Desalination reconsidered as way to quench water needs; Local water agency says valley would indirectly benefit from proposals
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 18, 2010 at 5:54 amFrom MyDesert.com:
“Once a pipe dream, using the Pacific Ocean to help solve the parched west’s water needs is becoming a more real possibility by the day.
A number of major desalination projects are under consideration or actively in the works in California and northern Mexico, which would take seawater and reduce its salt content to make it a potable water source.
While none of the projects call for directly providing water to assist the Coachella Valley with meeting its future needs, helping cities such as San Diego, Las Vegas and Phoenix has a ripple effect, Coachella Valley Water District General Manager Steve Robbins said.
“The less pressure there is to take water out of the desert and move it to the coast, the better off it is in the long run for the Coachella and Imperial valleys, and the Salton Sea,” he said.
A confluence of circumstances is making desalination more of a reality: a desire for more stable and abundant water supplies — and a more logical financial equation. … “
Continue reading this article at MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Lawmakers probe Coachella Valley’s arsenic-tained ground water
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 14, 2010 at 7:13 amFrom MyDesert.com:
“Riverside County Supervisor John Benoit and state Assemblyman V. Manuel Pérez toured mobile home parks across the eastern Coachella Valley Saturday, to better grasp the widespread problem of arsenic-contaminated groundwater there.
“We’re here to work together to try to solve these problems,” Pérez told about 40 residents at the 80-unit Sunbird park in Thermal. Thousands of east valley residents live in areas that potentially contain hazardous levels of arsenic in their groundwater, a recent Desert Sun report found.
“It’s just a matter of the political will” to provide those residents with safe drinking water, Pérez said.
The strategy likely will involve a mix of short- and long-term water fixes, officials said. … “
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Palm Springs seeks water district aid to help with $180K of repairs
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 2, 2010 at 6:32 amFrom MyDesert.com:
“Palm Springs city officials are looking to the Coachella Valley Water District to help cover a nearly $180,000 price tag for recent repairs to Vista Chino at the wash.
Palm Springs Public Works Director David Barakian said he plans to discuss the proposal today in a meeting with water district officials.
On Dec. 13, an earthen berm used by the district to divert storm water from the wash to nearby basins collapsed under fast-moving floodwaters near Whitewater. It sent gushing torrents of water across the Whitewater River Wash.
The result was familiar to anyone who’s tried to drive through western Coachella Valley after a fierce rain storm: Indian Canyon Drive, Gene Autry Trail and Vista Chino in Palm Springs all were buried under mud and debris at the wash. … “
All that rain is not going to end Coachella Valley’s drought
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 1, 2010 at 6:21 amFrom MyDesert.com, this commentary by Steve Robbins of the Coachella Valley Water District:
“With all the rain the Coachella Valley received in January, a lot of people are asking whether it signals the end of the drought. For all practical purposes, the desert is always in a drought. What’s more important to the valley is that residents and businesses are using more water from the aquifer every year than is replenished. The underground aquifer is vital to the future of the Coachella Valley because it’s our source of drinking water.
On average, Coachella Valley water users pump nearly three times more water out of the aquifer than is returned by natural and artificial replenishment. Natural replenishment occurs when rain is soaked into the ground. However, only in some areas will the natural geology allow it to percolate to the aquifer. With heavy rains, much of the rain is carried away to the Salton Sea by our flood protection facilities before it has a chance to percolate. … “
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Arsenic-tinged water plagues unincorporated communities
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 31, 2010 at 7:51 amFrom MyDesert.com:
“Thousands of eastern Coachella Valley residents live in areas that potentially contain hazardous levels of arsenic in their groundwater, a problem officials say could cost millions to remedy.
In Coachella and the unincorporated eastern valley communities of Mecca, Oasis and Thermal, Riverside County environmental health officials know of wells at 19 mobile home and RV parks that recently tested positive for dangerous levels of arsenic ranging from 12 to 91 parts per billion in their groundwater.
Studies have linked arsenic, a naturally occurring tasteless and odorless element, to risks of cancer when ingested over decades at levels of more than 10 parts per billion, according to state and federal health officials. Children are even more susceptible because of their low body weight. … “
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Flood protection, desert style
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 20, 2009 at 7:11 amFrom MyDesert.com:
“When it rains in the desert, panic pours. Newcomers and visitors from places where rain is second nature are often amazed at how locals react. But in our little piece of paradise, where we enjoy 350 days of sunshine a year, rain is an unusual event. We’re thankful for the rain, but not the floods.
