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March 10, 2016    
In This Issue
Supplies from Carlsbad Desalination Plant Certified as Drought-Resilient
Discounts Offered During National Fix a Leak Week
Free Classes Teach Low-Water Landscaping
Mark J. Hattam Named New General Counsel for Water Authority
Did you see?
The Los Angeles Times reported that February was supposed to be one of the wettest on record.
"Instead, by one measure at least, it became the hottest. At an average high temperature of 77.5, this February sailed almost two degrees above the previous record set in 1954, according to a Times analysis."
Click here to read more.


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San Diego County Water Authority


Supplies from Carlsbad Desalination Plant Certified as Drought-Resilient
County water ratepayes benefit from investment through easing of state's water-use mandates
State regulators have certified the supply of potable water from the Claude "Bud" Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant as drought-resilient, reducing the regional impacts of emergency water-use mandates the state imposed in June 2015. Certification by the State Water Resources Control Board lowers the regional aggregate water conservation goal from 20 percent to about 13 percent, though water-use targets will continue to vary by local water agency.
On Feb. 2, the State Board extended mandatory conservation measures for water agencies statewide through October and said it would reconsider the regulations after assessing reservoir levels as well as snowpack and regional water supply conditions in April. The State Board also approved supply credits toward meeting conservation targets for agencies that have developed local, drought-resilient supplies since 2013.
The Water Authority has worked closely with the state in recent months to ensure that local member agencies will benefit from investments in the nation's largest seawater desalination plant, which opened in December and produces about 50 million gallons per day of high-quality, drought-proof water that reduces the region's reliance on other water sources. The Water Authority and its member agencies will continue to work with the State Board to refine the draft conservation standards.
Under the draft state figures, certification of the Carlsbad desalinated supplies reduces each local agency's water-savings target by up to 8 percentage points. However, it is still important for the region's residents and businesses to conserve. The modified emergency regulation still requires that every local water agency reduce water use compared to 2013 baseline levels to ensure conservation continues during this drought emergency. The minimum water-use reduction is 8 percent compared to baseline levels, but most agencies in the San Diego region will still need to meet higher savings targets. For a comparison of local water agencies' initial and draft revised targets, along with more information about the modified state regulations, go to www.sdcwa.org/state-board-regulations.
Discounts Offered During National
Fix a Leak Week
For the second straight year, the Water Authority and its member agencies are partnering with the local chapter of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association to help residents and businesses save water and money during national Fix a Leak Week, March 14-20. 
Participating contractors will offer customers a 10 percent discount (up to $100) during Fix a Leak Week on products and services related to fixing leaks at homes and businesses in the San Diego region. No application is necessary; customers just need to mention the Water Authority partnership when scheduling an appointment. Participating PHCC members can be found here.

Free Classes Teach
Low-Water Landscaping
The Water Authority and the San Diego Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation are offering several free classes this spring as part of the San Diego Sustainable Landscapes Program. That program is the result of a multi-party regional partnership to promote a watershed approach to landscaping. Funding is provided by the California Department of Water Resources.
Water Authority classes:
  • WaterSmart Design for Homeowners -- Each three-hour workshop introduces participants to the basics of landscape makeovers. Topics include healthy soils, design, turf removal, plant selection, planning, irrigation, rainwater catchment and implementation. Upcoming workshops are March 23 in Escondido and April 2 in Vista. For details and the complete schedule, click here.  
  • WaterSmart Landscape Makeover Series -- These four-class series offers a hands-on, personalized experience, including free professional coaching. The next series starts April 13 in Clairemont, with registration required by March 30. Another series starts April 16 in Oceanside, with registration due by April 2.
    For details and the complete schedule, click here. 
Surfrider Foundation classes:
  • Watershed Wise Design Seminars -- Each three-hour seminar covers landscape design aesthetics, plants' water needs and how to select the right plants for your landscape; and includes practice designing a real landscape. Upcoming seminars will be held March 19 in Oceanside and March 24 in San Marcos. For registration details and the complete schedule, click here.
  • Hands-On Turf Removal Workshops -- Learn how to remove turf without harmful chemicals, build healthy soil, capture stormwater and use stormwater in your landscape. Workshops are taught in real gardens and last about 3 hours. The next workshop is April 9 in Vista. For details and registration, click here.
Mark J. Hattam Named
New General Counsel for
Water Authority

Following a national search to select the agency's top legal officer, the Water Authority named Mark J. Hattam as general counsel; he will begin March 14. The Board of Directors approved Hattam's terms of employment during its regular monthly meeting on Feb. 25.
As general counsel, Hattam will advise the Water Authority's Board and executive staff on a range of legal matters, including the agency's high-profile litigation over the legality of rates set by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Before being hired by the Water Authority, Hattam was a partner in the San Diego office of Allen Matkins, a California-based law firm with approximately 200 attorneys specializing in real estate, litigation, labor, tax, land use and business law. His practice consisted of litigation in state and federal courts regarding water rights, commercial disputes, real property, insurance, environmental regulations and other issues, as well as administrative hearing practice. Hattam graduated with honors from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.
For more information, click here.
The San Diego County Water Authority sustains a $218 billion regional economy and the quality of life for 3.2 million residents through a multi-decade water supply diversification plan, major infrastructure investments and forward-thinking policies that promote fiscal and environmental responsibility. A public agency created in 1944, the Water Authority delivers wholesale water supplies to 24 retail water providers, including cities, special districts and a military base.