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In California water news and commentary this weekend …
As November deadline nears, Colorado River states ‘nowhere close to an agreement’
“Amid tense negotiations over the Colorado River’s future, Nevada leaders came together Thursday to focus on the state’s strategy to meet the climate and drought crisis threatening Lake Mead and the Hoover Dam. Democratic Rep. Susie Lee, whose district falls within the boundaries of Lake Mead and half of the Hoover Dam, brought together regional water and hydropower leaders to highlight mounting needs the state faces during her third annual Southern Nevada Water Summit at the Springs Preserve. Before water was piped from the Colorado River to Las Vegas, the burgeoning community relied entirely on groundwater from the Las Vegas Springs located on the site where the Springs Preserve now sits. That water soon dried up after demand from the growing city depleted the aquifer. Now water managers are working to ensure Lake Mead – which provides nearly 90% of the city’s water – does not meet the same fate. … ” Read more from the Nevada Current.
‘It’s crunch time’ to save Lake Mead as negotiations stall, Nevada leader says
“Lake Mead is the foundation for life in Southern Nevada, but it’s clearer than ever that the Colorado River system is headed for turbulence. In addition to water, time is in short supply to strike a seven-state consensus deal for the Colorado River, said Rep. Susie Lee, D-Nev., on Thursday at her third annual Southern Nevada Water Summit. The most recent projection for Lake Mead shows the reservoir dropping below its historic lows by summer 2027, a fact underscoring the idea that all 40 million people that the Colorado River serves will need to live with less. “It’s crunch time for the negotiators,” Lee told the crowd of about 50. “There’s a lot of places where I don’t see eye-to-eye with this current administration, but we do agree on this much: The best path forward for the Colorado River system is one that is jointly chartered and agreed upon by the basin states and the tribes, not one that is imposed upon us living in the West by Washington, D.C.” … ” Read more from the Las Vegas Review Journal.
SEE ALSO: Nevada warns of tough choices as Colorado River deadline approaches, from the Las Vegas Sun
DWR is committed to building a climate resilient delta to benefit people, farms, and fish
The Department of Water Resources writes, “The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is committed to building climate resilience in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. A newly released map from DWR shows dozens of projects and programs aimed at building Delta Resilience. The Delta faces climate risks like no other region of California. Runoff from 40 percent of California’s land mass flows to the Delta, while tides move inland from San Francisco Bay. Once a large tidal marsh, huge amounts of fresh and saltwater ebb back and forth across this estuary twice a day. Farms, historic communities, highways, railroads, and other assets in the Delta are protected by hundreds of miles of earthen levees. In the central and western Delta, some islands sit 20 feet below sea level because the peat soil there disappears when dried and tilled; the deeper an island subsides, the greater the risk of levee failure. … ” Read more from DWR.
Delta tunnels a ‘threat’ to local way of life
“A state project that would build a tunnel to divert water from the Delta to other regions of California is the “key” to modernizing the state’s water projects and providing water to millions of Californians, according to a recent study by the California Department of Water Resources. But local water agencies disagree, calling the project potentially damaging to the local ecosystem. The Delta Conveyance Project is a proposed 45-mile tunnel that would transport water from the North Delta to Central and Southern California, according to the website for the project. The tunnel will “modernize water infrastructure in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta by making physical improvements to how we capture and move water during wet years for use in dry years with a tunnel system.” … ” Read more from The Brentwood Press.
SEE ALSO: True cost of building Newsom’s Delta tunnel can be found in what’s left of Owens Valley, commentary by Dennis Wyatt, editor of the Manteca Bulletin
State Water Board launches new webpage: Effects of Recharge on Groundwater Quality
“As part of the State Water Boards’ efforts to better understand groundwater recharge in California, the Groundwater Ambient Monitoring and Assessment (GAMA) program has released a website entitled Effects of Recharge on Groundwater Quality and has developed the Aquifer Recharge and Groundwater Quality (ARGQ) Dashboard. The website can be accessed from the GAMA homepage under Projects or via this link GAMA – Effects of Recharge on Groundwater Quality | California State Water Resources Control Board. The website has several sections related to recharge such as the Data Visualization Dashboard, Groundwater Quality Case Studies, and Related Recharge Projects. This website will continue to be updated as projects progress. … ” Continue reading this announcement.
