UCAN

San Diego county is facing the same water crisis as the city of Los Angeles and must start its very own aggressive program. The sooner we, the citizens of San Diego, start addressing the reality of our situation the sooner we can shape our outcome. I have to tip my hat to those in San Diego who are taking up the city's 20-gallon challenge. That said, the savings doesn't seem, to me, to be enough but rather, a drop in the bucket. Read more.

San Diego Union Tribune: A judge has ruled that the City must insert invitations to join UCAN in its water bills as part of a court-ordered settlement against the Water Dept. for deceptive billings. Learn more.

UCAN is FLUSHED WITH PRIDE today after prevailing in a court action involving the City of San Diego's Water and Sewer Department. As part of the court order, the Department will be required to insert UCAN's solicitations into city water bills ... more.

KGTV 10News.com: The San Diego City Council has authorized Mayor Sanders' water rate increase proposal. Notices will be sent out and ratepayers will have the chance to protest the increase before the October 8 hearing. Listen to commentary on the Mayor's proposal. Or, watch Mayor Sanders speak about the proposal at a public forum.

SignonSanDiego: Mayor Jerry Sanders wants to raise San Diego's residential water rates by $1.40/month. There's some good news for ratepayers, however, as rebates from the Michael Shames sewer refund settlement should save sewer customers $3.25/month. Read more.

More water rate increases on the way? The San Diego County Water Authority board of directors approved an 8.1% rate increase for calendar year 2008. UCAN disclosed this pending rate increase back in Feb. when the City of San Diego approved the current three year 35% rate increase. The new rates will represent an average residential increase of $2.25 per month per household. http://www.sdcwa.org/news/2007_0728_BudgetApproved.phtml

San Diego Union-Tribune: The water department's late bill payment could cost the city over $15,000. Michael Shames says, "The mayor's high-profile effort to turn around the management of the Water Department appears to be pretty leaky. A house can't be in order if it can't pay its bills in a timely fashion." Read more.

San Diego Union-Tribune: A superior court judge has all but approved a settlement that will result in around $40 million in refunds to San Diego sewer customers. The settlement also calls for independent oversight of the City Sewer and Water Departments. Mayor Jerry Sanders is appointing his own "independent" panel. UCAN's Michael Shames says Sanders' panel would violate the settlement. Read the entire story or visit SewerRefund.com for more info.

San Diego Union Tribune-The City of San Diego just took out a $225 mil. loan to help finance projects for the Wastewater Department. The decrepit sewer system suffered 38 water main breaks and 12 sewage spills in the first seven weeks of 2007. Unfortunately, only $38.2 mil. of the $225 mil. will go to new construction. Read story