About Brown and Caldwell

Specialty Pages Asset Management Infrastructure Funding Water Resources SWRCB New Collection System Regulatory Program BC News Exclusives

Staff Ken Harlow, Crusty Editor Jennifer Finley, Managing Editor (E-mail Jennifer)

Recent News 8/11/2006 8/14/2006 8/15/2006 8/16/2006 8/17/2006 Archives About this newsletter Reader kudos Reader FAQs

Resources Meetings Agency links Other links Blogs: Hill Water Issues Los Osos Sewer ScienceBlog.com Tothelastdrop Water Conservation Water and Wastewater

Friday, August 18, 2006 Quote of the Week: "Human beings are seventy percent water, and with some the rest is collagen." Martin Mull Born on this Day: Max Factor, Caspar Weinberger, Shelley Winters, Rosalynn Carter, Roman Polanski, Robert Redford, Martin Mull, Nona Hendryx, Patrick Swayze, Madeleine Stowe, Edward Norton, Christian Slater, Malcolm-Jamal Warner, and Mike Boorem. On this Day in 1966: The first pictures of earth taken from moon orbit were sent back to the U.S. Sent to more than 25,000 readers nationwide... and thousands more via our lineup of online ads like the one above that appears on watertechonline.com Latest postings: MWD: Junior Microbiologist Alameda County WD: Instrument Tech. I/II Union Sanitary District: Maintenance Supervisor WA State Dept of Ecology: Env. Engineer 2 WA State Dept of Ecology: Env. Engineer 3 Want more? See all postings. Today's News —  Water Supply Water plan worries Orinda (Contra Costa Times, 8/18) "Residents and officials in Orinda say they fear proposed changes to the regional water system will bring noise, block roadways and hurt scenic views in their city."  Millions in SLO County go to unused water (SLO Tribune, 8/18) "For more than 30 years, San Luis Obispo County property owners have been paying for water that could supply more than 50,000 homes, even though the county only uses about a third of that." Pajaro Valley to consider bids for pipeline work (Santa Cruz Sentinel, 8/18) "If all goes well, 60,000 feet of pipe will be ready to deliver water to coastal farmers in spring 2008." Tide of support for public water system (Press Democrat, 8/17) Thanks to Jim Graham for this one. "Jim Bouler, a retired civil engineer who olives in Larkfield, discusses private versus public ownership of community water systems." —  Water Quality Water below Norco High School to be tested (Riverside P/E, 8/18) "When class starts again at Norco High School this year, students in some science classrooms will breath air from ventilation systems designed to dilute pollution from nearby Wyle Labs, a former hazardous-testing facility." Harvard professor cleared in fluoride study (Associated Press, 8/17) Thanks to June Weintraub for this one. "A Harvard review has found that a dentistry professor did not commit research misconduct while looking into potential links between fluoride in drinking water and a rare form of bone cancer." —  Ocean News New data shows ocean cooling (OC Register, 8/17) OPINION. Thanks to both Patrick McNelly and Chuck Lake for this one. "The world's oceans cooled suddenly between 2003 and 2005, losing more than 20 percent of the global-warming heat they'd absorbed over the previous 50 years. That's a vast amount of heat, since the oceans hold 1,000 times as heat as the atmosphere." —  Wastewater San Diego will put cash down the sewer (SD Union Tribune, 8/18) "San Diego will spend $82 million between now and next July to continue upgrading its sewage system despite ongoing financial challenges, according to an agreement announced yesterday by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency." —  Toxic Cleanups Dump cleanup to cost millions (The Desert Sun, 8/18) "Smoke that spewed last week from an illegal dump on an east valley American Indian reservation was more than irritating - it was likely toxic." —  The Nukes Radioactive leak reaches plant's groundwater (LA Times, 8/18) "Radioactive, cancer-causing tritium has leaked into the groundwater beneath the San Onofre nuclear power plant, prompting the closure of one drinking-water well in southern Orange County, authorities said."  Radiation leaks a new national concern (OC Register, 8/18) "A person could drink 130 gallons of the most radioactive water found under the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station last week and still have no cause for health concern, Nuclear Regulatory Commission spokesman Victor Dricks said." —  Meetings/Events Water superstars and superheroes honored (DWR, 8/17) NEWS RELEASE. "In keeping with the California State Fair's theme, 'Superstars and Superheroes,' the Department of Water Resources (DWR) exhibition at this year's Fair features many of the men and women who were heroes for shaping water management and development in California." Securing Clean and Affordable Water (DWR, 8/17) Sept. 12. " DWR, in conjunction with State Water Resources Control Board, Department of Health Services and the California Public Utilities Commission is cosponsoring the September 12 Symposium in Oakland to address impacts on privately owned utilities." —  Local/Agency News Cal Am rates rising 15-20%, likely more later (Monterey Herald, 8/18) "Monterey Peninsula customers are guaranteed their water rates will jump under a preliminary decision on California American Water's request for higher rates during the next three years." Leisure Village waters down costs (Camarillo Acorn, 8/18) "With the rising cost of water throughout Southern California, large-volume users across Ventura County are looking for ways to help cool off high utility bills."  Rainbow water board president Sundram resigns (NC Times, 8/18) "Rainbow Municipal Water District board President Larry Sundram announced his resignation Thursday, saying he was immediately stepping down from the board to tend to 'more pressing matters, such as family, health and leisure.'" DWP must be ready for next heat wave (LA Daily News, 8/17) OPINION. "While DWP officials could not prevent the 1-in-50-years heat from overwhelming the local electricity infrastructure, the utility continues to be sluggish in many areas. The idle property on Sepulveda on which once sat profitable dry-cleaning and pet-supply businesses, like its owner, can't seem to get on track these days." —  Everything Else Marin's super solar project (Marin Independent-Journal, 8/18) "Officials are celebrating completion of the largest solar power project in Marin County at the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District's treatment plant in San Rafael." WQA last call for award nominations today (Water Tech Online, 8/17) "The deadline for nominations for the Water Quality Association's (WQA) annual Leadership Awards is August 18, according to a WQA press release." About the California Water News The California Water News is a weekday e-mail with links to current news stories in the California water resources industry.  Subscription is free to qualified persons!  Please go to our subscription page to subscribe.  For more information, you can also see some frequently asked questions. Referrals to new subscribers are welcome, as are suggestions for new links, news stories, opinion pieces, and your agency's press releases.   Any documents you e-mail us may be published on our web site and linked to from the News, subject to editorial discretion. Ken Harlow Brown and Caldwell 400 Exchange, Suite 100 Irvine, CA 92702 714-689-4852