Record rain day and breached berms
The Coachella Valley averages 4.6 inches of rain a year. On Dec. 8, 1.2 inches was recorded at the Palm Springs International Airport, setting a record for the date. More than 25 percent of our annual average fell in a single day. … “
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Water concerns could dry up Coachella Valley solar plans
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 14, 2009 at 6:12 amFrom MyDesert.com:
“Water issues could threaten federal and state plans for quick approval of three solar plants proposed for public land east of the Coachella Valley, with hundreds of jobs for local residents and millions of dollars for the region’s economy at stake.
All three projects entail massive solar thermal plants that use millions of gallons of water a year on sites that rely on wells drawing from aquifers that are part of the Colorado River system.
“Wells that are hydraulically connected to the river are considered to divert water from the river itself,” said John Nickell, acting assistant area manager for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Yuma office, which overseas the lower Colorado River.
“The California apportionment (of Colorado River water) is a fixed amount,” he said. If water is pumped from underground for these projects, that could leave less Colorado River water for California overall, he said. … “
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Statehouse Insider: Bond would be boon to Coachella Valley
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 8, 2009 at 6:29 amFrom MyDesert.com:
“It pays to have connections, especially in Sacramento.
That was abundantly clear last week with the legislative effort aimed at transforming California’s water system.
The $11-plus billion bond, which now goes to voters for approval, could prove beneficial for the desert as it includes $100 million for the Salton Sea, $20 million for the New River and $47 million for the Colorado River watershed.
That’s thanks in part to the desert’s two state senators: Denise Ducheny, a San Diego Democrat, and John Benoit, a Bermuda Dunes Republican who will resign his seat today to take a Riverside County supervisor seat. …”
La Quinta water facility named after ex-manager Thomas E. Levy
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 29, 2009 at 10:09 pmFrom MyDesert.com:
“More than 100 acres in La Quinta were officially named the home of Coachella Valley Water District’s first east valley full-scale groundwater replenishment facility.
Several of the valley’s leaders, including Mayor Don Adolph, Mayor Pro Tem Terry Henderson and Sen. John Benoit, R-Bermuda Dunes, attended the dedication ceremony of the Thomas E. Levy Groundwater Replenishment Facility on Oct. 21, named after Levy who served as the district’s general manager for 16 years.
“It’s really quite an honor to have something so important to the future of the Coachella Valley named after me,” Levy said during the ceremony. “It is one of the key elements in ensuring that we have adequate water supply for future generations of valley residents.” …”
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
East Coachella Valley gains new groundwater plant
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 22, 2009 at 8:50 amFrom MyDesert.com:
“The Coachella Valley Water District dedicated its first east valley full-scale groundwater replenishment facility, which promises gallons of water to generations of desert residents.
AdvertisementSeveral valley leaders, including Sen. John Benoit, R-Bermuda Dunes, attended the dedication ceremony of the the Thomas E. Levy Groundwater Replenishment Facility on Wednesday, named after Levy, who served as the district’s general manager for 16 years.
“The valley has really benefited from the decades he was here and the desert will be the beneficiaries of his solid leadership for years to come thanks to this facility,” Benoit said.
The facility, located west of Monroe Street between Avenue 60 and Avenue 62 in La Quinta, will percolate 40,000 acre-feet of water — 13 billion gallons — annually to the eastern valley’s aquifer, said district General Manager Steve Robbins. …”
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Water usage overestimated: Coachella Valley Water District & Imperial Irrigation District note excess rations
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on September 21, 2009 at 6:23 amFrom MyDesert.com:
“Two of California’s largest Colorado River water-users, the Imperial Irrigation District and Coachella Valley Water District, expect to leave large amounts of their river water allotments unused this year.
The surprising projection comes as drought continues in the parched western United States and communities continue to scramble to conserve water and find new supplies.
The projected leftover river water would be the largest amounts for the agencies since the 2003 Quantitative Settlement Agreement, or QSA, forced river-users to keep better track of their water use.
It’s good news for the water-starved Los Angeles area, as agreements call for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and its 19million customers to receive all unused agricultural water supplies from IID and the Coachella Valley Water District. …”
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
City, water district settle differences
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on August 31, 2009 at 12:35 pmFrom MyDesert.com:
“The city has agreed to pay the Coachella Valley Water District $420,684 in unpaid replenishment fees dating back to July 2007. It will also begin regular payment of the fee, which beginning Tuesday will result in an average monthly increase of $2.32 a month for Indio water users.
City officials say that increase could more than double over the next couple of years as the water district’s water replenishment fees increase.
The Indio Water Authority will meet at 4 p.m. Tuesday to discuss those issues.