New groundwater demand management network launches community needs assessment survey
“”A coalition of leading water experts recently announced the launch of the Groundwater Demand Management Network, a new statewide initiative designed to create a comprehensive community of practice for managing California’s critical groundwater resources. The Network has launched its California Groundwater Community Needs Assessment to help shape programming, identify priority needs, and establish partnerships across the state. The Network encourages all interested parties to take the five-minute survey available at: https://bit.ly/gdmn-survey. The survey should be completed by September 31, 2025. The outcomes will prove invaluable to guide the services the Network will offer. … ” Continue reading this announcement.
Wildlife Conservation Board awards $21.7 million in grants to 16 habitat conservation and restoration projects
“The Wildlife Conservation Board (WCB) has approved $21.7 million in grants to support 16 habitat protection and restoration projects in 11 counties across California. Awarded at WCB’s Aug. 28 meeting, the projects will support biological diversity across 13,940 acres of the state’s most ecologically important landscapes. Among the awards is a $559,000 acquisition by California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) to protect 120 acres near Bridgeville in Humboldt County. The property includes a rare peat fen wetland — a sensitive, permanently saturated natural wetland community ranked as “critically imperiled” — along with mixed evergreen hardwood and riparian forest. The fen provides a cold-water source for endangered summer steelhead trout in the Van Duzen River and stores an estimated 947 metric tons of carbon. The purchase will expand the North Coast Range Fen Conservation Area, protecting habitat for a variety of sensitive species and supporting forest restoration to improve fire resiliency. … ” Read more from the Wildlife Conservation Board.
Why the roadless rule matters in California: Protecting our last wild places
Redgie Collins, California Trout VP of Legal and Government Affairs, writes, “The Roadless Rule has been one of our country’s strongest conservation tools for more than two decades, protecting over 58 million acres of wild forests nationwide—including nearly 9 million acres in California—from road building and large-scale logging. These protections, largely located in headwaters, keep streams cold and clean, safeguard fish and wildlife habitat. They also ensure we all have access to unspoiled landscapes for fishing, hiking, and connection with nature. Today, however, the rule is under threat of repeal, which could open tens of millions of acres to development and compromise the very places that make California wild. After eight years with California Trout, I recently took a sabbatical to explore wild, roadless landscapes across the West—from California to Oregon and Idaho to Montana. I experienced firsthand the importance of accessing these remote places. While back in California, I ventured into the McCloud River’s roadless stretch, and it was there I caught the biggest fish of my trip: a healthy trout. That fish was a prize, not just for its size but because it was a reminder of what makes roadless, hard-to-access areas so special. It was a reward for those willing to take the extra mile—these wild places are the last refuges for such vibrant, resilient populations. … ” Read more from Cal Trout.
Lessons from Texas: California cannot afford to delay flood protection
Adam Borchard, executive director of the California Central Valley Flood Control Association, writes, “When historic floods tore through Texas this summer, claiming more than 130 lives, it was a grim reminder of what happens when flood protection falls short. But California’s flood protection system — already underfunded— is just one severe storm away from facing our own version of that tragedy. … The U.S. Geological Survey uses the term “ARkStorm” (short for “Atmospheric River 1,000-year storm”) to describe a worst-case flood scenario for California. It envisions a sequence of powerful Pacific storms pulling enormous streams of tropical moisture across the ocean and dumping it on the state for weeks. In 2022, the U.S. Geological Survey released the updated “ARkStorm 2.0” scenario, modeling what would happen if a chain of these massive storms hammered California for weeks. The result is chilling: catastrophic flooding across 4,000 square miles, the displacement of millions, the long-term closure of highways and over $1 trillion in economic losses. Los Angeles, the Bay Area and the Central Valley would all be in the crosshairs.We know what is needed: California’s Central Valley Flood Protection Plan, the state’s blueprint for managing flood risk in the Central Valley, calls for significant investments (up to $30 billion) over the next 30 years. … ” Read more from the Sacramento Bee.
