SD's Groundbreaking Measures in Water Conservation

Part 2 of 2

SAN DIEGO—From a desalination plant in Carlsbad to a state-of-the-art leakage-detection device, San Diego has been making huge strides in water conservation, Lee & Associates' Monique Medley tells GlobeSt.com. In Part 1 of this two-part exclusive story, we spoke with Medley about the San Diego industries hardest hit by the drought. In Part 2, we discuss with her the county's water-conservation achievements and advancements and what they will mean for water use going forward.

GlobeSt.com: What are some of the San Diego's water-conservation accomplishments?

Medley: As a recent graduate of the SD County Citizens Water Academy—including lectures, tours of the Colorado River Aqueduct system and various reservoirs and water-treatment facilities—I am in awe of San Diego's impressive innovations and water-conservation efforts. Already nationally known as a hub for innovation with an inspiring talent pool, San Diego was recently named “one of the smartest cities in the world” by National Geographic. Along this same vein, SDCWA's water-related achievements and capabilities are known in the industry worldwide. Consequently, people come from all over to learn from our engineers. Long before the drought, SDCWA began promoting water conservation and helped to reduce the region's per-capita water use by more than 20% since 2007, an impressive feat for a rapidly growing city. SDCWA aspires to continue fueling our $206-billion economy, limiting the financial impact on businesses and eliminating unnecessary outdoor water usage.

GlobeSt.com: What specifically has been achieved by the San Diego County Water Authority?

Medley: SDCWA's impressive and groundbreaking achievements include:

• San Vicente Dam raise of an additional 117 feet using roller-compacted concrete and more than doubling the storage capacity of this reservoir;
• Carlsbad Desalination Plant—the largest seawater desalination project in the Western Hemisphere including a state-of-the-art energy-recovery system.
• Twin Oaks Water Treatment Plant—the world's second-largest submerged-membrane treatment plant in the world and the first treatment plant built by SDCWA;
• Use of more than 7,500 solar panels operating at three of the Water Authority's locations;
• The large Magnetic Field Leakage device—new technology engineered by the Water Authority, which can identify anomalies as small as the size of a quarter in our large and aging pipelines;
• Canal-lining projects—adding decades to the life of our water-delivery infrastructure;
• Increased use of ozonation—destroys a wider range of microorganisms, produces fewer byproducts and more efficiently removes unpleasant tastes and odors than traditional chlorination;
• Installation of 100 GPS units in the SDCWA fleet—to lower greenhouse-gas emissions and allow for more-effective vehicle dispatch and analysis of vehicle engine performance and speed;
• Hydraulic systems—used to pump water between reservoirs at strategic times to help support the electrical grid and to make water available to the San Diego region in the event of an interruption;
• Over 28,800 acre feet of (non-potable) recycled water is currently reused within the SDCWA's service area;
• Environmental contribution of $64 million to fund environmental mitigation projects and the Salton Sea Restoration Fund.

GlobeSt.com: What other strides have been made toward water conservation in the county?

Medley: San Diego County has taken great steps in improving its water-usage efficiencies. Metropolitan Water District is offering various rebates for water-efficiency equipment upgrades, some of which include turf removal, plumbing, landscaping, food-use equipment, HVAC systems, fixtures, medical and dental. Currently, Metropolitan pays $2 per square foot for residential property owners to take part in the lawn-replacement program. In addition, some retail water districts offer their own rebates.

As a stand-out in local water conservation, San Diego Zoo Global recycles more than 16 million gallons of water annually and uses that water to support its horticultural collections. The Zoo uses water-saving technologies such as low-flow toilets, water-reclamation ponds and evaporation-reducing mulch. SD Zoo Global is also spreading the word about the need for water conservation.

Even the San Diego Airport is tapping into the drought-induced ingenuity we are seeing elsewhere in San Diego. In 2014, airport employees devised a way to collect water that condensates from passenger bridges at eight gates along Terminal One. This otherwise excess water is collected in barrels and reused to wash down sidewalks, fleet vehicles and the airfield. According to the SD County Airport Authority, more than 420,000 to 840,000 gallons of this condensate are expected to be collected and used this year.

Additionally, irrigation of commercial properties has been limited to two days per week at a maximum of eight minutes per station. Throughout San Diego County, changes by landlords and property owners in landscaping irrigation are visible as custom hardscape and water-friendly landscapes have begun replacing thirsty lawns. Currently, in a Level-2 drought alert, it is to San Diegans' advantage to conserve water to the best of their ability to prevent us from moving forward to the next mandatory conservation level. In the event of a severe Level-3 declaration, no new potable (drinkable) water service would be provided, no new temporary meters or permanent meters would be provided and no statements of immediate ability to serve or provide potable water service shall be issued. One exception, however, would be a project necessary to protect the public's health, safety and welfare. Also, repairing all water leaks within 48 hours would be required and no use of ornamental fountains would be allowed.

Although our Mediterranean climate is not always as water rich as we might like, it's important to know that our liquid inventory is being closely monitored and very much protected by SDCWA. SDCWA also works hard behind the scenes to ensure that we have safe, affordable, reliable and tasty water and encourages us to continue enjoying San Diego's creative lifestyle, aquatic playgrounds and robust economy.

GlobeSt.com: How do some of the stats you've given for water use translate into amounts we can visualize?

Medley: An acre-foot is a typical measure for large amounts of water. One acre-foot is roughly enough to cover a football field in a foot of water. Two four-person families use about an acre-foot of water each year. Roughly 600,000 acre-feet are used daily in San Diego. In the city of San Diego, the annual average residence uses 32,166 gallons per year. Per the State of California, a standard home causes approximately 160 gallons of graywater per day, which translates to 60,000 galls per year.