The monthly increase and backpay are a result of a settlement agreement reached June 30 between the city’s water agency and the Coachella Valley Water District. …”
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Coachella Valley agencies split over water forecast
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on July 29, 2009 at 7:18 amFrom MyDesert.com:
A new study warning that climate change could dry out Colorado River reservoirs by mid-century met with mixed reactions Tuesday from Coachella Valley water agencies, many of which rely on the river as a key water source.
The study, released earlier this month by researchers at the University of Colorado at Boulder, projects a one-in-two possibility of the river’s reservoirs drying by 2057, depending on the extent of climate change.
After nine years of drought, major reservoirs such as Lake Mead and Lake Powell are at only 59 percent of capacity, said researcher Balaji Rajagopalan, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the university. He predicts that if climate change reduces the river’s flow by 10 percent, the reservoirs have a one-in-four chance of depletion by 2057.
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Coachella Valley restaurants serving water only on request
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on July 16, 2009 at 6:50 amFrom MyDesert.com:
Thirty-seven Coachella Valley restaurants are trying to battle California’s drought, one glass at a time. At the request of the Coachella Valley Water District, the restaurants are serving water only when customers request it.
“With this program, CVWD is working with local businesses to raise awareness of the regional water crisis,” said Abby Figueroa, CVWD public information associate.
Sherman’s Deli & Bakery in Palm Desert was the first to sign up for the program. The restaurant has been providing water on a by-request basis since November. General manager Gordon Poster said customers have been supportive of the conservation efforts, which have helped the restaurant save about 125 gallons of water a day.
That’s roughly the amount the average person uses over the course of a day, Figueroa said.
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Coachella Valley farmworkers demand clean water
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on July 8, 2009 at 6:32 amFrom MyDesert.com:
Fed up with broken promises from valley lawmakers, a handful of farmworkers petitioned state and federal legislators on Tuesday for the most basic of services: clean, safe drinking water and sewer systems.
These farmworkers, who live in some of the Coachella Valley’s most dilapidated mobile home parks, delivered more than 300 letters from residents to Sen. Denise Ducheny, D-San Diego; Assemblyman Manual Perez, D-Coachella; Riverside County Supervisor Roy Wilson; and Rep. Mary Bono Mack, R-Palm Springs.
“These are not ribbon-cutting projects,” said Sergio Carranza, founder and executive director of Pueblo Unido, a community development organization formed in 2008. “They are basically trying to address these very basic needs,” he said. “Now we’re putting a human face to this issue.”
Read more from the Imperial Valley Press by clicking here.
Coachella begins groundwater recharge; New facility can recharge Valley’s aquifer with up to 40,000 acre-feet annually
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 19, 2009 at 6:53 amFrom the California Farmer:
The same amount of water used by approximately 40,000 desert households each year will be pumped back into the ground over the next 12 months thanks to a new project by the Coachella Valley Water District.
CVWD recently began replenishing groundwater in the east valley at its newest recharge facility in south La Quinta. The new facility can recharge the Coachella Valley’s aquifer with up to 40,000 acre-feet of water annually. One acre-foot is 325,851 gallons. “With this latest project, CVWD responds to the statewide water crisis and takes another step towards protecting our local water resources,” says General Manager-Chief Engineer Steve Robbins.
Every year, the Coachella Valley uses almost 400,000 acre-feet of groundwater, but on average only 63,000 acre-feet is replenished naturally through rain or snow melt. Over time excess pumping depletes the aquifer, threatens water supplies to the local population and compromises future growth in the valley.
To replenish groundwater, the new facility uses Colorado River water delivered to the valley via the Coachella Canal, across 120 miles to Lake Cahuilla in La Quinta. The water then travels along existing irrigation pipes, is pumped into 39 recharge basins and left to percolate into the ground.
Read more from California Farmer by clicking here.
Tense times for Desert Hot Springs Mayor Pro Tem Karl Baker and the Mission Springs Water District
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 11, 2009 at 12:34 pmFrom MyDesert.com:
Recent tensions between Desert Hot Springs Mayor Pro Tem Karl Baker and the Mission Springs Water District that serves the city are gaining steam.
Baker, who came under fire for a March 13 outburst at a MSWD employee that some deemed racially insensitive, filed a public records request to examine district travel, salaries, legal and consultant fees, and communications. Several of the items on the May 6 request focus on water district Engineering Manager Dan Patneaud, who formerly served as Public Works director for the city of Desert Hot Springs.
Baker said he’s worried the water district might be paying excess consulting fees to review and approve engineering projects since Patneaud does not have a Principal Engineer Certificate, an engineering license.
“There’s nothing in the job that says you will have to have this,” District General Manager Arden Wallum said Wednesday of the Principal Engineer Certificate. Other staff would handle such approvals regardless of whether Patneaud had the certificate, Wallum said.