Affordability concerns at center of cap-and-trade renewal debate
“When California’s flagship climate program was last reauthorized in 2017, the biggest champions of cap-and-trade were looking to the future. “This isn’t for me, I’ll be dead,” then-Gov. Jerry Brown thundered at a panel of state senators, as negotiations intensified that summer. Brown’s goal was to forge a bipartisan coalition to limit planet-warming emissions, balancing the concerns of environmentalists and industry to solidify California’s global leadership and avoid the worst climate damages he foresaw: vector disease, mass migrations, and “Southern California burning up.” Eight years later, the costs of climate change have arrived. Intense wildfires are driving up the price of electricity and home insurance for Californians already struggling with affordability. Climate-fueled costs have injected a new dynamic into negotiations over extending cap-and-trade before the legislative session ends Sept. 12. The program raises billions of dollars every year from polluters, and Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers are debating ways to use that money to lower the costs of a warming state and follow through on their post-election promises to prioritize affordability. … ” Read more from KQED.
The balancing act behind meeting California’s climate goals
“California set ambitious goals to confront climate change: reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 as well as achieving 100% electricity from renewable sources by 2045. Last week, PPIC president and CEO Tani Cantil-Sakauye joined experts to discuss the state’s progress toward these clean energy targets. “We’re very much engaged in the nuts and bolts of the work to make [climate goals] happen,” said Yana Garcia, secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, “and I do maintain some level of optimism … despite the headwinds we’re facing not only at the national and global level but also right here in California.” Garcia cited early successes that have bolstered this optimism: “We were able to achieve our 2020 goals six years early; we’ve been able to deploy—just last year—7,000 megawatts of new clean energy.” … ” Read more from the PPIC.
Podcasts …
ECONEWS REPORT: Talking CEQA reforms
Hating on environmental laws is now a bipartisan activity. California Democrats have leaned into the “Abundance agenda” — a progressive case for weakening regulations to build more housing, renewable energy, and other public goods — to take swipes at the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). But to what extent does California’s landmark environmental law actually hold back housing production? And are proposed reforms actually aimed at the right targets?
TALKING UNDER WATER: Rivers under the microscope How to use AI to monitor water quality
In this episode of Talking Under Water, co-Host Katie Johns is talks with Professor John Colbourne, director of the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Environmental Research and Justice and Dr. Xiaojing Li, post- doctorate research fellow in precision and environmental health at University of Birmingham, to discuss their research using AI and water fleas to identify harmful substances in waterways. The two touch on their research results and how they can inform future regulations but also share how AI can be used elsewhere in the water industry.
WATER IS A MANY SPLENDOR’ED THING PODCAST: Protecting the Commons
Water is fundamental to our lives and environment. The thought of disruption or compromise of our water supply causes each of us to jump into action attempting to resolve the problem before it gets out of hand. Water is a Many Splendor’ed Thing brings you another water relationship that has a personally significant impact to your life. Produced by Stephen Baker, Bringing People Together to Solve Water Problems, water@operationunite.co 530-205-6388
CALIFORNIA SUN: Eve Quesnel on how nature always shows up
Eve Quesnel, author of the new book “Snow Fleas and Chickadees: Everyday Observations in the Sierra,” joins us from her home in Truckee. For more than two decades, she’s been paying close attention to the Sierra Nevada, finding evidence that “nature will show up” everywhere — even in urban cracks and sidewalks. Quesnel discusses making a conscious effort to step outside our digital distractions, the importance of knowing your neighborhood ecosystem, and how simple daily walks can transform our understanding of the natural world around us.
