News Flash

Taking Earth Day to Heart in Everyday Actions - April 2023

The arrival of spring brings a host of welcome signs – warmer weather, blossoms, baseball, and the celebration of Earth Day. The Soquel Creek Water District (District) would like to take this opportunity to recognize our customers and local comm...

One rain-soaked season does not end a drought - March 2023

By:Rebecca Rubin, Public Outreach Coordinator, Soquel Creek Water DistrictEileen Cross, Community Relations, Santa Cruz Water Department

Despite the downpours, flooding, and battering rains of December and January, it is too soon to declare an end to the m...

For the Love of….Songs that feature Weather and Water - Feb 2023

This winter, our community has been greatly impacted by the storms, heavy rains, atmospheric rivers, and winds, which were a stark contrast to the multi-year droughts that we experience on a regular basis.  As we all know, one rainy season doesn&...

CARE: A vision for 2023 - January 2023

By Carla Christensen, President, Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors 

I am honored to welcome a New Year and begin my first term as Board President of the Soquel Creek Water District. We enter 2023 with a list of goals and objectives th...

2022 – A Year of Many Accomplishments on Behalf of Our Customers and Community - December 2022

By Dr. Tom LaHue, President, Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors 

As we approach the end of 2022, I want to say that I sincerely hope it has been a good year for you – our customers, community members, and all who read this article and ...

District and its Customers Have Much to be Grateful For During This Season of Thanks - November 2022

The holidays are just around the corner! Does it feel like 2022 has just flown by incredibly quickly? Suddenly, Thanksgiving is approaching – a time when many people take a pause to appreciate family and friends and renew our gratitude for the m...

Pure Water Soquel in International Online Series of Mini-Documentaries About Water - October 2022

We’re thrilled to let you know that a mini-documentary focusing on the District’s Pure Water Soquel project was released last month as part of the international online series, “Beneath the Surface: The Journey of Water.&r...

The Return of the IN-PERSON Water Harvest Festival! - September 2022

Over the last year or so, many of our customers and community members have asked us this question: “When will the annual Water Harvest Festival Family Fun Day return as an in-person event?” As we all know, the pandemic limited this eve...

Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Agency Receives $7.6 Million Grant! - August 2022

Funds will help implement elements of the Groundwater Sustainability Plan

This month we are thrilled to report some really great news!   In May, the California Department of Water Resources Sustainable Groundwater Management Grant Program awarded ...

Staying On Track: District’s Strategic Plan Updated - July 2022

Early this year, the District initiated an update of its Strategic Plan, which consists of the District’s Mission Statement, Values, and Primary Organizational Goals. These are the guiding documents that help assure we maintain a path that aligns with our...

Pure Water Soquel Construction Update: The Future of Water is Being Built Now! - June 2022

Pure Water Soquel Construction Update: The Future of Water is Being Built Now!

Construction is underway on the Pure Water Soquel Groundwater Replenishment and Seawater Intrusion Prevention Project—and every day of work brings the community one st...

Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Basin Update - May 2022

The Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Basin (Basin) is an essential source of drinking water for our local communities. In addition to being the sole source of water for the Soquel Creek Water District, the water in this basin is shared by the City of San...

Strategically Thinking – Climate Change and the Future of Water - April 2022

We have just experienced the very dry months of January, February, and now also into March. These are months that should bring some of the highest rainfall of the season. The heavy rain last December was most welcome—but it doesn’t change the fact that we...

March is Overflowing with Water Awareness and Appreciation! - March 2022

What comes to mind when you think of the month of March? For most people, this month is most often associated with St. Patrick’s Day, the start of spring (or the spring equinox), “March Madness” college basketball, and settin...

For the Love of…Quotes About Water - February 2022

Here it is, February already! It’s the month with Valentine’s Day, which brings to mind that love is something that’s all around us, every day; it’s present throughout the world; it’s part of our daily liv...

A New Year and a New Future for Sustainable Water - January 2022

By Dr. Tom LaHue, President, Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors

Welcome to 2022, from the Soquel Creek Water District! As your new President of the District’s Board of Directors, it’s my pleasure to offer a brief look at some of what we anticip...

District’s Efforts Yield Many Accomplishments – 2021 Year in Review - December 2021

By Rachél Lather, President, Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors  

Another year is soon coming to a close – already! We’re in the midst of the holiday rush, but as we approach the new year I want to briefly pa...

