Pacific Progressive

Think Again: Collapsing Infrastructure? Who Knew?

By Eric Alterman 

This article was published by the Center for American Progress.

Though it somehow felt all but forgotten by Thursday, designated beltway oracle Mike Allen informed the wired political world that the idea “driving the day” would be President Barack Obama’s 10:50 a.m. Rose Garden statement on infrastructure investment, designed “to build support for the $50 billion ‘roads, railways and runways’ proposal he unveiled on Labor Day.”

Joining the president were Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood; a bevy of mayors; Norman Mineta, a Democrat and George W. Bush’s transportation secretary; and Samuel Skinner, a Republican and George H.W. Bush’s transportation secretary. The president discussed a new report on infrastructure investment from the Department of the Treasury with the Council of Economic Advisers. The report finds that 80 percent of the jobs directly created by investing in transportation infrastructure would be in the construction, manufacturing, and retail trade sectors. It also finds that infrastructure investments have high bang for the buck because construction costs are low due to underutilized resources.

It should surprise no one to see that most in the mainstream media saw fit to treat the issue as an almost purely political skirmish—cast exclusively in the narrative over the election-year fight over jobs. And the politicians played along.

California Water Wars Rage On

by Dan Bacher, Truthout Op-Ed

This article was published by Truthout.

Activists square off against legislature over AB 2775

Representatives of the No on the Water Bond Coalition slammed California's AB 2775, an alleged "fix" of the Safe, Clean, and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010, after the bill passed out of the Senate Natural Resources and Water Committee on June 22.

"AB 2775 is no fix at all," said Tina Andolina of the Planning and Conservation League. "Tinkering around the edges won't fix this bond. This measure does not truly address the problem that the bond will allow private companies to profit as taxpayers foot the bill. We will see water privatization on an even larger scale if the bond passes, and this bill does nothing to address the problem."

AB 2775 makes technical changes to the 2010 Water Bond, passed by the Legislature in November 2009 and scheduled to go to the voters in the November 2010 election.

Democratic Senator Jared Huffman and Republican Dave Cogdill, who rarely agree about anything with respect to water, coauthored the bill Huffman said would achieve a "narrow point of consensus," a "surgical change."

The bill deletes a section in the proposed water act that would authorize a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) that owns and operates a surface storage reservoir partially funded with public bond funds to include private members with equity participation, according to Senator Cogdill's office.

"By removing this provision, AB 2775 clarifies two issues," said a Cogdill staffer. "First, Section 79749 (b) allows private partners with equity shares in surface storage reservoirs that are in part publicly funded. Removing this provision resolves potential confusion with other provisions in the 2010 Water Bond that require public funds be used only for public benefit. Second, deleting Section 79749(b) clarifies that JPAs should include public agency members."

Out of Work, Sleeping in the Fields: The People of the Central Valley

by David Bacon, Truthout Report

This article was published by Truthout.

A photodocumentary project on the reality of life today in California's Central Valley

Pedro, an unemployed farm worker who now sleeps in an abandoned orchard, comes from Hermosillo in Sonora, Mexico. (Photos: David Bacon)

Near Reedley, on the east side of the San Joaquin Valley, three men live in a camp they've built under the trees of an abandoned orchard. A blue tarp and the cardboard from an unfolded carton make up the roof. The mattresses for their beds sit on shipping pallets, or nearby under a bush. One of the men made a doll of straw, which sits in the branch of a dead tree overlooking the camp.

Groups File Lawsuit to Block Backroom Water Deal

by Dan Bacher, Truthout News Analysis

This article was published by Truthout.

This is an historic lawsuit that has the potential to change the way State Water Project water is allocated. Absent court action, contract changes that largely benefit southern San Joaquin Valley corporate irrigators at the expense of urban ratepayers will "trade away ratepayer funded projects and allow massive diversions of water from the Delta charging only pumping costs," according to a news release from the groups.

The backroom deal was "essentially Chinatown on steroids," said Bill Jennings, chairman of the California Sportfishing Protection Alliance in Stockton.

"This was a poorly negotiated backdoor deal that put the wealthy growers of subsidized crops ahead of fisheries and the need for a sustainable and reliable supply of clean drinking water for California's cities," stated Jennings. "The Metropolitan Water District gambled it could raid the Delta for 'surplus' water. It not only lost that bet, but the Monterey Plus Amendments triggered the collapse of Delta ecosystems and our once-great salmon fisheries."

The "Monterey Amendments," signed secretly in 1995 without any public input, were successfully challenged in court. The courts ruled the contract changes, deeding of portions of the State Water Project known as the Kern Water Bank, and removal of protections for southern California ratepayers, would not be valid until a new analysis of the impacts had public review and was certified as complete.

