San Diego County Water Authority votes to give lawsuit proceeds to members: if it wins
Posted by: Maven on February 24, 2012 at 10:12 pmFrom the North County Times:
“If the San Diego County Water Authority wins its lawsuit alleging overcharging by Metropolitan Water District, most of the proceeds will go to the authority’s member agencies in San Diego County, the authority board voted Thursday.
Millions of dollars are at issue; the Water Authority says it could be overcharged by as much as $217 million a year by 2021. Metropolitan says the lawsuit is groundless and is fighting it.
Net proceeds will go to the agencies, less legal expenses. The disputed money is now being held in an escrow account until the case is decided. … “
Continue reading from the North County Times by clicking here.
Friday’s top of the scroll: DWP, Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District at odd over Owens Lake dust work
Posted by: Maven on February 24, 2012 at 8:39 am
From the Inyo Register:
“The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is saying it has fulfilled its legal obligation to mitigate impacts of dust blowing off Owens Lake.
In a presentation to Great Basin last week, the LADWP said that it is not solely responsible for dust blowing off the lake and that dust was an issue in the Owens Valley long before the Southern California utility began exporting water from the area.
In short, the LADWP said it believes it has done all it is required to on the lake.
Great Basin Air Pollution Control District Director Ted Schade said the LADWP's position is “nonsense. … “
Continue reading from the Inyo Register by clicking here.
SEE ALSO: LADWP balks at more dust clean-up, from Sierra Wave
Photo of Owens Lake by Chris Austin.
Court reaffirms prior order granting discovery in San Diego County Water Authority’s rate case against Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Posted by: Maven on February 18, 2012 at 7:08 amAnd speaking of San Diego, here’s this press release from the San Diego County Water Authority:
“San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard A. Kramer today reaffirmed his January 6 order granting discovery in the San Diego County Water Authority’s lawsuit challenging 2011 and 2012 water rates adopted by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. In reaffirming his prior ruling, Judge Kramer rebuffed attempts by MWD to assert limits on discovery before the process has even commenced.
“MWD lost on the discovery issue on January 6,” said Dennis Cushman, assistant general manager of the Water Authority. “Over the past six weeks, MWD dithered and delayed moving forward with the discovery process. Instead, in its most recent court papers, MWD attempted to re-litigate motions it lost in early January.”
In a pretrial court hearing January 6, Judge Kramer granted a motion by the Imperial Irrigation District and the Water Authority to permit discovery — subpoenas, depositions, interrogatories and document production — in the case. MWD had opposed those motions, arguing the court could only consider a far more narrow set of documents MWD itself produced.
Judge Kramer also denied without prejudice a motion by MWD to bifurcate — i.e. try separately — the first three of six causes of action in the case and defer trial on the three remaining causes of action. The judge said he will consider how the case should be tried after the parties complete discovery. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego County Water Authority by clicking here.
Friday’s top of the scroll: Leaders mull how to sell higher water prices; Officials say public generally amenable to tiered rate structure
Posted by: Maven on February 10, 2012 at 8:49 amFrom MyDesert.com:
“California water agency leaders are sure of two things: water rates will continue to rise, and rate payers won’t be happy about it.
At the Urban Water Institute’s annual Spring Water Conference at the Hilton Palm Springs hotel Thursday, those leaders discussed how to better devise rate structures to meet their costs, while maintaining a sense of fairness and transparency their customers will support.
“Why do we believe water rates will go up Primarily because everything else is,\” said Brian Thomas, former chief financial officer of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. … “
Continue reading from MyDesert.com by clicking here.
Decoupling gets mixed reviews in CA four years on
Posted by: Maven on February 6, 2012 at 7:54 amFrom American Water Intelligence:
“California's revenue adjustment mechanisms were designed to protect investor-owned utilities from the negative effects of conservation laws and tiered rates, but some say ratepayers are bearing the burden
It's been four years since California began implementing decoupling mechanisms to allow investor-owned water utilities to recover costs in light of state-mandated conservation. Although there hasn't been a comprehensive review by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to evaluate decoupling's effectiveness, there is some concern that the benefits have been too heavily weighted toward investor-owned utilities at the expense of ratepayers. … “
Continue reading from American Water Intelligence by clicking here. (Note: This is a subscription website. It will allow you to read three articles before requiring you to buy a subscription. It was my first one of the three; if you have not visited this site before, you will be able to read the article.)