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Water, business and political leaders call for united push for peripheral canal at Riverside County Water Symposium; On-going drought is leading to mandatory conservation, higher rates and prolonged recession in California
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 4, 2009 at 6:08 amFrom the Riverside County Water Task Force website (http://www.h2oriversidecounty.org/)
California’s economy will continue to struggle and ratepayers can expect high rates despite gains in conservation due to the ongoing drought and the need to modernize a water system that was built in the 1960s.That was the somber news from the Sixth Annual Riverside County Water Symposium held today, May 28, at the Palm Springs Convention Center where more than 800 people representing cities, counties, departments, businesses and water agencies who attended this year’s event.
“With a united voice we must make ourselves heard in Sacramento. We must make our water needs the priority of our legislators at the capitol,” said Riverside County Supervisor Roy Wilson, whose Fourth District includes much of the desert region’s of the county.
For the sixth consecutive year, Riverside-based public affairs and stakeholder coalition development firm TMG Communications Inc. produced and coordinated the event.
New technologies to clean ground water more efficiently and solar power are working their way into the operations of the region’s water districts, but Riverside County and much of Southern California continue to grapple with the drop in water allocations from the Bay Delta ordered by the courts to protect the finger-sized Delta smelt.
“This is the wettest drought in California history,” said Brian Thomas, assistant general manager of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Although rainfall is down in Southern California, northern California’s rainfall was just shy of its average, Thomas said, implying that the shortage in the region is largely caused by the drop in water allocations.
Addressing the state’s water challenges, Michael Chrisman, California Secretary for Resources reminded the audience that water is precious and that now is the best opportunity in 25 years to push for a peripheral canal around the Bay Delta. “From a statewide perspective, the big decisions have been put off for way too long,” said Michael Chrisman, California Secretary for Natural Resources.”The time now is critical for you to be involved in the legislative process.
A pall was cast upon many of the water leaders at the Symposium following the defeat of the state budget funding Proposition 1A. Its defeat has water agencies and districts bracing for the state raiding their funding, which could create new fees being imposed by the water agencies and districts.
During his call for a united effort to lobby the state for a peripheral canal around the Bay Delta, Charles Wilson, warned that business must play a greater role in pushing for water projects. “Businesses must get interested in water issues or they’ll be getting out of business,” said Wilson, chairman of the Southern California Water Committee charged with water advocacy and education for seven counties in Southern California. Wilson asked that audience members send letters, pass proclamations and contact legislators to let them know the support for a peripheral canal.
Matt Webb, president of the engineering firm Albert A. Webb Associates, emceed the sold out conference, which attracted more than three dozen sponsors and representatives from more than 80 municipalities, water districts, government agencies and environmental groups. A diverse group of more than two dozen experts discussed the issues facing residents, industries and the environment in the watershed, including:
• Michael Chrisman, California Secretary for Natural Resources
• Riverside County Supervisors Marion Ashley and Roy Wilson
• Matt Webb, president, Albert A. Webb Associates and event emcee
• International water law expert Eric Garner, managing partner of Best, Best & Krieger
• Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet
• Celeste Cantú, General Manager, Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority
• Tony Pack, general manager, Eastern Municipal Water District
• John Rossi, general manager, Western Municipal Water District
• Steve Robbins, general manager, Coachella Valley Water District
• Dave Luker, general manager, Desert Water AgencyThe event is presented by the Riverside-based engineering firm Albert A. Webb Associates and produced by the strategic communications and stakeholder coalition development firm TMG Communications Inc.
Summarizing the call to action, Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet asked the audience to join his city’s efforts in its pathway to sustainability. “Water is life. If we are to be a leader in water use, reuse and conservation, we need to commit to sustainability,” said Pougnet.
About the TMG Communications Inc.: TMG is a Riverside-based strategic communications and stakeholder coalition development firm serving all of Southern California’s public affairs and public relations needs. TMG’s staff of public affairs, media relations, design and photography, sales and government affairs professionals provide a variety of outreach and public education services for Fortune 500 companies, water agencies and municipalities. For more information about TMG, please visit www.tmgonline.com
Coachella Valley consumers recognize need to conserve water
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 17, 2009 at 7:39 amFrom MyDesert.com:
Coachella Valley residents and water agencies are working together — successfully — to conserve the valley’s most precious resource: water.
“Tiered rates are really helping in that area,” said Heather Engel, director of communications and legislation for the Coachella Valley Water District. “As a district, our customers are doing very well.” Eighty percent of the agency’s single-family home customers are using water efficiently, district statistics show.