Investing in China's Clean Water Market

This material was published by the Center for American Progress.

Where there is crisis lies opportunity. There may be no other sector in China where this mantra is more relevant than the water treatment sector. China supports 20 percent of the world’s population with a mere 7 percent of the world’s freshwater resources. And fresh water resources are disproportionately concentrated in China’s southern regions, leaving China’s north extremely arid, despite having a comparable amount of economic activity. To make matters worse, two-thirds or more of China’s freshwater resources are polluted. Industrialization and urbanization is projected to lead to a significant growth in water demand in China, and by 2030 up to one-quarter of China’s demand will not be able to be met by domestic supply.

It is no wonder that the central government is stepping up measures by setting water conservation standards, raising artificially depressed water prices, and increasing investment in water infrastructure. Foreign investment in China’s water infrastructure will play an important and ever-increasing role.

I had the chance to sit down with Anthony Goh last month in Beijing as part of our clean energy economy fact-finding trip to China. Mr. Goh is president of U.S.-Pacific Rim International, an American consulting firm with an office in Beijing that assists U.S. companies with China market entry. He has helped a number of American water technology companies manufacture and sell their water purification technologies in China in recent years.

In this short video interview, Mr. Goh discusses the attractiveness of China’s water market to foreign investors, America’s competitive position with China in environmental technologies, and the issue of intellectual property rights protection in China.

See also: Visiting China, Seeing Green: Updates from the Trip

Julian L. Wong is a Senior Policy Analyst at the Center for American Progress.

Find Leaks in Your Water System, Use Less Water, and Save Money

Coachella Valley residents have a new tool to use in their quest to be water efficient this year:Water Wise at Home: a guide to finding leaks, conserving water and making every drop count in your Coachella Valley home. The 12-page booklet, now available at Coachella Valley Water District offices or online, illustrates step-by-step how to read a water meter, find outdoor and indoor leaks and determine household water usage. 

"The first step to become more water efficient is determining where your household uses the most water," said David Koller, CVWD conservation coordinator. "Nearly 80 percent of all Coachella Valley water is used outdoors. In homes, most water use is for lawns, pools and plants."

The guide lists a number of water conservation tips residents can take to become water efficient at home, such as irrigating with the seasons, adjusting water pressure and replacing worn or old-fashioned sprinkler nozzles.

"We know from experience working with residential customers, that besides overwatering, the second most common reason they cannot meet their water budgets is a leak," said Koller. The new guide details how residents can find common leaks both inside and outside their home.

"Inside the home, the toilet is the most common source of leaks. Outdoors, leaks are often found near irrigation and pool valves or in irrigation pipes," said Koller.

The water conservation booklet is available for free at CVWD offices located at 85995 Avenue 52 in , or 75525 Hovley Lane East in Palm Desert. Click here to download a pdf version of the guide. CVWD customers may also call (760) 391-9600 to request a booklet by mail. 

Additional water conservation tips and information about CVWD programs can be found atwww.cvwd.org .

La Quinta Family Becomes 1000th Customer to Receive Smart Irrigation Controller from CVWD

Jane and Jimmie Woods of La Quinta love the desert lifestyle but are well aware of how important it is to make every drop of water count in their home and garden. Last week their household became the 1,000th Coachella Valley Water District customer to receive a discounted smart irrigation controller. 

CVWD, in a partnership with desert cities, installs and programs smart irrigation controllers for customers eligible for a smart controller discount. The Woods' eight-station smart irrigation controller will manage the water they need to maintain 5,282 square feet of desert landscaping and meet their monthly water budget. 

"Smart controllers are an easy-to-use tool by anyone who wants to better manage their outdoor water use" said David Koller, CVWD conservation coordinator. "With smart controllers, it is possible for homeowners and businesses to save water and money."

Unlike traditional irrigation controllers, smart controllers use weather data to automatically reduce irrigation times in the fall and winter when temperatures and watering needs are lowest. Some homeowners set the times on their irrigation controllers at the peak of summer and keep those settings for the entire year. This is an inefficient use of water.

The smart irrigation controller discount is a partnership between the Coachella Valley Water District and desert cities. Under the program, CVWD residential customers may be eligible to purchase a smart irrigation controller for a significantly discounted rate of $50 or $100, depending on the number of stations. 

Residential customers with a CVWD installed and programmed smart irrigation controller save an average 26 percent on their water bill!

Orange County Groundwater Basin Could Receive $26 Million in Federal Funding

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez (CA-47) announced that she has introduced a bill to help improve Orange County’s access to clean, reliable sources of water. H.R. 5039 would authorize $26 million in federal funding for the expansion of the Orange County Water District’s Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS). The largest water purification project of its kind in the world, the GWRS takes highly treated wastewater and purifies it to levels that meet state and federal drinking water standards. 