Will climbing water rates cause public outcry? California water leaders to meet in Palm Springs to tackle tough water issues
Posted by: Maven on February 6, 2012 at 7:17 amFrom the Urban Water Institute:
“Water industry leaders from across California will come together this month in Palm Springs to discuss the increasing cost of water, assess public reaction to future rate hikes, and determine how cities and water agencies should respond. The gathering, at the Urban Water Institute's (UWI) Spring Conference, will take place on February 9-10 at the Palm Springs Hilton. The conference theme asks the question, “Water Rates Are Going Up : Will the Public Rebel\”
Water bills are on the rise for customers all over the state. Increased demand for an already limited water supply, higher energy costs to pump, treat and move water, and stricter water quality regulations mean that end users will have to pay more to have healthy, reliable drinking water delivered to their taps.
But the public has very little understanding of the processes : and the costs : involved in bringing water to them safely and reliably, said Jim Noyes, executive director of the UWI. And water agencies need to work harder to fill in this information gap. “Relative to other utilities, water has traditionally been very inexpensive,\” Noyes said. “This low cost has translated to very little interest from ratepayers. They tend to just get their bills and pay them. As costs have risen, this interaction is changing.
Water systems need fixes, badly; customers don’t want to fund them
Posted by: Maven on January 30, 2012 at 7:51 amFrom the Sacramento Bee:
“From mountain hamlets to Sacramento City Hall, governments are asking taxpayers to dig deeper into their pockets to improve sewer and water systems.
And people are pushing back.
Local officials say they need the money to upgrade outdated water-treatment facilities, sewer lines and water mains. In some cases, improvements are required just to comply with the law.
No matter how justified they say the rate hikes are, however, some elected officials have found it hard to follow through in the face of public protests. … “
Continue reading from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.
Cal Am rates not highest, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on January 24, 2012 at 7:24 amFrom the Monterey County Herald, this commentary/rebuttal by Dave Stephenson, director of rates for California American Water:
“California American Water has been operating the Monterey Peninsula water system for more than 45 years, since 1966. We have consistently engaged in the dialogue surrounding the development of adequate water supplies, conservation, and achieving a balance between infrastructure investment and the price our customers pay for water. We believe it is critical for a variety of voices to be heard on these issues, all of which have significant impacts for our community.
However, meaningful dialogue must be based on factual information. We are particularly concerned by repeated inaccurate statements that have appeared in the editorial pages of The Herald, which in a little over a year, has published 16 letters to the editor and commentaries by Ron Weitzman of WaterPlus. A recent guest editorial (“Local water costs continue to increase,” Jan. 5) informed readers that our customers pay more for water than almost anywhere else in the world. This is completely untrue. … “
Continue reading this commentary at the Monterey County Herald by clicking here.
Department of Water & Power job could land Pickel in ‘pickle’
Posted by: Maven on January 23, 2012 at 6:25 amFrom the Los Angeles Daily News:
“For the man nominated as Los Angeles’ first-ever utility ratepayer advocate, the challenges are already mounting.
On Tuesday, utility consultant Fred Pickel faces his first confirmation hearing to be executive director of the Department of Water and Power’s Office of Public Accountability.
The next day, the City Council is slated to consider an “emergency” water rate increase – the first in a queue of major utility rate hikes expected to soon be proposed by the DWP.
All of which serves to catch the new advocate in quite a, well, pickle. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Daily News by clicking here.
LA Department of Power Ratepayers Advocate: Now the work begins
Posted by: Maven on January 20, 2012 at 5:38 amFrom L.A. City Watch:
“Hallelujah. We have a Ratepayers Advocate. But now the heavy lifting begins as the newly appointed Ratepayers Advocate, Dr. Frederick H. Pickel, must review and analyze the proposed three year increases of 22% and 25% in our water and power rates, respectively.And it appears we have a winner in Dr. Pickel, the unanimous selection of the Citizens Committee.
Beginning in early December, this volunteer Committee, along with Heather Renschler of the executive search firm of Ralph Anderson & Associates, did yeoman's work, screening over 60 qualifying resumes and conducting two rounds of in person interviews, including the final in depth interviews that required the four finalists to review and analyze reams of information about our Department of Water and Power and the proposed rate increases. … “
Continue reading from L.A. City Watch by clicking here.