From 2002 to 2006, the Desert Water Agency in Palm Springs installed 1,000 more connections, but water use remained at 2002 levels, agency board member Pat Oygar said.
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Riverside County leaders must collaborate to save water, says commentary
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 6, 2009 at 6:27 amFrom MyDesert.com, this commentary by Marion Ashley, Riverside County supervisor for the Fifth District:
Time and again, the residents of California have risen to meet the challenges that have faced the state. With the ongoing drought and reduced water allocations from Northern California, the citizens of Riverside County once again must meet a new challenge that threatens our economy and way of life.
Statewide, water leaders including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, state Senate leader Darrell Steinberg and the Association of California Water Agencies are all wrestling with a solution to our water crisis, and we should continue to encourage their efforts.
Riverside County cannot count on a quick and favorable resolution. We must do all we can to help ourselves with sustainable local and countywide water efficiency measures until statewide efforts assure a dependable water supply.
Fortunately, our county and the water districts that serve it have been on the forefront of finding ways to purify groundwater, manage storm-water runoff, recharge our aquifers and promote conservation.
Now we must redouble our efforts.
Read more of Marion’s commentary by clicking here.
Coachella Valley getting funds for water projects
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 23, 2009 at 6:17 amFrom MyDesert.com:
State officials said Tuesday the Coachella Valley area will get more than $400,000 for water supply and drought work as a $4 million public information campaign begins to encourage conservation statewide.
The valley money would fund a range of projects from groundwater desalination work to an upgrade of landscape irrigation.
The state and the Association of California Water Agencies plan television advertising, billboards, a Web site and other steps primarily aimed at urging residents to cut water use to help California as it struggles through a third dry year.
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
State suing Travel Centers of America; Coachella’s Dillon Road center named in action alleging disregard for fuel storage law
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 19, 2009 at 6:29 amFrom MyDesert.com:
Fighting to safeguard groundwater supplies, California Attorney General Edmund Brown Jr. has filed suit against the national chain, Travel Centers of America, to force it to comply with underground fuel storage laws. Named in the case is the travel center at 46-155 Dillon Road in Coachella.
The lawsuit, filed April 9 in Riverside County Superior Court, claims the Ohio-based corporation operating the Dillon Road station and 233 others in the United States and Canada has “knowingly and repeatedly disregarded” California’s underground fuel storage law for years. “This has put the Inland Empire’s scarce groundwater supplies at serious risk of contamination,” Brown said.
The suit, seeking injunctive relief and civil penalties that could range from $5 million to as much as $70 million, is an off-shoot of action begun in July 2008.
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Most water users efficient in district
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 2, 2009 at 5:38 amFrom MyDesert.com:
Seventy-nine percent of Coachella Valley Water District’s single-family residential customers are using water efficiently, according to statistics compiled by the district.
AdvertisementThe district, which will implement tiered water rate charges beginning with customers’ May or June bill, are sending “shadow bills” to customers to let them know what rate category they would fall into once the tiered rates take effect.
District officials were not surprised by the high rate of efficiency among its customers.
“I think that shows that what we’re doing doesn’t hurt people,” said Steve Robbins, general manager-chief engineer for the district.
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Mid-valley pipeline project 60% done
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on March 21, 2009 at 6:07 amFrom MyDesert.com:
The first phase of the $70 million Mid-Valley Pipeline Project, designed to curb the demand for the area’s groundwater, is complete.
The Coachella Valley Water District project will blend Colorado River water with recycled water from the district’s Palm Desert Wastewater Reclamation Plant and pump the water to area golf courses for irrigation.
The present distribution system provides reclaimed water to 12 area golf courses. But the water district plans to expand that to about 50 courses, most of which use high- quality drinking water to irrigate grass and landscaping. “We want to wean the golf courses off the well water to preserve that groundwater for drinking and higher use,” said Dennis Mahr, communications and legislative director at the water district.
Without the pipeline and distribution system, the district lacks enough water to do this, Mahr said.
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Indio constructs new reservoirs; Water authority to triple capacity; anticipates city’s growing demands
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 6, 2009 at 5:50 amFrom MyDesert.com:
Just four months after building a 5.2-million-gallon water reservoir, Indio will start work Monday on yet another that will hold 2.5 million gallons. Another 5-million-gallon reservoir is in the works that will provide water to a planned community in north Indio.
When complete, the three new reservoirs will more than double the growing city’s water storage capacity. “We’re not looking at just today. We’re looking at 100 years from now,” said Paul Giera, water operations manager for the Indio Water Authority.