“Orange County is susceptible to severe water shortages due to recurring droughts and dramatic population growth,” said Rep. Sanchez. “Reusing recycled wastewater is a smart strategy that has helped protect our community, and our environment, from periodic water shortages. I am proud to introduce H.R. 5039, which will help ensure Orange County’s water supply is clean, safe, and secure for years to come.”

“Currently, about half of Orange County’s water supplies come from outside the county,” Rep. Sanchez continued. “Expanding the GWRS will allow Orange County to produce its own water without the political, environmental, and legal issues that come with importing water from Northern California and the Colorado River. For the first time, our community has a chance to be truly independent – the manufacturer and consumer of its own water supplies.”

"The Orange County Water District is grateful that Congresswoman Sanchez has introduced a bill to authorize funding for the expansion of the Groundwater Replenishment System,” stated Michael Markus, P.E., General Manager of the Orange County Water District. "The water restrictions and shortages throughout California are having severe impacts on the state and U.S. economy and will continue to get worse if investments are not made in water infrastructure projects."

Specifically, Rep. Sanchez’s bill would amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act by authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the planning and construction of the GWRS expansion. The initial GWRS project was similarly authorized and received $20 million in federal funding to support this critical project which produces 70 million gallons per day, and 72,000 acre-feet of pure water every year – enough to meet the needs of 500,000 Orange County residents. The expansion authorized by Rep. Sanchez’s bill would increase that production capacity by 18,000 acre-feet.

Ensuring that Orange County has access to adequate water supplies is one of Rep. Sanchez’s top priorities in Congress. In October 2009, she successfully secured over $49.7 million in federal funding for local water projects, including the continuing construction of the Santa Ana River Mainstem and the ongoing Westminster-East Garden Grove watershed study on flood control. Rep. Sanchez will continue to fight for federal funding to improve drinking water and wastewater systems Orange County.

Orange County's Sagging Infrastructure Needs Money to "Get Work Done"

Orange County's aging infrastructure is getting to the age where serious work needs to be done.  Much like a Newport Beach housewife who notices she's not as young as she used to be and goes in "to get work done", Orange County needs to "get the work done".  But will we ever get the money we need?

The 2010 Orange County Infrastructure Report Card was brought home and here are the grades:

• D in surface-water quality in beaches and water parks
• C- in flood control.  It is estimated that over $2.5 billion is needed to upgrade the local flood control system to prevent loss of life and property. Orange County's needs in this area have changed as population has grown, hillsides have been cut for homes and more of the County has been paved over.
• C+ in electrical supply. The recent electricity rate increases approved by the California Utility Commission may not be enough to bring the systems up to what is needed.
• C+in parks, recreation and environment.  $70 million in projects have been stopped because of the recession.  $680 million is needed for new projects in the next five years.
• C+ in school facilities.  Deferred maintenance is killing the buildings and don't expect there to be money to replace buildings any time soon.
• B- in water supply
• B+  in solid waste management
• B in wastewater treatment
• B in aviation

Don't expect improvements in these areas any time soon because often times money for these types of projects comes from Washington, DC and our Congressional Delegation, with the exception of Rep. Loretta Sanchez, refuse to ask for money for their district.  Because our representatives won't bring home money, our county won't be able to grow as much as it could.

There is a good story in OC Metro about the report card.

Will Orange County's Congress Members Support Critical County Water Projects?

Representatives from Irvine Ranch Water District, Mesa Consolidated Water District, San Juan Capistrano, the Municipal Water District of Orange County and the County of Orange met with Representatives Loretta Sanchez, Ed Royce and Ken Calvert to discuss crucial water projects in Orange County.  Representatives John Campbell, Gary Miller and Dana Rohrbacher sent staff to the meeting.

This issue needs to be watched because how badly the Orange County delegation is in bringing home money to their districts. For instance, Rep. Sanchez brought in the  bucks for dredge the Newport back bay even though the project is in Rep. John Campbell's district.  The Orange County Business Council (OCBC) recently pointed out in an OC Register article that Orange County received $439 per capita in stimulus money compared to $687 for Los Angeles County and $8021 for Sacramento.

The projects that need federal money are:  

• Syphon Reservoir Project at Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD) - $7.5-$10 million needed to convert the facility from seasonal to year round use.  $40-$50 million is needed to increase the storage capacity from 500 acre feet to 5000 acre feet.  The reservoir is currently used for irrigation water and would be used for recycled water once the work is completed.
• IRWD is seeking to use Clean Renewable Water Supply bonds (CREWS) to finance water recycling, desalination and groundwater contamination clean up projects.
• Mesa Consolidated Water District (MCWD) wants $1 million to upgrade the Colored Water Treatment Facility which uses ozone and biofiltration to remove a sulfur smell and amber color from groundwater to make the water drinkable.