Metropolitan Water District sets hearing for proposed rate increase; The water district is considering a hike of 7.5% in 2013 and 5% in 2014
Posted by: Maven on January 11, 2012 at 6:38 am
From the Riverside Press-Enterprise:
“Water rates could increase over the next couple years under a proposal by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the wholesaler that supplies most Inland water agencies.
Metropolitan is considering a price hike of 7.5 percent in 2013 and 5 percent in 2014. At its meeting In Los Angeles on Tuesday, the board approved a March 12 public hearing before the Finance and Insurance Committee. A vote on the action by the full board is scheduled for April 10. … “
Continue reading from the Riverside Press-Enterprise by clicking here.
San Diego County Water Authority press release: Court grants discovery in Water Authority’s rate case against MWD
Posted by: Maven on January 7, 2012 at 9:15 amFrom the San Diego County Water Authority:
“San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard A. Kramer today granted motions to allow discovery in the San Diego County Water Authority's case against the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, motions which MWD had vigorously opposed. The judge also denied without prejudice MWD's motion to bifurcate the case, saying he will consider how the case should be tried after the parties complete discovery.
“This is a good outcome,” Water Authority Board Chair Michael T. Hogan said. “We continue to believe that having all six Water Authority causes of action tried in a single trial will expedite a final decision. Trying all of the Water Authority's causes of action in the same trial will provide a more complete picture to the court about how MWD’s governance is broken, allowing the self-dealing system in place there to illegally set rates and take other actions that harm not only San Diego County ratepayers, but all of Southern California.
During Friday's court session, Judge Kramer asked the parties to work with a special master to develop and implement a plan for discovery. He expressly declined to impose any limitations on the Water Authority’s right to conduct discovery into bias or corruption at MWD, despite repeated requests to do so by MWD's counsel. A further case management conference was set for February 17, 2012. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego County Water Authority by clicking here.
Thursday’s top of the scroll: Split decision in Metropolitan water rate case
Posted by: Maven on January 5, 2012 at 9:05 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“Both San Diego County and Metropolitan Water District officials claimed elements of victory after a court hearing Wednesday in their high-stakes case over Southern California water rates.
Metropolitan said that an important element of the San Diego County Water Authority's lawsuit related to an alleged breach of “fiduciary duty\” was thrown out.
“This eliminates from the case SDCWA's allegations that Metropolitan and its member agencies engaged in any improper procedures in adopting rates or taking other board actions,\” Metropolitan's interim General Counsel Marcia Scully said in a memo to the district's board of directors.
But water authority lawyer Dan Purcell said the judge left open the possibility for his client to address those issues in other ways as it tries to prove Metropolitan illegally set its rates. “The case is entirely intact,\” Purcell said. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
From the North County Times:
” … Hundreds of millions of ratepayer dollars are at stake in the case, which alleges that Metropolitan is illegally overcharging the San Diego County Water Authority..
Two claims by the Water Authority against Metropolitan were struck down in a hearing in San Francisco Superior Court. The claims were for breach of fiduciary duty and breach of good faith. Judge Richard A. Kramer allowed a claim for breach of contract to go ahead.
Another claim, challenging Metropolitan’s rate structure, was not addressed in the decision. The hearing is scheduled to continue this Friday at 2 p.m. … “
Continue reading from the North County Times by clicking here.
San Diego County Water Authority press release: Court ruling allows new claims to remain in Water Authority’s case against MWD
Posted by: Maven on January 5, 2012 at 9:02 amFrom the San Diego County Water Authority:
“Following today's ruling by San Francisco Judge Richard A. Kramer, three of the San Diego County Water Authority's additional causes of action will be heard as part of a lawsuit it filed in June 2010 challenging the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California's 2011 and 2012 water rates. While Judge Kramer sustained MWD's demurrer without leave to amend on two other claims added by the Water Authority in October 2011 on technical grounds, the Water Authority's core allegations of MWD's arbitrary and illegal rate setting practices and punitive denial of service to Water Authority customers remain in the case.
Judge Kramer left open the possibility that the Water Authority could bring additional claims based on MWD's systemic discriminatory business practices. Judge Kramer also denied MWD's attempt to bring an anti-SLAPP motion against the Water Authority, ruling that the Water Authority's new claims were not an attempt to impair MWD's free speech, but were simply challenges to MWD's actions.
