GrokSurf's San Diego

Highlights from the agenda for today’s San Diego City Council Natural Resources and Culture Committee beginning at 2:00pm:

* The San Diego Public Utilities Department (PUD) has written a report on the impact of the September 8 countywide power outage on its water and wastewater infrastructure. Explaining the loss of power to two critical pump stations in the executive summary submitted to the committee, PUD indicates it will reassess its reliance on SDG&E alone to provide redundant power feeds.

* PUD also submitted a report on water losses in the city’s distribution system. Unaccounted-for water losses can result from meter inaccuracies, infrastructure leaks and breaks, and illegal usage and theft. The water audit results indicated a national average of 14% among water utilities, but while San Diego’s number is just 9%, the department says it will press forward with capital improvements to replace aging mains, and continue an aggressive effort to repair leaks and breaks.

* An update on the Water Purification Demonstration Project was also submitted. The project is still listed under its original name in official documentation like this — “Indirect Potable Reuse/Reservoir Augmentation Project” — which can possibly confuse some members of the public. The report documents a large number of public outreach presentations, tours of the advanced treatment facility, meetings of the Independent Advisory Panel, and more.

* A presentation about the Water Reliability Coalition’s rollout of an educational campaign on indirect potable reuse is also planned for the meeting.