In regional water news this weekend …
NORTH COAST
‘Answer to our ancestors’ prayers’: These teens paddled all 310 miles of the undammed Klamath River
“Ninety-year-old Lavina Bowers began to cry as she searched the thick morning fog for her 17-year-old great-granddaughter, Keeya Wiki. Keeya’s mother, Geneva Wiki, stood by Bowers, clutching her grandmother’s arm. “Crying is healing,” Geneva said. The two women were standing on a sand spit near the village of Rekwoi, commonly known as Requa, on the Yurok Reservation along the rocky California coast of Del Norte County. As they craned forward near the shoreline, they made out a faint, uniform line. It was about 30 kayakers bobbing forward in unison. A group of Indigenous youths, ages 13 to 20, they represented tribes from the entire Klamath River Basin. Among them was Keeya. Behind them was a fleet of boats, rafts and other kayaks paddling toward the sandy banks where the Klamath River meets the Pacific Ocean. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
MOUNTAIN COUNTIES
Forestry project to reduce Lake Tahoe wildfire risk begins ahead of schedule
“On September 2, the California Tahoe Conservancy will begin a 43-acre mastication project on forested state and federal public lands adjacent to the Tahoe Keys neighborhood in South Lake Tahoe. The Conservancy received expedited approval for this project under Governor Gavin Newsom’s emergency proclamation on wildfires. The Conservancy has designed this forestry project to mitigate wildfire risk for adjacent communities and enhance forest health. This fuels reduction project includes both Conservancy and National Forest Lands properties, under a Good Neighbor Authority agreement with the USDA Forest Service, in the area between 15th Street and Tahoe Valley Elementary School. … ” Read more from South Tahoe Now.
SACRAMENTO VALLEY
Pulling together at Cosumnes River Preserve
“On a bright Sacramento County morning, BLM staff joined partners from American Conservation Experience (ACE) for a hands-on day at the Cosumnes River Preserve. The mission: rescue one of California’s most valuable landscapes from the threat of invasive, oxygen depleting hyacinth and primrose. The Cosumnes River Preserve spans more than 50,000 acres of wetlands, riparian forests, grasslands, and farmland. Managed by BLM California in partnership with six other land-owning organizations, the preserve is a haven for migratory birds along the Pacific Flyway and a critical refuge for countless native species. Yet, even in such a vibrant setting, invasive plants pose a serious challenge. … ” Read more from the Bureau of Land Management.
CENTRAL COAST
‘The community isn’t raised out of the flood plain’
“On a rainy day in March, Irma Rodriguez Mitton took me on a tour around the town of Pescadero to see spots that are known to flood. The town is built on a flood plain, and the residents have long dealt with the issue. Rodriguez Mitton is the executive director of Arriba Pescadero, a nonprofit that looks for community responses to climate change. The first stop was on Stage Road, at a house under construction. Rodriguez Mitton said that the home was being lifted three feet above ground, but not everyone can afford to pay for that kind of renovation. “If you’re a property owner with means and you can raise your home, that’s great,” Rodriguez Mitton said. “That’s one home raised out of the flood plain. But the community isn’t raised out of the flood plain.” … ” Read more from Coastside News.
‘A different experience’ imagined at Big Basin Redwoods State Park 5 years after the CZU fires
“California’s oldest state park — Big Basin Redwoods — thrived for 118 years, but it took less than 24 hours for almost all of the 18,000-acre property to go up in smoke. In the early hours of the CZU Lightning Complex fires, ignited Aug. 16, 2020, the wind moved in a southern direction, forcing the light brown plumes of wildfire smoke over the Pacific Ocean and away from the historic facility and forest nestled deep in the Santa Cruz Mountains. But to the horror of the park’s staff and an anxious public, the wind flipped on Aug. 18 and put the treasured local enclave directly in the fire’s path. … “There are multiple generations of memories at that park,” said Bonny Hawley, executive director of Friends of Santa Cruz State Parks, the local nonprofit State Parks operating partner. “People have very clear, very strong memories and emotions associated with that park and it’s hard for some people to see the changes.” … ” Read more from the San Jose Mercury News.