The Water Authority's new claims that will remain in the case include causes of action related to MWD's breach of its contract to follow applicable law in charging the Water Authority and its ratepayers for transportation of water, MWD's unlawful under calculation of the Water Authority's Preferential Right to purchase water and MWD's imposition of a retaliatory contract provision designed to prevent the Water Authority from challenging MWD's unlawful rates.
Metropolitan Water District press release: Superior Court makes series of rulings in lawsuit challenging Metropolitan rate structure
Posted by: Maven on January 5, 2012 at 9:00 amFrom the Metropolitan Water District, this press release:
“The Superior Court for the County of San Francisco today took a series of actions related to the San Diego County Water Authority's challenge of Metropolitan Water District's water rate structure.
Most important to Metropolitan, the court sustained the district’s demurrer to the Water Authority's breach of fiduciary duty claim against the district, without leave to amend the complaint.
“This eliminates from the case SDCWA's allegations that Metropolitan and its member agencies engaged in any improper procedures in adopting rates or taking other board actions,\” stated interim MWD General Counsel Marcia Scully in a memo to the district's Board of Directors this afternoon.
The court also sustained Metropolitan’s demurrer to SDCWA’s cause of action for breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing in the exchange agreement involving San Diego's water transfer with Imperial Irrigation District based on MWD’s adoption and implementation of the Rate Structure Integrity language, without leave to amend. That language is contained in Metropolitan's resource contracts with its member agencies.
San Diego County Water Authority Water Authority – Metropolitan Water District lawsuit hearing to take place Wednesday
Posted by: Maven on January 4, 2012 at 8:29 amFrom the North County Times:
“The San Diego County Water Authority’s lawsuit against Metropolitan Water District goes to a Superior Court judge Wednesday for a conference on how to handle the complicated case involving hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Water Authority says Metropolitan, its main supplier, rigged its rates to make the Water Authority pay more than it should. The overcharges could reach up to $231 million annually by 2021, costs that will be passed on to nearly all water customers in San Diego County, the authority says. … “
Continue reading from the Metropolitan Water District by clicking here.
San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency to further study funding agreement
Posted by: Maven on January 4, 2012 at 7:44 amFrom the Riverside Press-Enterprise:
“San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency directors on Tuesday tabled a vote on a supplemental funding agreement that would cost the agency about $213,000 over three years.
The agreement would be an addendum to one the agency already has with the state Department of Water Resources.
The Beaumont agency is one of 29 state water contractors that bring state project water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and Lake Oroville into their areas. … “
Continue reading from the Riverside Press-Enterprise by clicking here.
San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency’s funding agreement for Bay-Delta Conservation Plan up for approval
Posted by: Maven on January 2, 2012 at 8:18 amFrom the Riverside Press-Enterprise:
“An agreement in which the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency would pay the state Department of Water Resources $213,000 over three years is up for approval.
The funds would go toward drafting a Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta conservation and conveyance plan.
The agency's board of directors will consider approving the funding agreement when it meets in regular session Tuesday, according to the meeting agenda. … “
Continue reading from the Riverside Press-Enterprise by clicking here.
Otay water contracts tied to board chairman: General manager awards them, without bids, up to $50,000, a practice he calls standard
Posted by: Maven on December 30, 2011 at 7:23 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“The general manager of the Otay Water District approved more than $200,000 in no-bid contracts this year to associates of the board's chairman, Jaime Bonilla.
Three of the contracts involved a desalination plant planned in Baja California that Otay officials hope will be a key source of future water. One covered redistricting of the agency's political boundaries and another was for public relations.
Otay allows General Manager Mark Watton to award contracts up to $50,000 without board approval, a set-up he said is standard across the industry. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
Santa Clara Valley Water District to save $7.7 million through new contracts
Posted by: Maven on December 28, 2011 at 11:33 pmFrom the Morgan Hill Times:
“In an effort to cut costs and bring more efficiency to the agency, the Santa Clara Valley Water District approved new agreements with three employee unions that will save $7.7 million over the life of the contracts.
Tuesday, the SCVWD board of directors unanimously approved the contracts with the Engineers Society, Professional Management Association, one week after negotiations finished with the largest union, the Employee’s Association affecting 686 of the agency’s 714 total employees. … “
Continue reading from the Morgan Hill Times by clicking here.