Until about five months ago, the city’s reservoirs had the capacity to hold 8.25 million gallons of groundwater — the same capacity Indio had in 1984, Giera said. Once the authority’s planned reservoir-related projects are complete, the city will have the capacity to store about 19 million gallons of water, he said.
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Interesting note: You can view a photo gallery of Indio water infrastructure from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
‘09 may deliver deeper water cuts: Coachella Valley braces for possibility of third straight year of drought for California
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 29, 2008 at 7:30 amFrom MyDesert.com:
As the Western drought continues, California is preparing to make deep cuts next year to the amount of water it provides to the Coachella Valley and other communities statewide.
The state Department of Water Resources is preparing to announce preliminary water allotments for 2009 that will be “most likely less than 20percent of what our customers have requested,” spokesman Ted Thomas said. That’s the lowest preliminary projection since 10 percent delivery was predicted in 1993.
The state delivered 60 percent of water allotments last year, and was slated to deliver 35 percent this year. “We’re in a second consecutive dry year,” Thomas said. “There’s concern we could have a third consecutive dry year, which could really be Draconian.”
More from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Heavy users may soon pay more for water; Coachella Valley Water District exploring tiered rate system
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 26, 2008 at 5:53 amFrom MyDesert.com:
Charging so-called “water-wasters” more than those who do conserve could ultimately reduce the valley’s domestic water consumption by up to 37 percent, water district officials said Friday.
Coachella Valley Water District officials are making their case for a tiered rate system that would charge more of rate-payers who exceed their allotment. “The whole goal of this is not to tell people they have to go take their turf out, do this or do that,” water district General Manager Steve Robbins said. “This is really aimed at the bigger residential users who are wasting water.”
Under the preliminary plans, customers would get individualized water budgets based on the size of their lots, their amount of landscaping, and the number of people living in the home. The budgets would be adjusted each month by weather conditions affecting water use. Those who used more than their budgeted water allotment would pay increased water rates — the greater the overuse, the higher the rate.
As plans stand now, 60 percent to 70 percent of customers would see no change or a slight reduction in their water bills, Robbins said.
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
La Quinta’s green efforts progress
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on October 9, 2008 at 6:18 amFrom MyDesert.com:
La Quinta’s Green Program is advancing more each day as residents step onboard to save water, electricity and money. And the city is leading by example as it starts the program on a small scale, the city’s assistant city managers said during a lunch meeting with the La Quinta Rotary Club on Oct. 3.
“We’ve looked at city property and buildings first, then turned the focus to affordable housing units,” said Doug Evans, assistant city manager. “We’re trying to help residents understand what they can do. It’s hard for people to figure out these water and energy issues on their own.”
The city’s program involves water conservation, green building, transportation, land use, energy and emissions, recycling and waste and reductions. The city has removed turf from medians, and replaced turf with desert landscaping at City Hall and the senior center.
When developers seek approval for new projects, a major component is making sure there is no turf where it’s not necessary, Evans said. “Place grass where it’s being used. Not just for people to look at it,” Evans suggested.
Read more from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Coachella canal lining project receives award
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on July 4, 2008 at 7:12 am
From Desert Local News:
GEI Consultants, Inc., one of the nation’s leading water resources, geotechnical, and environmental engineering firms, announced today that the Coachella Canal Lining Project was named the 2007 Project of the Year by the San Diego Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). As part of a multi-firm team, GEI provided design, construction management, and construction support services for the project.
The Coachella Canal Lining Project is a substantial accomplishment in meeting a goal of the 2003 Quantification Settlement Agreement to conserve Colorado River water. Prior to lining the last remaining earthen section of the canal with concrete, approximately 26,000 acre-feet of water seeped through the canal annually. Now, instead of losing this precious resource through seepage, the conserved water is conveyed to San Diego for use.
“Water conservation, and the efficient use of water, is an important issue to California and all the other Colorado River Basin states,” said Wayne Dahl, Western Regional Water Manager for GEI, and engineer-of-record for the project. “Winning this award highlights the exceptional cooperation and resourcefulness demonstrated by the project partners to complete the project on schedule with no interruption of water deliveries to Coachella Valley growers.”
The Coachella Valley Water District, the operator of the canal, was able to convey normal water deliveries during construction because the water never stopped flowing. The project team achieved this feat by constructing a new, concrete-lined canal parallel to the old canal within the same right-of-way.
Read the full text of this story from the Desert Local News by clicking here.
Palm Springs is wise to take a green path to sustainability, says editorial
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 5, 2008 at 6:00 amFrom MyDesert.com, this editorial:
Water is becoming more scarce and nearly everything – gas, food, services – is more expensive, but we have the ability to make real change by being more thoughtful about our resources and wasting less.
Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet is leading the charge by outlining steps the city is taking to create a “sustainable community,” which is a community that is self-sustaining by conserving resources, energy and thriving economically because of smart development.
Palm Springs plans to cut water use by 50 percent and reduce energy consumption by 20 percent, and the timing couldn’t be better. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared California in drought conditions Wednesday.
Just how do they plan to do that?
The 20-step plan, “the Palm Springs path to a sustainable community,” calls for greater conservation. Under the plan, agencies should conduct energy, water and waste audits; create new jobs that focus on renewable energy; promote ecotourism; participate in the cities upcoming sustainability summit in November; and work with the College of the Desert to incorporate environmental sustainability training and classes into the upcoming Palm Springs’ campus.
In addition, Palm Springs will develop a recycling action plan focused on zero waste, re-landscape the Tahquitz Canyon median as a showcase of smart water-saving landscaping, award partners who promote sustainability and develop an interactive Web site to spread awareness and get residents involved.
Read more of this editorial from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Desert Water Agency rates to rise $9 a month
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on June 4, 2008 at 5:52 amFrom MyDesert.com:
Desert Water Agency customers will see a rate increase of about $9 per month on their bills by August, if not sooner. The agency’s board of directors approved the rate hike Tuesday, but not without opposition from critics of the adjustment. About 42 concerned residents attended the agency’s monthly meeting, where many of them voiced their opinions about the increase during a public hearing.
Critics of the adjustment urged the board to postpone the hearing or withdraw the measure entirely, saying the agency ineffectively contacted or informed many customers about the domestic water use resolution.
The board sternly defended its position, saying that it fulfilled every requirement set by California law to duly inform voters, and passed the adjustment 4-1 with director Craig Ewing dissenting.
Ewing was not opposed to the rate increase, but took issue with the way it was designed. “I believe that a rate increase is necessary to cover the increased expenditures that the agency is facing,” he said. But instead of an overall increase, a tiered rate system should be put in place to reward customers with lower rates if they conserve water, he said. “I think the board and the agency (have) justified a need for an increase,” Ewing said.
Read the full text of this story from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Coachella Valley Water District says proposal for groundwater adjudication will drain economy
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 31, 2008 at 7:16 amFrom MyDesert.com:
Indio’s call for a court-appointed “watermaster” to resolve groundwater disputes “would have potentially devastating effects to the Coachella Valley’s already depressed economy,” Coachella Valley Water District officials said. The water district, with a response to the city’s lawsuit against it, fired the latest volley in a court battle between the two over groundwater rights and responsibilities. The district wants portions of the city’s suit dismissed, and to force the city to name all other regional groundwater users as defendants in its lawsuit – potentially hundreds of well-pumpers.
The move, district officials said, is an attempt to get the city to reconsider its call for a so-called adjudication of the groundwater basin, which would likely mean a court-appointed watermaster who would divide up existing and future groundwater supplies for cities and other users who rely on groundwater. “Indio has continually said they don’t want a general adjudication, although anyone besides the city of Indio who has read the cross-complaint says a general adjudication is exactly what they’ve asked for,” water district general manager Steve Robbins said. “They can’t just make these issues between CVWD and Indio. You either go all the way or you don’t do it.”
Indio Public Works Director Jim Smith denied the claim, saying the city wants a watermaster only to resolve the issues between it and the district. Smith called for an integrated regional water management plan, and for CVWD to stop asserting an authority position over valley groundwater usage that it doesn’t have. “Stronger leadership is needed,” Smith said. “We need to organize ourselves and have buy-in from all of the parties.”
Read the full text of this article from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Coachella Valley residents need to concentrate on conservation, editorial says; but what do readers think?
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 6, 2008 at 5:45 amFrom MyDesert.com, this editorial:
The threat of severe drought is near and desert cities must be part of the solution. Californians, in general, are urged to conserve water now. Why? Because by 2015, water officials statewide predict Riverside County could be unable to provide drinking water to 360,000 people.
The article gives some basic tips for water conservation, including adjusting sprinklers to prevent overwatering. The editorial also says:
Ongoing drought conditions and lower-than-normal snowpack have water officials around the state searching for ways to help their customers conserve. But property owners shouldn’t wait for a mandate. Conserving water is the right thing to do now.
Water districts around the state are preparing for the shortage by planning mandatory conservation programs. This is a smart move because simply asking people to conserve may not be enough to meet the growing demands our population puts on the water supply.
Here in the valley, Coachella Valley Water District officials are considering a tiered billing system that would help conserve water within a year. Based on other districts around the state, the CVWD could keep a base rate for the majority of its customers, but charge higher rates for customers who exceed normal use, according to a tier system. It’s been successful in other districts around the state and deserves consideration in the Coachella Valley.