Soquel Creek Water District Embraces the Season of Thanks and Gratitude - November 2021

Thanksgiving and the holidays are quickly approaching! Despite (or perhaps because of) the challenges and difficulties of the last year-plus, it’s nice to bring to mind and share some of the things for which we’re grateful.  

Doing this can be a h...

Celebrating 60 Years as Your Community Partner for Reliable Water! - October 2021

In 1961, the world was a remarkably different place than it is today…how different was it? Here are some examples: President John F. Kennedy held the first-ever televised presidential news conference; the Dow-Jones average reached a high of 734; the avera...

“60 is the New 40” – Except When it Comes to Pipeline Replacement - September 2021

In order to provide the community with high-quality, clean water day-in and day-out, the Soquel Creek Water District takes great care in maintaining its infrastructure. The elements of this infrastructure include pump stations to wells, water meters to st...

National Water Quality Month – Your Water is Clean, Safe, and High Quality - August 2021

Every August is National Water Quality Month, and it’s a great opportunity to remind ourselves of how important clean, high-quality water is every day, to every person, to our environment and wildlife, and to our entire planet. Especially in a d...

Water-Saving Tools to Help During Drought - July 2021

Recurring droughts are something we’ve all learned to live with here in California, and unfortunately, this year is shaping up to be one of the worst. As of last month, 94% of California is reported to be in a "severe" (or worse) droug...

Pure Water Soquel Milestone – Seawater Intrusion Prevention Wells Nearing Completion! - June 2021

The Soquel Creek Water District’s Pure Water Soquel project has three primary elements: water treatment facilities; conveyance pipelines; and seawater intrusion prevention (SWIP) wells. I’m thrilled to share with you that one of those three key components...

Water District Launches New Website & Annual Water Quality Report Available - May 2021

The month of May means that the spring season is really in full swing! It’s a time of new growth and rejuvenation – and for the Soquel Creek Water District, spring has brought a brand-new website that is streamlined, cleaner, easier to navigate, and desig...

People Love the New WaterSmart Customer Portal - April 2021

The Soquel Creek Water District's new WaterSmart Customer Portal is an easy-to-use, free online tool giving you more control over your water use and billing, leak detection, and more. Along with our new, intelligent meters (i-Meters) which are now install...

Partnership Helps Kids Learn the Value of Water Sustainability - March 2021

The District is involved in many partnerships, as we carry out our mission of providing a clean, safe, reliable water supply for today and the future. And when it comes to the future, we think about what kind of world we'll leave to today's children in ou...

For the Love of… Podcasts About Water! - February 2021

Here we are in February, the month of love! This pandemic Valentine's Day may be a bit different so I hope everyone can find creative, safe, and socially-distanced ways to express their love and gratitude.

As for Soquel Creek Water District, we continue ou...

District Successfully Navigates an Unprecedented Year, Looks to Future - January 2021

By Rachél Lather, President, Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors

Many people are breathing a sigh of relief as the new year begins, looking forward to 2021 with hope and optimism while saying farewell to 2020. It was indeed an unprecedented year...

The “WaterSmart” Customer Portal is now available! - December 2020

As water metering technology continues to advance, the District is staying on the cutting edge by implementing the latest tools for our customers, giving you more control over your water use, billing, leak detection, and other tools.

What's the la...

We’re #InThisTogether - Santa Cruz Business Council - November 2020

The Soquel Creek Water District is engaged in multiple approaches to combat over-drafting of the groundwater basin and seawater intrusion into our local water supply. It's important to remember that these severe water supply challenges affect everyone in ...

The Community is Invited to Imagine a Day Without Water - October 2020

Pure Water Soquel will help ensure that day never comes, with over $100 million in funding from the State Water Board and EPA which cover the cost of the project.

Imagine a Day Without Water on October 21 is an annual nationwide day of education and advoca...

We’re #InThisTogether?- Aptos High School - September 2020

The Soquel Creek Water District is engaged in multiple approaches to combat over-drafting of the groundwater basin and seawater intrusion into our local water supply. It's important to remember that these severe water supply challenges affect everyone in ...

August is National Water Quality Month! - August 2020

Every August is National Water Quality Month - an annual opportunity to remind ourselves of the crucial importance of water in our everyday lives and the necessity to protect the quality of our drinking water, our lakes and waterways, and our oceans.

For t...

The District Embraces Community Partnerships - #InThisTogether with Aptos/La Selva Fire - July 2020

The Soquel Creek Water District is engaged in multiple approaches to combat over-drafting of the groundwater basin and seawater intrusion into our local water supply. It's important to remember that these severe water supply challenges affect everyone in ...

