A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
February 09, 2009
2. Supply –
Why Desalination Got Famous
The Voice of
Rainy weather not enough to make a difference in local drought condition
The
Water rationing latest challenge
30% TO 50% RATIONING LOOMS DURING TIME OF ECONOMIC STRESS
The
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Why Desalination Got Famous
The Voice of San Diego
By Rob Davis
The proposed
The seawater desalination plant proposed by Poseidon Resources Corp. is advertised as being able to tap into the
Their message to the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board, the last agency to withhold needed permits: Enough already. Stop slowing down construction.
So the regional board, the local water pollution regulator, is being assailed from both proponents and opponents of the project. Environmental groups have sued the regional board for giving conditional approval to the desalination plant. And state leaders are flexing their political muscles, urging the board to go all the way.
"The political interest in this item is huge," said John Robertus, the regional board's executive officer. "And every day it doesn't rain, it goes up a notch."
The regional board in 2006 granted a necessary permit to Poseidon, which will allow it to discharge into the Pacific. But it came with conditions, including developing a specific plan for mitigating the plant's impact on marine life. The agency's staff proposes to continue withholding approval until Poseidon refines its mitigation plans. The discussion is scheduled Wednesday. Asked whether the agency is feeling political pressure, Robertus said: "Certainly. Water is about politics."
The desalination plant has always had the region's attention. But with mandatory water-use restrictions likely coming to
At least one will follow on the
"As goes
At the center of the current debate is Poseidon's plan to mitigate the plant's impacts on marine life. It will suck in 304 million gallons of seawater daily and turn 50 million gallons into drinking water. The filtered-out salt will be diluted with the remaining 254 million gallons and sent back to the ocean.
The pumps that draw in that water will kill about two pounds of fish each day. (Poseidon says this is less than the daily consumption of an adult brown pelican). They'll also squash 11 million to 16 million fish larvae daily -- four billion to five billion annually.
State regulators are requiring Poseidon to mitigate that damage by restoring 37 acres of wetlands. The company estimates it would cost $10 million wherever it decides to repair damaged habitat and build a functioning ecosystem.
This hang-up has everyone's attention. The regional board wants Poseidon to pick a specific site. Poseidon has identified 11 and says it will decide on a specific location later. Five are in
The company says picking a site now would require a lengthy environmental review and delay the plant's construction. The company promises to choose a site and finish mitigation before the plant begins operating, Poseidon spokesman Scott Maloni said.
The environmental groups that have sued say Poseidon has the process backward. The company should not be able to get approval for building its project, they say, before completely identifying its mitigation plans.
| |
"It's not responsible for the agencies to approve a project without these questions being answered," said Gabriel Solmer, legal director for San Diego Coastkeeper. "Just because Poseidon has said 'We'll do whatever it takes and we'll find a place to do mitigation,' that shouldn't be sufficient. You should know where the mitigation is going to occur."
As that debate continues, state leaders are interjecting. The regional board has received letters urging approval from Schwarzenegger; Linda Adams; Mike Chrisman, the natural resources secretary; and A.G. Kawamura, the food and agriculture secretary. Donald Koch, director of the state Department of Fish and Game, wrote that mitigation plans were sufficient.
The letters sounds similar and say Poseidon's plans do enough. Schwarzenegger wrote:
The situation in
Same with Chrisman:
Poseidon, which has spent $172,000 on lobbying in
"I'm waiting for that ask," Maloni said. "I'm sure we'll get that."
Instead, it appears the state's drought is the driving force.#
http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/articles/2009/02/09/environment/859desal020809.txt
Rainy weather not enough to make a difference in local drought condition
The
By Elise Ackerman
The soothing pitter-patter of the falling rain on Friday did nothing to quench concerns that
Less than three-quarters of an inch of wet stuff dampened
And Saturday's sunshiny warmth and crystalline skies didn't help. Temperatures in the 50s meant perfect weather for biking, hiking and team sports, and many outdoors lovers seized the opportunity.
More rain is expected Sunday night, showers could slick the streets on Monday, and there is at least a chance of rain throughout the rest of the week.
But the area needs an epic soaking to make a difference. State water officials recently announced that the snowpack, which supplies water to the state's reservoirs and canals, was only 61 percent of normal.#
http://www.mercurynews.com/localnewsheadlines/ci_11655633?source=rss
Water rationing latest challenge
30% TO 50% RATIONING LOOMS DURING TIME OF ECONOMIC STRESS
The
By Jeff Quackenbush
On Feb. 2 the Sonoma County Water Agency called for a reduction of water use by 30 percent to 50 percent this year for the 750,000 people served in
The sources of savings for commercial real estate vary by property type. Interior uses include faucets, toilets and cooling towers in office buildings to wash-down facilities and boilers for wineries or industrial users to dishwashers and kitchens for restaurants. Yet irrigation of landscaping is a big area to look for potential cuts.
Agilent Technologies in northwest
The contractor also has been working for a while with Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. on changes to the expansive landscaping around its
However, holding onto tenants is a far higher priority for many property owners than saving water, according to Ed Lewis, director of the property management division of Keegan & Coppin. The group manages 90 properties with almost 1,000 tenants and 2.5 million square feet.
Vacancies are rising as companies trim their staffs, shut down or relocate to more compact quarters to ride out the turbulent times. “We’re spending a lot more time dealing with tenants that are behind or calling for help or walking away from leases,” Mr. Lewis said.
It’s also tough on owners of property whose tenants are leaving for a better deal elsewhere. One of the buildings Keegan & Coppin manages was examined eight months ago for water-saving upgrade incentives offered by
North Bay Commercial Real Estate is talking to landscaping contractors about economically feasible water-conservation options for the 80 properties the firm manages in
Some of the properties already were scheduled for a transition to drip irrigation before the economy soured. Now, the owners are hoping they can get by for some more months before having to pay for the work, yet the owners hope to avoid paying higher rates or fines for water use during rationing.
“If the weather persists like this, it may force our hand,” he said.
One approach developed from the days of the last major
Cagwin & Dorward is developing a return-on-investment calculator for working with companies on reducing water use without soaking their landscaping budgets or dipping into their emergency-repair reserves, according to Mr. Voit. The goal is to eke out small savings now to fund pay for big savings later.
“We say, give us a few more hours a week to adjust the system, and if after saving 20 percent for six to 12 months, they can use the savings to convert from spray to drip or from turf to native plants,” Mr. Voit said. “Some of our commercial sites are really big, so 20 percent is a lot of money.”
Other commercial property owners have built-in water-wise improvements in their budgets. Since the late 1970s’ drought, overhauling properties to cut energy and water use is part of the acquisition budget for San Rafael-based Seagate Properties, which owns more than 2.5 million square feet, including the Montecito Plaza shopping center in San Rafael and the San Rafael Corporate Center office complex now being expanded.
“We knew it would happen again, and sure enough we’re here again,” said partner Wick Polite.
The company is pursuing certification of the
Water agency director Randy Poole will be holding a seminar at the Doubletree Hotel in
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
DWR’s California Water News is distributed to California Department of Water Resources management and staff, for information purposes, by the DWR Public Affairs Office. For reader’s services, including new subscriptions, temporary cancellations and address changes, please use the online page: http://listhost2.water.ca.gov/mailman/listinfo/water_news . DWR operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs. Inclusion of materials is not to be construed as an endorsement of any programs, projects, or viewpoints by the Department or the State of
No comments:
Post a Comment