Meanwhile, we encourage residents to avoid overwatering lawns and consider making other changes in landscaping to conserve water – the desert’s most precious resource.
Read the full text of this editorial from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
In a related article, MyDesert.com published readers comments about the water shortage:
“When will the Coachella Valley cities get aggressive and start charging more money to golf courses? Any HOA that doesn’t convert to desert landscape should be fined heavily. All developers should always plan on desert landscape. It is ridiculous the amount of lawns in this valley; grass is for parks, not your yard when you CHOOSE to live in a desert.”
“There is not a water crisis in the Coachella Valley, but it makes for exciting reading. Those water professionals over at the conference would like everyone to think “crisis,” just like they did back when the last water bond was passed. This is not to say that reasonable use of water should not be the objective of everyone, after all it does cost money.”
More reader comments from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Riverside County predicts crisis in water supply unless new sources are found
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 3, 2008 at 7:24 amFrom MyDesert.com:
In less than seven years, drought-stricken Riverside County might not be able to supply drinking water to 360,000 people – roughly the population of the Coachella Valley’s nine cities. The good news: You can help prevent this dire scenario, through desert landscaping and conservation, officials at the fifth annual Riverside County Water Symposium said Thursday.
About 800 elected officials, water experts and community leaders gathered in Cabazon to share ideas on convincing residents to reduce their water usage and ways that local agencies can collaborate on recycling and conservation efforts.
“We’ve been a victim of our own success: People have taken water for granted,” said Celeste Cantú, general manager of the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority, which calculated the shortage projection. “It’s been difficult to say, ‘Hey, we really are in a crisis. We really are in a drought.’”
According to Terrance Fulp, deputy regional director for the Bureau of Reclamation – Lower Colorado Region, this is the driest period in 100 years:
The state water resources on Thursday announced the snowpack water content is at only 67 percent of normal levels. The Colorado River, the valley’s major water source, is “over-allocated,” Fulp said. It could take years for officials to finalize a comprehensive plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, which provides water for two-thirds of all Californians. And climate changes will make the Southwest even drier, putting further pressure on resources such as the Colorado River.
Even though this year’s average water runoff is a bit higher than it has been in recent years, it’s not enough to relieve the current conditions. “We’re in eight years of unprecedented drought,” Fulp said.
Read the full text of this story from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Garcia cuts deal with Imperial Irrigation District; all sides seem satisifed with compromise
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on May 1, 2008 at 5:40 amFrom MyDesert.com:
The Coachella Valley would have a greater say about its power supply from the Imperial Irrigation District under the terms of an agreement announced Tuesday. IID would continue to control the power supply but would give Coachella Valley officials a greater, and more regular, opportunity to comment on planning and staffing decisions that affect customers in the Riverside County part of the district’s service area.
“By working with officials in both counties, you will have a much broader vision and consensus building,” Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia, R-Cathedral City, said of the agreement that she negotiated with IID. “There will be more accountability.”
“The IID board is committed to establishing a framework to pursue a sustained and meaningful planning process with elected officials in both Coachella and Imperial valleys,” IID General Manager Brian Brady said in a joint news release with Garcia.
As a result of the agreement, Garcia said she is dropping her bill that eventually could have led to a vote on whether IID’s customers in the Coachella Valley should form their own separate utility for electrical service.
Read the full text of the story from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
In a related editorial, staff of the Desert Sun praised the agreement:
It’s a good compromise and a win for the Coachella Valley and its ratepayers. Congratulations also to Garcia, who worked on this issue with much passion and was able to hammer out an agreement that does not call for additional legislation. Good going, Bonnie.
IID also deserves recognition for the district’s efforts to reach this agreement. Officials could have fought it, but instead are making a commitment to service, calling the move a renewed effort to serve customers.
Under this agreement, IID can move forward and supply better service, and Coachella Valley residents can have a say in that future.
Read the full text of the editorial from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
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Recent Posts
- Thursday’s top of scroll: Judge rules drought water transfers required environmental review
- Judge Vilardi rejects DWR’s 2009 drought water bank approval
- Western Weather Blog takes a look at the western snowpack
- Water, energy conservation linked; Officials point to need to overhaul lifestyles
- Top speakers on the agenda at the Water Education Foundation’s Executive Briefing, March 25 & 26
- Large increase in CVP water supplies
- ACWA: Low federal water allocation points to need for solutions; Despite increase in federal allocations in 2010, State’s water still in crisis
- The Biocrat: Some say Phil Detrich was a sellout. Others, a savior. He says he was just doing his job.
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- Trashing the deep
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