Beaumont: Resolution to reduce directors divides water board
Posted by: Maven on December 20, 2011 at 6:35 amFrom the Riverside Press-Enterprise:
“The San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency board of directors narrowly passed a resolution Monday that calls on the state Legislature to reduce the size of the board from seven to five members by December 2014. … “
Continue reading from the Riverside Press-Enterprise by clicking here.
Redlands: Water meter calibration program brings more revenue
Posted by: Maven on December 17, 2011 at 7:15 amFrom the Riverside Press-Enterprise:
“A Redlands municipal utilities program to test and calibrate large water meters is likely to return more than three times the project's cost in revenue from city water users who had been undercharged, city officials said this week.
The city in February allocated up to $50,000 for the first phase of a project to test and calibrate large water meters, which are three inches or more in diameter. Such meters typically are installed for large water users, such as commercial and industrial customers and large apartment complexes, city spokesman Carl Baker said. … “
Continue reading from the Riverside Press-Enterprise by clicking here.
Clarity Blog: Are water agencies about to drown in positive polling?
Posted by: Maven on December 15, 2011 at 8:39 amFrom the Clarity Blog:
“A recent survey conducted by the Municipal Water District of Orange County found that 93 percent of the 500 respondents feel Orange County's water supply is somewhat reliable or very reliable. That's big news to us in the business of influencing public behavior, because a similar question asked in the agency's 2008 survey found that only 27 percent felt OC had a reliable supply.
So can us communicators take credit for the nearly four-fold jump in public perception After all, our water supply is just as reliable today (or unreliable depending how you look at it) than it was three years ago. We humbly say, “not so fast. … “
Continue reading from the Clarity Blog by clicking here.
On the Water Front blog: Since we’re neighbors let’s be friends (EBMUD and CCWD)
Posted by: Maven on December 14, 2011 at 8:32 amFrom Spreck Rosekrans at the Environmental Defense Fund’s On the Water Front blog:
“Since we're neighbors let’s be friends.
This old Safeway jingle comes to mind in the wake of the East Bay Municipal Utility District's decision to withdraw its plans to expand Pardee Reservoir, in the Sierra Nevada mountains of Northern California, and to work instead with neighboring Contra Costa Water District.
Expanding Pardee would have buried a beautiful stretch of the Mokelumne River that is a popular recreation area for boaters (myself included) and others in the nearby foothill communities. Instead the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) intends to invest in the expansion of the less controversial (and “offstream\”) Los Vaqueros Reservoir, owned and operated by the Contra Costa Water District (CCWD).
There are three reasons to cheer this decision. … “
Continue reading from the On the Water Front blog by clicking here.
Brown Act amendments for 2012: Changes affect agenda noticing and simultaneous or serial meetings
Posted by: Maven on December 14, 2011 at 8:15 amFrom Best Best & Krieger, this legal alert:
“The California Legislature enacted several changes to The Brown Act in 2011 that may affect your agency. The significant amendments, effective on January 1, 2012, are as follows:
Agenda Posting and Special Meetings (AB 1344): AB 1344 amends two sections of the Act – 54954.2 and 54956 : regarding the posting of agendas and prohibiting the calling of a special meeting to discuss compensation matters. … “
Find out what else has changed from Best Best & Krieger by clicking here.
SDCWA-MWD lawsuit undermines regional approach, says Kightlinger
Posted by: Maven on December 9, 2011 at 8:13 amFrom the Ramona Sentinel, this commentary by Jeffrey Kightlinger:
“Michael T. Hogan meticulously details the reasons why water rates are increasing in his recent Commentary ( “Water Agencies Work to Minimize Rate Impacts\”,Nov. 23). What the chairman of the San Diego County Water Authority's Board of Directors fails to mention is the millions of dollars that will be spent on attorneys' fees in the Water Authority's latest legal challenge against the Metropolitan Water District's rate structure.
As the primary provider of imported water for six Southern California counties, Metropolitan and its Board of Directors fairly allocate the costs of water through its rate structure. More than a decade ago, Metropolitan began a comprehensive process with extensive public input to develop a new regional pricing system for its 26 member public agencies,including San Diego,and the nearly 19 million residents in Metropolitan's service area. … “
Continue reading this commentary posted at the Ramona Sentinel by clicking here.
