Last month, the San Carlos Area Council hosted Sami Sweis (pictured above), a water resources engineer with the San Diego County Water Authority, for an overview and update from the agency.
“San Diego County continues to have the water necessary to support our $268 billion economy and quality of life for 3.3 million residents – not just for today, but for generations to come,” Sweis said.
Thanks to a decades-long supply diversification strategy and a commitment to efficient use of water across the region, the San Diego region has a safe and reliable drinking water supply regardless of the weather.
The Water Authority was created in 1944 by the state Legislature. Today, it is responsible for managing an extensive water delivery system that includes aqueducts, reservoirs and 308 miles of massive pipelines.
The agency is also responsible for long-term water supply planning for the region – a role that no other agency plays. The Water Authority’s board consists of 35 members, representing its 23 member agencies countywide, including cities, special districts, and Camp Pendleton.
Water rates in San Diego County are mainly used to pay off historical investments and to purchase and treat water for the semi-arid region, which lacks significant natural water sources. In fact, the last time regional water supplies were sufficient to meet regional demand was 1946.
Despite significant rain and snow statewide over the past two years, long-term trends indicate a hotter, drier climate in the Southwest. And across the Southwest, water agencies are responding to water stress by spending billions of dollars to increase water supply reliability as they balance the costs of investments against the costs of not having enough water for homes and businesses.
The Water Authority already made those big investments well ahead of the curve. Today, the agency is taking numerous steps to enhance affordability while ensuring continued safety and reliability.
In December, the Water Authority signed a landmark water agreement to boost water levels in Lake Mead and save $20 million for the Water Authority, helping to offset significant upward pressure on rates due to inflation and other factors. Earlier this year the Water Authority began negotiations to sell some water from the desalination plant to neighboring communities like Orange County.
These innovative water transfers will help to minimize future rate increases for the San Diego region, while also helping people in Southern California or elsewhere enhance their supply reliability.”
Change is inevitable
A few weeks ago, after our May meeting, I had an epiphany. Hmmm, for 30 years I have been an active member and held an “office” position, nearly all of those years; I started when Stan Zubel was president and within a few weeks became the SCAC secretary. For nearly all of the 30 years I was either president, vicepresident, or secretary; John Pilch and I traded positions back and forth. We met like clockwork at the San Carlos Branch Library, the 1st Wednesday evening of the month. That changed into what we eventually have come to meet once a month, Wednesday night, on the odd months.
Change is inevitable, it is dependable — yet not, but often necessary. Some folks like it and some folks don’t. But it occurs, nevertheless. It is inevitable. And so it brings us to where we are today.
Our next SCAC meeting will be on July 17, and the topic of discussion will be where we started and where we are going in the future.
Our neighbors in the 92120 area will be in attendance and will also be discussing the same for their respective groups. We have and encourage your input and creative thinking. Things have certainly changed in our corner of the world, in the 92120 corner of the world, and in all of the City of San Diego. We need to keep up.
Since we are in the Navajo Planning Area, we need to incorporate this into what and who we are for our area of the world.
We live, work, and play here in the Navajo area and spend the greatest amount of our time here so let’s get together. Margaret Mead said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” So while each of the groups in the Navajo area separately are a small group, when we work together we will still be a small group, but louder.
I urge you to join us July 17, and let’s discuss changes to be made – for the betterment of all our groups in the Navajo area …in our organization, your input, and that of your neighbors, will help to embrace the proposed changes, maybe amend some of them, hopefully add some new and creative ideas. I truly welcome and encourage your participation.
At least one other place in this edition (Print issue comes out June 14) of the Mission Times Courier you will find this reference, can you find it?
