Santee Lakes project tries to stay afloat / 10News : “It has been a controversial project in the works for the last seven years, but the Santee Lakes Cable Ski Park, which was approved by the Santee City Council last year, is on hold.” |
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Conservationists ramp up clean-up at border / SignOnSanDiego : “Wildcoast leaders said about 10 million bottles of plastic and more than 4,000 tires are in the Tijuana River Valley, below Cañon de los Laureles.” |
Wastewater plants seeks conservation during repair / SignOnSanDiego : “The Encina Wastewater Authority is asking Carlsbad, Vista and Encinitas residents to cut back indoor water use during peak hours to assist repairs to damaged equipment at their sewage plant, caused by a ruptured pipeline last week.” |
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What Is the Padre Dam Municipal Water District Board? / Santee Patch : “With the Nov. 2 elections approaching, the Padre Dam Municipal Water District board may experience a change, as three of its divisions have candidates running to remain in their seats, two of which represent the city of Santee.” |
Nearly $1 million found for beach water tests in 2011 / SignOnSanDiego : “On Nov. 2, the State Water Resources Control Board is expected to approve spending $984,000 from voter-approved environmental funding initiatives to pay for the tests in 2011.” |
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South Bay power plant may stay put through 2011 / The Log : “Cal ISO is currently working with Dynegy to extend the contract at the same time the power plant’s operator is working to obtain the permit required to continue its operation. The State Water Resources Control Board will decide whether or not to issue a new water permit for the plant.” |
La Jolla at forefront of marine reserve debate / San Diego Community News Group : “Between the beaches of Windansea and Crystal Pier, extending three miles toward the depths of the Pacific, lies a marine wonder world. It’s been referred to as an “underwater Yosemite…” |
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Mud in the waters: law firms win, ratepayers lose / SignOnSanDiego : “While we are normally in the business of delivering safe and reliable water, sometimes the mud starts flying. It has recently been splattering in the pages of the Union-Tribune about the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.” |
Two new members named to regional water board / SignOnSanDiego : “Two new members have been named to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, one of the most important regulatory agencies in the county. The moves should help the panel continue to function after repeated failures to reach a quorum this year.” |
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State workers clean park on furlough Friday / SignOnSanDiego : “About 20 members of the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board will spend part of their furlough Friday to clean Rose Creek, on the west end of Marian Bear Memorial Park in San Diego.” |
Two water district managers schedule retirements soon / Ramona Sentinel : “Ramona Municipal Water District Engineer Tim Stanton and Wastewater Operations Manager Alice Benson have decided it’s time to retire. General Manager Ralph McIntosh said the water district does not have plans to refill their positions at this time.” |
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Water board candidates share outlook / Fallbrook Village News : “[Fallbrook and Rainbow] water districts are obligated to provide clean and safe drinking water and properly treat waste water under statutory requirements, but each of the candidates that have been seated or are competing for a seat on the boards have their individual positions when it comes to what they consider to be the most important issues pertaining to water districts – cost and availability. |
San Diego County Water Authority to install solar system / La Jolla Light : “The solar power systems will be installed in the parking lot and on the roof of the Water Authority’s Kearny Mesa headquarters, at its Fred A. Heilbron Operations Center in Escondido and atop several large structures at the Twin Oaks Valley Water Treatment plant north of San Marcos.” |
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State agency considers desalination restoration proposal / KPBS : “The California Coastal Commission will consider approving a plan to offset the killing of marine life from a desalination plant in Carlsbad. Poseidon Resources wants to restore a wetland in South San Diego County, but the plan hinges on the South Bay Power Plant closing.” |
Reader’s editorial: water district manager salaries / East County Magazine : “I would like to comment that some water districts are keenly aware of the present economic conditions faced by their ratepayers and are taking steps to correct some of the economic issues.” |
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Road still closed after sewage spill / Carlsbad Patch : “”Road Closed” and “Detour” signs are still up along Avenida Encinas following the Oct. 7 rupture of a pipeline that dumped an estimated 5,000 gallons of raw sewage, shutting down traffic on the busy street.” |
City spends less on water / Poway Patch : “According to the City, the surplus of $1.4 million “is attributed to significant savings in raw water purchased due to conservation efforts, greater savings on chemical purchases, and lower gas and electricity costs associated with treating and distributing water.” |
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Latest finance reports on Padre Dam candidates / Santee Patch : “A simple summary of how much money candidates are earning and spending for their campaigns.” |
Helix District taking steps in ‘toilet-to-tap’ initiative / 10News : “The Helix Water District is preparing to begin the environmental impact review process to convert wastewater from the Padre Dam Water District into clean drinking water for Helix District customers.” |
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