Column: It’s Politics: Santa Fe Springs asks for audit of Central Basin Municipal Water District
Posted by: Maven on November 26, 2011 at 5:53 amFrom the Whittier Daily News, this column:
“The Santa Fe Springs City Council voted this week to ask that the Central Basin Municipal Water District be identified as a “high-risk” agency and be audited.
Tuesday’s vote seeks to take advantage of a new law authorizing the state auditor to establish a high-risk governmental agency audit program.
“City staff believes the Central Basin Municipal Water District meets the criteria of a high-risk agency,” stated Santa Fe Springs City Manager Thaddeus McCormick in a written staff report. … “
Continue reading from the Whittier Daily News by clicking here.
Press release: Mesa Consolidated Water District receives several prestigious awards in 2011 for business and industry excellence
Posted by: Maven on November 22, 2011 at 6:29 amFrom the Mesa Consolidated Water District:
“The Mesa Consolidated Water District (Mesa Water) Board of Directors announces that Mesa Water has received several prestigious awards in 2011 for outstanding work in the areas of engineering, finance, public outreach, and business operations. Offered annually by prominent industry organizations, the awards honor top-performing government and water agencies.
In the engineering field, the prestigious trade publication, Water & Wastes Digest, selected Mesa Water's Colored Water Treatment Facility (CWTF) Improvements Project as a “Top Project of 2011. As a recipient of this award, annually bestowed to ten projects nationwide, Mesa Water and its CWTF Improvements Project will be featured in the publication's December issue.
“Mesa Water is honored that its CWTF Improvements Project was selected by Water & Wastes Digest as a Top Project of 2011,\” said Fred R. Bockmiller, Jr., P.E., Mesa Water Board President. “The CWTF Improvements Project expands capacity, reduces energy cost, and will help the District achieve its goal of being 100 percent locally reliable by 2012, making Mesa Water one of the most reliable water agencies. … “
Continue reading this press release from Mesa Consolidated Water District by clicking here.
Metropolitan Water District, not San Diego, on side of ‘fairness’, says MWD’s Randy Record
Posted by: Maven on November 20, 2011 at 7:20 amFrom the North County Times, this commentary by Randy Record, vice chairman of the Metropolitan Water District and a member of the Eastern Municipal Water District board:
“Fairness, like beauty, may be in the eye of the beholder. The San Diego County Water Authority believes (“Fair Flow” Nov. 13) that it is paying an unfair cost for water from Metropolitan Water District (MWD).
Instead, maybe the authority should ask itself why MWD’s 25 other member agencies, including those here in Riverside County, should subsidize San Diego’s water costs.
To be fair, San Diego took on added costs of its own in 2003 when it made arrangements to buy and transfer water from the Imperial Irrigation District to augment its local water resources. … “
Continue reading this commentary from the North County Times by clicking here.
DWP thanks KABC for on-air correction of water rate increase story
Posted by: Maven on November 19, 2011 at 6:23 amFrom the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power:
“On the November 16, 2011 broadcast of Eyewitness News 5PM, KABC included a story on a proposed water rate increase intended to help the Department meet the costs of major projects to comply with drinking water quality mandates set forth by federal and state regulators. KABC based its report on erroneous information that ran in that day’s Los Angeles Daily News which stated that LADWP would raise water rates by $5 to offset a decrease in revenue that stemmed from our customers’ success at water conservation.
KABC righted its error during the November, 17, 2011 broadcast of Eyewitness News 5PM with the following correction:
“We need to clarify a story on a proposed fee increase involving L.A.’s Department of Water and Power. We reported customers were facing a five dollar rate increase because DWP was losing money thanks to customers conserving water. Well, the DWP says the proposed fee increase is actually for federal compliance for clean water. Officials say the increase is small and will cover federally mandated projects with strict deadlines like removing the Silver Lake and Ivanhoe reservoirs from service. DWP says it has $600 million in costs that have to be paid in the next six months to continue work on those reservoirs. And DWP also points out that because of last year’s snowpack, water rates – even with a small increase – are lower than they were a year ago.”
LADWP thanks KABC for correcting the mistake and for making the effort to report correctly on a story that is of interest to large portion of its audience, our customers within the City of Los Angeles. “
For a complete story on the proposal, along with a DWP presentation on this issue, click here.
Is $6 billion ‘mother water company’ \”¦ under water?
