Board Approves Two-Year Budget
 for Fiscal Years 2012 and 2013

Treated water cost to rise 7.7 percent in 2012 

The San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors has approved a $1.42 billion budget to fund water purchases, capital expenditures, debt service and operating expenses from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2013.

The new budget, a 16 percent decrease from the current two-year amended budget of $1.69 billion, features $235 million less spending on capital projects and a 7 percent decrease in the cost of operating departments.  It includes the elimination of 31.33 full-time equivalent positions and other organizational changes that reflect the Water Authority evolving into an agency more focused on operating, rather than building, major water facilities.  By the end of this two-year budget period, a total of 31.33 positions will be eliminated and an additional 4.42 positions will be reduced in fiscal year 2014, representing a 16 percent reduction in staffing since fiscal year 2008.   

"This budget balances the need to keep investing in vital water supply reliability projects and programs to support our region's $186 billion economy and 3.1 million residents with the need to make aggressive efforts to control costs and moderate rate increases," said Michael T. Hogan, Water Authority Board Chair.  "These steps have helped to manage the rate increase for next year, which is being driven by continuing increases in the cost to buy and transport imported water, planned increases in debt service, and the need to recover our fixed costs over significantly reduced water sales volumes."

The board approved a 7.7 percent increase in the cost of treated water purchased by its 24 member agencies in calendar year 2012.  The total cost for municipal and industrial treated water will rise to $1,148 per acre-foot, up $82 from the latest estimated 2011 cost for treated water.  Untreated water rates will rise by $64 per acre-foot, up 7.5 percent.  (An acre-foot is about 326,000 gallons, enough to meet the needs of two average single-family households of four people for a year.)

To see the full news release, click here.

To see a full copy of the budget, click here.

Board Approves Updated Water Management Plan

The San Diego County Water Authority Board of Directors has adopted its 2010 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP).  The plan, a key forecast of regional water demands over the next 25 years and the supply resources needed to meet those demands, calls for the Water Authority and its 24 member agencies to continue supply diversification projects in response to growing demand and new water supply uncertainties.

"The 2010 Urban Water Management Plan will be a very useful tool for helping us determine how to provide San Diego County with a safe and reliable water supply and how we may need to adapt in response to supply challenges including regulatory restrictions on imported water deliveries, drought and potential impacts from climate change," Water Authority Board Chair Michael T. Hogan said.  "What is abundantly clear from this plan is the importance of continuing to use water wisely and continuing to explore and make prudent, cost-effective investments in regional and local water supply projects."   

The 2010 plan forecasts the region's growing population will lead to about a 33 percent increase in total regional water demand over the next 20 years. To meet this demand, the 2010 plan calls for current supply diversification efforts to continue.  It expects the region to achieve a more than 200 percent increase in local supply development by 2035, including obtaining desalinated seawater from the Carlsbad Desalination Project and local agency investments in surface water, groundwater and water recycling projects.  The plan also calls for conservation efforts to result in approximately 97,000 acre-feet of water savings annually by 2030.

To see the full news release click here.  

To see the 2010 UWMP click here.  

See WaterSmart Gardening at the  

San Diego County Fair

 San Diego Horticultural Society, Water Authority  

Partner on Award-winning Exhibit 

There is still another week to see the exhibits in the Flower and Garden Show at the San Diego County Fair. The Water Authority is hosting an exhibit, in partnership with the San Diego Horticultural Society, which won three awards.

The 1,000 square foot display is an excellent example of an attractive, colorful and water-efficient residential garden comprised of a wide variety of WaterSmart plants, permeable hardscape, and a garden sculpture made completely from recycled materials.

This year's fair theme is "Race to the Fair," and the theme of the Flower & Garden Show is "Riding in Style." In keeping with the theme, the SDHS/Water Authority garden chose "Let Your Water Budget Drive Your Plant Choices" - showcasing a beautiful WaterSmart residential design that incorporates an educational component, beauty, and creativity.

The WaterSmart plants in the exhibit include both natives and plants from other Mediterranean climates similar to San Diego County. These plants usually need little water to thrive, since they are well-adapted to dry conditions. The plant list is available here .

The planted area has 30 percent very low water use natives and succulents, 64 percent low water use trees and shrubs and only 6 percent high water use plants - much of which is a small vegetable garden. The plants are grouped by water needs to avoid excess watering. The display includes a user-friendly explanation of what determines a water budget and the estimated water use of this garden, as well as a take-away plant list.

To see more pictures and information about the exhibit, click here.  

To see an informational video about the exhibit, click here.  

Delta Vision Foundation Issues  

Report Card

Claims Inadequate Progress in Ensuring  

Reliable Water Supply for California

The Delta Vision Foundation (established by the former members of the Governor's Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force) has issued the second annual Delta Vision Report Card. The report claims that state and federal agency progress in moving forward with a plan for the Bay-Delta are hopeful, but inadequate.

The Delta Vision Strategic Plan was released in October 2008, with the co-equal goals of restoring the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta ecosystem and ensuring a reliable water supply for California. The report card gives above-average marks for effort, but progress for key goals were less favorable, including preparations for rescue and response to a seismic event in the Bay-Delta.  

Flows through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta have been under regulatory restriction since 2007 in an effort to normalize declining fish populations. The San Diego region traditionally has received up to 30 percent of its yearly water supply from the Bay-Delta.

To see a press release about the Delta Vision report card,

click here.

To see the full report card, click here.