Audio: Regional water board will supply water in areas with contaminated wells
“In today’s newscast, the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board discusses providing alternative clean water to residents with water contaminated by agricultural fertilizers. And, a new study from UC Irvine shows that California doesn’t follow global wildfire trends.” Listen at KAZU.
Is a Los Olivos sewer a ‘special benefit’ or government overreach?
“Four people attended the Los Olivos Community Services District’s (LOCSD) August 13 meeting and heard the Board of Director’s initial discussion of how the cost of a “district-wide” sewer with a pipeline to Solvang will be allocated among district landowners. Despite the board’s insistence that it is “required” by “regulators” to build a “district-wide” sewer, they have never identified a law, regulation, or other guidance from any agency requiring anything more than a project to address concerns raised by septic systems on very small lots and elevated groundwater nitrate levels. … ” Continue reading from the Santa Barbara Independent.
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY
Could Fresno soon be home to thirsty AI data centers?
“Could Fresno soon be home to thirsty AI data centers? Recent remarks from California’s top high-speed rail executive suggest that it’s on the table. Ian Choudri, the CEO of the California High-Speed Rail Authority, came into his position last fall with a tall task: make the beleaguered project profitable. Just a few months after he started, a new federal administration, hostile to California’s high-speed rail, signaled an end to federal funding. The Trump Administration made good on that promise this July, officially yanking $4 billion of funds pledged to the project. Last week, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform announced an investigation into the project. A new project update, released last Friday, provides a glimpse into the authority’s new vision to regain financial viability through more private-sector partnerships. … ” Read more from Fresnoland.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
‘Erin Brockovich’ made this cancer-causing compound famous. Now it’s been found in L.A. fire debris
“Hexavalent chromium, the metal made famous by the film “Erin Brockovich,” has been found in the air around wildfire cleanup sites in Los Angeles, potentially posing a risk to human health, according to a preliminary report released yesterday by a team of researchers. When chromium — found in the soil, electronics and in fire suppressant — burns, it can turn into hexavalent chromium, otherwise known as chromium-6. In the short term, it can irritate the skin, eyes and throat; prolonged exposure can increase the risk of lung cancer. … Researchers aren’t certain where the chromium came from or how long the compound will stay in the air after the remaining debris has been removed, Michael Kleeman, lead author on the paper and a professor of civil and environmental engineering at UC Davis, told the Chronicle. But Kleeman said residents should be aware of the potential health effects and take precautions to protect themselves. … ” Read more from the San Francisco Chronicle.
LADWP and LASAN invite public review and comment on Pure Water Los Angeles Program Environmental Impact Report
“The City of Los Angeles (City), represented by Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) and Los Angeles Sanitation and Environment (LASAN), will host virtual public scoping meetings to collect input on the Pure Water Los Angeles Program as part of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) process. A Notice of Preparation (NOP) has been prepared in accordance with CEQA to notify agencies, interested parties, and the public that the City, as the lead agency, will prepare a Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR). This early CEQA step, called scoping, provides the public an opportunity to share what environmental issues should be studied in the Pure Water Los Angeles PEIR. The feedback received will help guide the environmental analysis. Through the public scoping meetings, members of the public can submit verbal comments on the Pure Water Los Angeles PEIR. … ” Read more from LA DWP.