Posted by: Maven on November 17, 2011 at 7:20 amFrom the O.C. Watchdog:
“C.P.A.-types love to slice and dice numbers (and may or may not be good company at a dinner party). But hand them an audit of a massive, multi-billion dollar public entity one which affects the lives of 19 million people here in Southern California : and the fun begins!
Suffice to say that the basic financial statements of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California were circulated among officialdom here in O.C. recently, sort of the way teens share pictures of cute co-eds. Here's what most folks see:
Total assets: $11.7 billion.
Total liabilities: $5.5 billion.
Net assets (the difference between the two): $6.2 billion.Hmph! Pretty good! The state of California can only look on with envy. … “
Continue reading from the O.C. Watchdog by clicking here.
Fair flow? “The water transportation rates charged the San Diego County Water Authority [by Metropolitan] sure have the appearance of being punitive in nature … ” says the North County Times
Posted by: Maven on November 14, 2011 at 5:39 amFrom the North County Times, this editorial:
“Serving an arid, semidesert region that once supported a population numbering in the tens of thousands with native water supplies, the Metropolitan Water District has the unenviable task of locating, securing and transporting enough water to support the tens of millions of people who now call Southern California home (outside of Los Angeles, which has its own independent water supply).
It’s a tough job, and we admire its tenacity and resourcefulness in keeping the taps running.
But as a government agency, MWD works for us —- all of us. And that’s a critical point that we’re not entirely sure the MWD’s leadership fully grasps. … “
Continue reading this editorial from the North County Times by clicking here.
For the record: Central Basin Municipal Water District responds to yesterday’s LA Times article
Posted by: Maven on November 10, 2011 at 7:40 amReceived via email from the Central Basin Municipal Water District, this response to yesterday’s LA Times article:
“Working with a vendor, the Central Basin Municipal Water District has been seeking to communicate information across web-based platforms about our programs and policy initiatives in an effort to combat the Water Replenishment District’s cyber spreading of inaccurate information on fake websites designed to purposefully mislead the public.
It is important to stress that the information related to the Central Basin Municipal Water District posted on the News Hawks Review website was true and accurate and reflected positive Central Basin announcements and policy initiatives and did not contain information designed to mislead the public about Central Basin’s substantive policies or the policies of other water districts.
Central Basin was not aware of issues related to the backgrounds of the individuals whose names appeared alongside the stories and had no knowledge of their biographies until it was brought to our attention, at which point the News Hawks website lost its Google Certification and Central Basin's vendor discontinued using the website.
Central Basin is committed to maintaining a strong education and outreach effort and will continue to disseminate information to inform its customers and the public about important water issues.
Here are links to several various misleading online platforms (known as cybersquatting) sponsored by the Water Replenishment District: www.centralbasin.net, www.central-basin.com, www.centralbasinreplenishment.org“
Kern County Water Agency hosts Vision 2061 statewide water summit
Posted by: Maven on October 22, 2011 at 5:58 amFrom Market Watch:
“The Kern County Water Agency (Agency) marked its 50th anniversary today by hosting Vision 2061, an educational summit designed to reflect on the accomplishments of the past 50 years, assess the current challenges facing California’s water management and infrastructure, and foster creative thinking and discussion on how to meet California’s water needs during the next half-century. The event, held at Bakersfield College, featured expert panel discussions, keynote speakers and a preview of the documentary: California State of Mind — The Legacy of Pat Brown including the creation of the State Water Project.
“Fifty years ago, my father worked with local leaders to create the Kern County Water Agency. Working together, they carried out the vision of the State Water Project–the largest public works project of its kind in the world,” said Governor Jerry Brown. “I share his belief that leaders in Kern County can play a major role in solving our water challenges. I offer my congratulations on this historic anniversary.” … “
Continue reading from Market Watch by clicking here.
MORE: Coverage of the event from Bakersfield’s Channel 23 by clicking here.
After just a few years of water service, Pass water agency celebrates 50 years of anticipation
Posted by: Maven on October 7, 2011 at 7:03 amFrom the Record Gazette:
“Only in the past few years has water been distributed by the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency in Beaumont, but marking a half-century of advocating for water transport to the Pass area was, indeed, a milestone.
