ACWA’s eNews is a weekly roundup of California water news and events.
AB 145 Advances in Senate
A Senate committee approved an ACWA-opposed bill June 12 that would transfer responsibility for the state’s drinking water program from the Department of the Public Health to the State Water Resources Control Board.
AB 145 (Perea) cleared the Senate Environmental Quality Committee on a 7-0 vote after a lengthy debate in which several lawmakers voiced concerns with the bill’s approach and urged the author to consider other options to address problems without moving the entire drinking water program away from a state agency focused on public health.
New Surface Water Treatment Rules Take Effect July 1
New rules for surface water treatment adopted by the California Department of Public Health will go into effect beginning July 1.
Call for Entries: ACWA’s Fall Awards Recognize Leadership, Communication
Innovative communications programs and outstanding leadership will be recognized with ACWA’s annual awards at the association’s 2013 Fall Conference & Exhibition in December in Los Angeles.
ACWA’s Huell Howser Best in Blue Award honors public water agency efforts in communicating with customers, legislators, media and the public. The award focuses on creativity, transparency and use of available funds. Guidelines and entry forms are available here.
Western Canal’s Live Wildlife Webcam Captures Killdeer Chicks – and Lots of Attention
A web camera set up by the Western Canal Water District to videotape wildlife and rice farming on its surrounding land on Friday captured a mama killdeer and her newly hatched chicks – and garnered lots of attention from local media.
The Chico Enterprise-Record tweeted links to the video on Friday, resulting in over 8000 hits. The local newspaper also ran a front-page story on the wildlife scene in its Sunday, June 9 edition.
Report Provides Tips on Setting Water Rates in Changing Era
A new report by the non-profit Pacific Institute provides California water service providers with tips on setting fair water rates in an era of uncertain future demand and fixed costs.
Los Angeles Urges Conservation Due to Low Water Supplies
With record-low water deliveries projected from the Los Angeles Aqueduct, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is reminding its customers to conserve water indoors and outdoors this summer.
The dry winter, below average rainfall and snowpack, and reduced supply from the State Water project has created a “perfect storm” for L.A. residents, said James B. McDaniel, senior assistant general manager of the LADWP Water System.
Register Now for ACWA’s 2013 Regulatory Summit Aug. 14
Registration is now open for ACWA’s third annual Regulatory Summit, set for Aug. 14 at the Embassy Suites Mandalay Beach in Oxnard.
The summit, titled “Past, Present and Future: Effectively Managing California’s Groundwater Resources,” will address an array of topics related to groundwater, including:
ACWA Seeks Leaders for 2014 –’15 Elected Term
The ACWA Nominating Committee is seeking recommendations from member agencies for nominations for ACWA president and vice president for the 2014-’15 elected term.
To be eligible for election, candidates must be elected or appointed directors of ACWA member agencies, according to ACWA Board of Directors policy.
Reclamation Selects Recipients for Groundwater Banking Funding
The Bureau of Reclamation announced June 7 the selection of four groundwater banking projects that will receive about $12.7 million in cost-share funding under the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act.
Combined with local cost-share contributions, the $12.7 million in funding will leverage more than $39.6 million in water management improvements through projects for Friant Division water contractors in the San Joaquin Valley.
Commemorative Gold Edition of California’s Water Now Available
A commemorative Gold Edition featuring all 25 segments of the California’s Water series is now available.
Produced by iconic public television personality Huell Howser and underwritten by ACWA and its members, the first-of-its kind series has taken viewers on an educational journey through California water since its launch in 2006.
BMP 1.4 Retail Conservation Pricing Workshop
Wed, 06/19/2013 – 9:30am – 4:00pm
Location:
West Sacramento Galleria at City Hall, West Sacramento
ACWA, in partnership with the California Urban Water Conservation Council, the Department of Water Resources and others, will co-host two BMP 1.4 Retail Conservation Pricing workshops on June 19 at the West Sacramento Civic Center Galleria, and June 26 at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Los Angeles.
The all-day workshops will include panel discussions and small group listening sessions where participant feedback will be collected.
Topics to be addressed include:
MCWRA & ACWA Region 3 Joint Program – June 19, 2013
Wed, 06/19/2013 – 10:00am – 2:30pm
Location:
Auburn, CA
MCWRA & ACWA Region 3 Joint Program
Hosted by Placer County Water Agency
– Statewide Water Issues – Upstream Interests –
Please join us for the next MCWRA and ACWA Region 3 joint program on Statewide Water Issues – Upstream Interests
ACWA Region 1 Program Take it from the Tap: Promoting Drink Local Campaigns
Fri, 07/19/2013 – 10:00am – 2:30pm
Location:
Santa Rosa, CA
ACWA Region 1 Program
Take it From the Tap:
Promoting Drink Local Campaigns