How’s Your Green Thumb Feeling? Watering & Other Tips for a Great Summer Garden - June 2020

We are all craving some normalcy in our lives right now, with these uncertain and unprecedented times. So, in this month's column, let's go back to basics and get down to earth. The earth in your garden that is!

Since last month, most nur...

The District Embraces Community Partnerships - #InThisTogether with Jeff Rosendale - May 2020

The Soquel Creek Water District is engaged in multiple approaches to combat over-drafting of the groundwater basin and seawater intrusion into our local water supply. It's important to remember that these severe water supply challenges affect everyone in ...

The District Embraces Community Partnerships - #InThisTogether with Save Our Shores - April 2020

The Soquel Creek Water District is engaged in multiple approaches to combat over-drafting of the groundwater basin and seawater intrusion into our local water supply. It's important to remember that these severe water supply challenges affect everyone in ...

The District Embraces Community Partnerships - #InThisTogether with Zun-Zun - March 2020

The Soquel Creek Water District is engaged in multiple approaches to combat over-drafting of the groundwater basin and seawater intrusion into our local water supply. It's important to remember that these severe water supply challenges affect everyone in ...

For the Love of…Music & Water! - February 2020

The month of February brings thoughts of Valentine's Day, and love…and also of cold weather, rain, clouds, and the ideal day staying home where it's warm and dry and cozy. In honor of wet weather that we certainly love (and ne...

Happy New Year! May 2020 Be as Successful & Rewarding as 2019! - January 2020

Well, all of our calendars are now out of "the teens" and into "the twenties." What a milestone!

Here at the Soquel Creek Water District we enter 2020 with a great sense of accomplishment and achievement - and a strong resolve to contin...

Celebrating Ribbon Cutting of Water Purification Across Bay - Pure Water Monterey - November 2019

As our Pure Water Soquel project continues with design and towards construction, we are happy to congratulate our friends across the bay at Monterey One Water, upon their recent ribbon cutting of their Pure Water Monterey advanced water purification facil...

Water Harvest Festival & Water Bills Pay for Groundwater Protection & Water System - September 2019

Planning is underway for the second annual Water Harvest Festival that will be held on October 20th from 11-3 pm at Anna Jean Cummings Park, also known as Blue Ball Park in Soquel. This will be a fun family oriented festival to celebrate our local water r...

Save Water and Money by Maintaining Your Irrigation System - August 2019

Irrigation systems help us control the timing, volume, and duration of water applied to our landscapes. When these systems are designed and maintained properly, they save you, water, time, and money and help you keep a beautiful, efficiently, and easily w...

Draft Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Sustainability Plan to Be Released in July - June 2019

California has over 500 groundwater basins and only 21 are classified as "high-priority basins in critical overdraft." The Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Basin is one of these 21 basins.

What Does Critical Overdraft Mean

In the Santa Cruz Mid-C...

State-Wide Legislative Actions with Local Water Impacts - April 2019

This month I want to share with you some interesting State legislative news related to water:

SB 332: Local Water Reliability Act (Introduced 2019)

Did you know that statewide, about 400 billion gallons of treated effluent water thrown away every year? That...

#INTHISTOGETHER. Can You Remember These 10 Water Soundbites? - March 2019

With unlimited access to information and opinions in today's modern world, it's often hard to discern what is factual and what isn't. With my busy schedule as a working Mom, juggling family life, my son's sports schedul...

For the Love of…Books on Water - February 2019

February… it's the month we celebrate love and it's still wintertime so you may be cuddled up with a book, perhaps under a blanket, and by the fire. In the spirit of this column being about WATER- I want to share a quick overv...

Our New Year’s Resolution: Recharge & Replenishment - January 2019

The Soquel Creek Water District's New Year's resolution for 2019 - and beyond - is recharge and replenishment of our groundwater supply. How do we plan to keep this resolution? With several exciting projects and strategies that are part ...

Water Success in 2018 - December 2018

By Dr. Bruce Daniels, 2018 President, Board of Directors

Soquel Creek Water District has made great progress in the last year in some major goals: To deliver safe, high-quality water to our customers 365 days a year, 24 hours a day in a fiscally responsibl...

District Making Strides Toward Obtaining New Water Sources - November 2018

As many of you know, the groundwater basin in the Santa Cruz Mid-County area is plagued with seawater intrusion at the coastline and its threat of moving further inland toward our drinking water wells is scarier than all the Halloween horror movies out th...