Sept. 29 marked 50 years and a week since the agency's board formally met for the first time; but while the tumultuously quiet past was what was celebrated, the focus is on the future where “This agency will be a big player in this industry,\” according to Barbara Voigt, the longest-serving member of the agency's board of directors, who spoke at an official ceremony marking the occasion last Thursday. … “
Aquafornia's Information Desk
| Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
| 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | ||
Aquafornia's Photos on Flickr
Aquafornia's Mission
Aquafornia's mission is to educate readers about the complex and often controversial issues surrounding water in California.
Aquafornia is affiliated with the Water Education Foundation, an impartial, nonprofit organization, whose mission is to create a better understanding of water resources and foster public understanding and resolution of water resource issues through facilitation, education and outreach.
E-mail Newsletter
To receive email announcements from the Water Education Foundation, sign up here.
Web Resources
Agriculture
Climate Change & Water
Conservation
Current Conditions
Delta & SF Bay Resources
- Bay Delta Developments
- Bay Institute
- Bay-Delta Conservation Plan
- Delta Atlas
- Delta Protection Commission
- Delta Stewardship Council
- Delta Vision Foundation
- Delta WaterMaster
- Discover the Delta Foundation
- Restore the Delta
- San Francisco Bay and Delta (Access USGS)
- San Francisco Baykeeper
- San Francisco Estuary and Watershed Science website
- San Francisco Estuary Partnership
Employment & Water
Environmental Organizations
Fishing Blogs/Organizations
Investing & Water
Landscaping
Legal Blogs
Legislative Committees - State & Federal
- California State Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife
- California State Senate Committee on Natural Resources & Water
- House Natural Resource Committee, Water & Power Subcommittee
- New State Water Legislation Mandates (KMTG)
- Senate Commitee on Environment & Public Works, Water and Wildlife Subcommittee
- The California Channel
Los Angeles River
Maven's Other Websites
News
Public Policy Organizations
Regional Water Associations
Salton Sea
Stormwater & Flood Control
Water Agencies
- ACWA – Association of California Water Agencies
- Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency
- Contra Costa Water District
- East Bay Municipal Utility District
- Imperial Irrigation District
- Kern County Water Agency
- Long Beach Water Department
- Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
- Metropolitan Water District
- Municipal Water District of Orange County
- San Diego County Water Authority
- Santa Clara Valley Water District
- Sonoma County Water Agencies
- South San Joaquin Irrigation District
- State Water Contractors
- West Basin Municipal Water District
- Westlands Water District
Water Agencies - State & Federal
Water Blogs
- ACWA's Voices in Water blog
- Aguanomics
- Alex Breitler's Blog
- American Water Resources Assn. Blog
- Barry Nelson at the NRDC Switchboard
- Bay Delta Blog
- California Water Blog
- California Water Wars blog
- Chance of Rain
- Chronicles of the Hydraulic Brotherhood
- Delta National Park Blog
- EDF's On The Waterfront
- Greed, Green & Grains
- Green Roots Blog (PCL)
- GrokSurf's San Diego blog
- Inkstain – jfleck
- Klam Blog
- L. A. Creek Freak
- On the Public Record
- Peter Gleick’s City Brights blog
- Restore the Delta's blog
- Southern California Water Committee Blog
- Spouting Off – Mark Gold of Heal the Bay
- State of the Planet Blog
- The California Spigot
- Thirsty in Suburbia
- Tom Philp's Blog
- Valley Economy Blog
- Water Cooler Blog
- Water Librarian's Blog
- Water SISWEB
- Waterblogged (Shawn McKinnon)
- Watering the Desert
- WaterWired
Water Information
News Article Archives
- Agriculture
- Aquafornia News & Exclusives
- Central Valley Project
- Climate change & water supply
- Conservation
- Delta Issues
- Desalination
- Development & Population
- Drinking Water & Bottled Water
- Drought Tolerant Landscaping
- Drought, Weather & Snowpack
- Energy & Water
- Events
- Flood Control/Stormwater
- General Water Issues
- Groundwater
- History
- Indian Water Rights
- Infrastructure
- Innovative Ideas
- International Water Issues
- Invasive Plants & Species
- Investing in water
- Legislation – State & Federal
- Levees
- National water news
- Oceans & Beaches
- People in the News
- Politics of Water
- Recycled Water
- Regional Water Issues
- San Joaquin River Restoration
- State Water Project (DWR)
- Storage and supply
- Transfers
- Uncategorized
- Water Agency News
- Water Banking
- Water Quality
- Water Rights
- Weird & Wacky Water News
- Wildlife & Endangered Species