Leading Water Utilities Secure Their Chemicals: Survey Shows Improved Chemical Security Makes Millions Safer

By Reece Rushing, Paul Orum 

This article was published by the Center for American Progress.

Iteractive map: Protecting Americans from Toxic Terrorism

Chart: List of the 554 converted water utilities (pdf)

Fact sheet: Safer Chemicals Create a More Secure America

More than 40 million Americans are no longer in danger of harm from a terrorist-released or accidental toxic gas plume because their water utility has converted to safer alternatives to chlorine gas in water treatment. A new survey by the Center for American Progress identifies 554 drinking water and wastewater plants in 47 states that have replaced extremely hazardous substances with safer and more secure chemicals or processes.

These facilities show what can be done with proven technologies to remove chemical hazards from communities. Unfortunately, weak federal chemical security standards don’t encourage more treatment plants to reduce their hazards.

The Department of Homeland Security and other agencies warn that terrorists could use industrial chemicals as pre-positioned weapons. Current temporary Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, or CFATS, exempt water utilities and do not require any facilities to look for safer and more secure chemicals and processes. And at least 2,600 additional water and wastewater facilities still use large amounts of chlorine gas.

3rd Snowpack Survey - 107% of Normal But Still Not Out of the Drought

from the Department of Water Resources

Video About the Snowpack Survey

Manual and electronic readings today indicate that water content in California’s mountain snowpack is 107 percent of normal for the date. This time last year, snow water content statewide was 80 percent of normal.

In 2009, the State Water Project delivered 40 percent of customer requests. The federal Central Valley Project in 2009 was only able to deliver 10 percent of contracted amounts to some agricultural areas in the San Joaquin Valley. The reduced deliveries were due both to dry weather and fishery agency pumpingrestrictions to protect fish species; principally Delta smelt, salmon, and longfin smelt.

The average of final State Water Project allocations over the past 10 years has been 68 percent of the amount requested by the 29 public agencies with long-term contracts to purchase SWP water.

Results of today’s manual snow survey by the Department of Water resources off Highway 50 near Echo Summit are as follows:

“Today’s readings boost our hope that we will be able to increase the State Water Project allocation by this spring to deliver more water to our cities and farms,” said Department of Water Resources (DWR) Director Mark Cowin. “But we must remember that even a wet winter will not fully offset three consecutive dry years or pumping restrictions to protect Delta fish so we must continue to conserve and protect our water resources.”

Replace Your Grass and Get a Check from the Coachella Valley Water District

Traditional front yards will receive a make-over and homeowners a sizeable rebate thanks to a new water conservation program from the Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD) and desert cities.

Residents in two valley cities who remove their front lawns will be eligible for Water Wise Landscape Rebates from CVWD and their city. 

“Desert-friendly landscaping is the norm in many of the valley's newer neighborhoods and many residents already have begun improving their outdoor irrigation systems,” said Steve Robbins, CVWD general manager–chief engineer. “CVWD's newest rebate program is designed to assist homeowners who are ready to take the significant step of removing all or part of their lawn.” 

The Water Wise Landscape Rebate will reimburse up to $2,000 to CVWD residential customers who remove up to 1,000 square feet of grass from their front yards, plant desert-friendly landscaping and install weather-based irrigation controllers. Replacing grass with desert-friendly landscaping will reduce customer's water consumption and save on maintenance costs over time.

Chevron Receives Notice of Violation for Failing to Clean Up MTBE in San Juan Capistrano's Water

The California Regional Water Quality Control Board issued a notice of violation to Chevron U.S.A., Inc. for failing to take responsibility for contaminating and treating San Juan Capistrano wells from its methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) contamination.

The notice dated Feb. 2 subjects Chevron to possible enforcement action by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, State Attorney General and the Orange County District Attorney's office for criminal prosecution if it continues to ignore its responsibility to clean up the contaminate. Chevron is also subject to civil liability of $5,000 per day per violation.

The board's move is significant for the City, which has long been trying to get Chevron to take responsibility for the MTBE plume in the City's groundwater that has curtailed use of the Groundwater Recovery Plant. MTBE spilled into City's aquifer years ago from two Chevron gas stations in town. The fuel additive was detected two years ago in City groundwater wells. 

California Water Rights Newsletter Debuts

Who controls California's water and who gets how much and when has become a more pressing issue because of population, business and agricultural growth and an ongoing drought. The State Water Resources Board is publishing a new newsletter about water rights laws and news. The January 2010 California Water Rights Newsletter is available here.  

To subscribe to the water rights newsletter or any of the other newsletters about underground storage tanks, wastewater management, storm water management, pollution, or many other areas effecting our water supply, use this link.