Metropolitan doubles turf rebate for businesses, institutions that replace grass with sustainable landscaping
“Southern California businesses, schools, HOAs and other institutions that replace their water-intensive grass with more sustainable landscaping can get twice as much financial support from the Metropolitan Water District starting Monday (Sept. 1). The agency announced today that it is increasing its turf replacement rebate for non-residential property owners to $7 per square foot of grass removed – the highest amount ever offered regionwide. The increased rebate is part of Metropolitan’s ongoing effort to boost water-efficiency in homes and businesses across Southern California, helping ensure the region has the water it needs as the climate changes. It will also help businesses and institutions comply with a new state law prohibiting the use of potable water on grass that is not used for recreation or other purposes – also known as nonfunctional turf – on most non-residential properties beginning in 2027. … ” Read more from the Metropolitan Water District.
First phase of South Gate’s L.A. River-adjacent Urban Orchard makes its debut
“New L.A. River-adjacent green space has opened in South Gate, according to a social media post by Studio-MLA. The first phase of South Gate’s Urban Orchard, which spans seven acres at 9475 Frontage Road, occupies a former industrial site on the east side of the river. “Focused on equity, health, and climate resilience, the park restores native habitat, improves water quality with a constructed wetland and stream, and adds vital green space to a community where only 3% of land is parkland,” notes Studio-MLA’s Facebook post. … ” Read more from Urbanize LA.
SAN DIEGO
San Diego County Supervisors Aguirre, Anderson laud state Water Board’s decision on South Bay sewage plant
“Two San Diego County supervisors Wednesday praised a decision by the California Regional Water Quality Control Board to expand treatment capacity at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant. In a statement, Paloma Aguirre and Joel Anderson said a cease-and-desist order will allow the plant to treat an additional 10 million gallons per day, from 25 million gallons to 35 million gallons. The water control board adopted the cease-and-desist order during its regular meeting on Wednesday. Aguirre and Anderson described that decision as “a major step toward reducing untreated sewage flows through the Tijuana River Valley.” … ” Read more from Channel 10.
San Diego is under a haze of toxic air amid a wastewater crisis, new study shows
“A new study from UC San Diego researchers published Thursday in Science magazine revealed that the toxic wastewater from untreated sewage flowing across the U.S.-Mexico border isn’t just polluting the Pacific Ocean — it’s also significantly affecting San Diego’s air quality. The Tijuana River has carried millions of gallons of untreated sewage for decades, prompting more than 1,300 days of consecutive beach closures on the Imperial Beach coastline along the border. The toxic pollution has become so intense that the wastewater plume is visible on NASA satellite images. But Kim Prather, an atmospheric scientist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, distinguished professor at UC San Diego and an author on the study, said the new research also examined toxic gases coming “in and out” of the river that affect areas far beyond the beach. She described it as a “global issue.” … ” Read more from SF Gate.
SEE ALSO: Tijuana River’s Toxic Water Pollutes the Air, from UC San Diego
The stench from the polluted Tijuana River is so bad it kept a researcher up all night
“New research backs up the concerns of people who live near the Tijuana River and have long complained that foul air wafting from the polluted waterway is making them sick — irritating their eyes and noses, making breathing difficult and causing headaches. The study indicates they’re being exposed to high levels of the toxic gas hydrogen sulfide. As the river flows through Baja California, it takes in untreated sewage and industrial waste from Tijuana, then crosses the U.S.-Mexico border into San Diego County, where beaches are regularly closed because the surf is filled with bacteria from the river. Researchers have now gained new insights into how that water pollution is creating air pollution that besets nearby communities. Using an air-quality monitor nearly half a mile from the river in the community of Nestor, scientists found extremely high levels of hydrogen sulfide, a gas linked to sewage that smells like rotten eggs. … ” Read more from the LA Times. | Read via AOL News.
