California Drought

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Looking Beyond the Pandemic: Climate Change and Drought In 2021

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Over the past year, the Covid-19 pandemic pulled state resources and public attention away from the looming specter of global climate change. But while our attention was fixed on vaccine rollouts and mask mandates, climate change didn’t stop impacting California’s water. 2021 heralded some unprecedented water challenges for districts across the state. Now more than ever, we need to talk about climate change and the role it plays in California’s droughts.

It is well established that California’s droughts are becoming more common and more severe. The past year was one of the driest in a century; crucial reservoirs like Lake Mead have dropped to record lows; and many communities continue to over-draft groundwater aquifers to keep up with demand. In October, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a statewide drought emergency and asked Californians to “redouble our efforts to save water in every way possible.” For many, the sight of depleted reservoirs and bone-dry wells looks eerily similar to the height of California’s last major drought––which only officially ended 2 years ago.

So what is happening to California’s droughts?…

Improvement: It is a Continuous Commitment!

2021 has arrived and for many of us the start of a new year offers an opportunity to set new goals. Oftentimes these new goals are extensions of our old commitments, but we make small changes that allow us to start the year feeling refreshed, recalibrated, and rededicated.

In the spirit of entering 2021 with renewed focus and resolve, Babcock Laboratories (Babcock Labs) has revisited and updated our core values. The principles behind these values are not new; we are still a company that believes in taking responsibility, being reliable, and maintaining good relationships. Instead, these updated values are a simple promise to our staff, our clients, our vendors, and our community that Babcock Labs will continue to uphold the highest ethical standards and practices. We promise to…

What’s Next for the Delta Conveyance Project?

The specter of California’s aging water infrastructure has haunted the state for decades, but last month the Metropolitan Board of Directors took a step towards modernizing California’s water supply. On December 8th, the Board approved funding for the Delta Conveyance Project, a state initiative for building modern and resilient water infrastructures. With the Board’s approval, the Project can conduct an environmental review of the proposed construction area: the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.

The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta is often referred to as the “hub” of California’s water supply and for good reason; two-thirds of California's water flows from the Sierra Mountains into the Delta. The 700 mile estuary feeds into the State Water Project (SWP) and Central Valley Project (CVP); these projects then deliver high-quality and affordable water to over 27 million Californians and 750,000 acres of farmland.

Given how important the Delta is to California’s water supply, any failure…

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Biosolids: The Ultimate Recycling Success Story

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In the wastewater treatment world, biosolids are often seen as the ultimate recycling success story. Biosolids are the nutrient-rich organic byproducts resulting from wastewater treatment and over 60% of biosolids produced nationally in the U.S. are land applied. They are used in agriculture, landscaping, forestry, and even by homeowners on lawns and gardens. Although biosolids are under scrutiny once again due to the source of their composition—human and industrial waste—preliminary evidence suggests that the beneficial use of biosolids rests on solid ground.

To learn more about the future of biosolids, new Babcock staff member, Colleen Thompson, interviewed Greg Kester, Director of Renewable Resource Programs at the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA). Greg is the subject matter expert when it comes to emerging issues regarding all renewable energy, recycled water, biosolids, and climate change mitigation. “Biosolids have a plethora of benefits, they assist in creating healthy soils which help crop growth, they are significant mitigators of climate change, reduce irrigation use, offset the use of inorganic fertilizers, and essentially are the best example of recycling,” said Kester. In fact, many agricultural areas depend on biosolids to help…