EPA chief touts quick progress in sewage repairs
Lee Zeldin, administrator of the EPA, writes, “When I visited San Diego back in April to personally survey the environmental destruction being wrought by the decades-long Tijuana sewage crisis, I promised the millions of Americans living there the Trump administration would do everything in our power to identify and implement a 100% solution to end it once and for all. Today, I’m pleased to announce the Trump administration has achieved a major milestone in delivering on that promise. The U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission has completed construction on a 10 million-gallon-per-day capacity expansion to the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant in San Diego. The plant will be able to pull 35 million gallons per day of tainted water out of the Tijuana River, preventing even more pollution from reaching our waterways and reducing the foul odors that come along with it. … ” Read more from the San Diego Union-Tribune.
Along the Colorado River …
Desalination and new water sources: Arizona’s strategy to address water scarcity
“Arizona’s Water Infrastructure Finance Authority (WIFA) is reviewing six proposals to expand the state’s water supply in response to ongoing Colorado River shortages. The proposals include options for seawater desalination, surface water, wastewater reclamation, and other new sources. Three of the six submissions focus on desalination … None of the details within the proposals are public at this time, and they will not become available to WIFA board members until an initial review is conducted to determine which of the proposals meet the criteria specified in the solicitation for proposals. … ” Read more from Water World.
Arizona: Arsenic in the water is bad for your brain. How fruit flies revealed the risk
“Before the town of Bouse overhauled its groundwater system in 2025, residents were hesitant to drink from their taps. More specifically, Bouse residents were wary of drinking arsenic, a common pollutant in Arizona’s aquifers. “For years, we would buy five-gallon water bottles and put them on a stand in our kitchen,” Bouse resident Kerrie McBain said in an interview. A new study from Clemson University could add weight to those fears, seeming to confirm for the first time that arsenic exposure can lead to widespread damage to neurological systems like vision and motor function. The study casts a new light on an issue that has plagued southwestern communities for decades. Almost one-fifth of the main aquifers in the southwestern United States contain levels of arsenic above federal drinking water regulations, according to the US Geological Survey. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
TSMC is building a water reclamation plant, reducing draw on municipal supply
“Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. is starting construction on an industrial water reclamation plant that will bolster sustainability at its chipmaking campus in Phoenix. Officials said the plant will enable the company to recycle “nearly every drop of water” it uses in the semiconductor manufacturing process. Its recent groundbreaking marks a step toward efficiency as TSMC’s chip factories, or fabs, continue to rise out of bare desert. The company currently recycles about 65% of the municipal water it uses in its first fab, which produces chips made using four-nanometer technology. Upon being built, the new water reclamation facility will allow it to begin reusing 85% of its water, and it plans to eventually reach a 90% recovery rate or better. … ” Read more from Arizona Central.
Centuries-old plan may help Utah, basin states decide Colorado River use
“The clock is ticking for Utah and other Colorado River Basin states to decide how to divide the river’s shrinking water supplies and some groups are reconsidering a centuries-old water distribution tradition at work across the arid American West. Nick Saenz, a historian and member of the Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council, explained each spring, farmers are in a race against time to water crops before snowmelt disappears. In the tradition known as “acequia,” decisions are made democratically, and irrigation priorities benefit entire communities over any individual user. Saenz said the plan offers a blueprint for how to share a scarce resource. … ” Read more from the St. George News.
In national water news this weekend …
EPA plans to dramatically reduce wetland protection
“The Trump administration will soon propose a new Clean Water Act rule that could eliminate federal protections for many wetlands across the U.S., according to an internal EPA presentation obtained by POLITICO’s E&E News. Under the proposed rule, the federal government would regulate wetlands only if they meet a two-part test: They would need to contain surface water throughout the “wet season,” and they would need to be abutting and touching a river, stream or other waterbody that also flows throughout the wet season, the presentation said. Fewer wetlands permits would be required under the new language, according to a slide from the presentation, which was confirmed by two EPA staffers who were briefed Wednesday on the rule. Both EPA staffers, who were granted anonymity to avoid retribution, said they believed the proposal was not based in science and could worsen pollution if finalized. … ” Read more from E&E News.