Soquel Creek Water District Receives 2018 Award of Excellence in Outreach & Education - October 2018

The Soquel Creek Water District has proudly received a significant honor from the National WateReuse Association: the 2018 Award of Excellence for Outreach and Education, in recognition of the District's Pure Water Soquel Mobile Educational Trail...

Fall is Coming & It’s a Great Time to Plant! - September 2018

It's not too early to think about what to do with your garden and landscaping this fall!

Many people think of spring as the prime planting period, but here are some great reasons - well-known to many home gardeners - that fall is really the perfec...

What Are Some Things We Just Can’t Live Without? - August 2018

Spoiler Alert: A high-quality, reliable, sustainable water supply is one of them!

When you get right down to it, there are just two basic things that humans can't live without: water and food. Providing one of those (We can't live without...

Nature Offers Lessons for Water Supply Resiliency - July 2018

When it comes to the effective management of our groundwater resources, the Soquel Creek Water District's goals are simple: keep our water supply safe, keep it reliable, and keep it sustainable. To be successful in this, we must be flexible and a...

Community Water Plan Update: Water Solution Evaluations - June 2018

This is a historical time in our water district's Community Water Plan history. We are at the crossroads of several water supply and groundwater recharge projects that will help protect our critically over-drafted groundwater aquifers from seawat...

Stage 3 Water Shortage Still in Effect Due to Groundwater Overdraft Conditions - May 2018

From last October to March our area received just over 16 inches of rain, which is only 62% of the typical average rainfall. Additionally, the District - in partnership with the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Agency- received new data this year validat...

The Impacts of Climate Change - April 2018

Written by: Dr. Bruce Daniels, Board President

Climate change is a serious issue all over the planet. It also has real impacts right here in our Soquel Creek Water District that must be considered for our water supply planning.

As you probably already know,...

Many Layers of Groundwater Awareness - March 2018

Raising awareness of groundwater is extremely important locally since all our water supply in the Santa Cruz Mid-County region comes from a complex groundwater basin comprised of two aquifers, the Purisima Formation and the Aromas Red Sands. Although we, ...

District Receives $2 Million Dollar Planning Grant for Pure Water Soquel Project - February 2018

By: Melanie Mow Schumacher, P.E., Special Projects-Communications Manager

January brought the Soquel Creek Water District some very exciting news from the California State Water Resources Control Board! We've been awarded a grant under the state&a...

A Productive Year, a Positive Future - December 2017/January 2018

By: Dr. Tom LaHue, Vice-President, Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors

When I first began my service as a board member for Soquel Creek Water District, my primary goal was to do whatever I could to protect our water supply and to have it be sust...

It’s AND not OR - November 2017

This month, I'd like to offer some clarifications regarding Soquel Creek Water District's approach to developing new water supplies and help reduce any misunderstandings that people may have.

To aid in replenishing the groundwater basin -...

H20: Humans vs. Earth - October 2017

Last month my son, who is a freshman at Soquel High School, had to write a persuasive essay for his geography class on his opinion of what has a greater impact: humans on Earth or Earth on humans - with an added emphasis on specifics within Santa Cruz Cou...

Imagine a Day Without Water is October 12 - September 2017

With all the division in our government, it is easy to forget there are some policy priorities that actually cut across party lines and geographical boundaries. Constituents may have different opinions on health care and tax reform, but they have a lot in...

The Importance of Water Infrastructure - August 2017

Water is vital to America's economy and our quality of life. In fact, aging infrastructure and years of deferred maintenance is catching up, and the cost of inaction could be severe. A new economic analysis for the "Value of Water Campaign&q...

Spend July with Soquel Creek Water District - July 2017

One of our primary organizational goals at Soquel Creek Water District is community engagement and outreach. This involves fostering relationships and open communication with our customers and the community-at-large through our website, on the phone, at c...

The 2016 Consumer Confidence/Water Quality Report is Available Now - June 2017

The Soquel Creek Water District is pleased to announce we have completed our 2016 Consumer Confidence/Water Quality Report (PDF).

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) are tasked with esta...

Stage 3 Water Shortage Still in Effect for Soquel Creek Water District Customers - May 2017

California was hit with storm after storm this winter, effectively ending the drought in much of the state. Areas that rely on surface water fared especially well. However, not everyone is out of the woods yet. Governor Brown's recent Executive Order B-40...

The End of "Disposable" Water? - April 2017

The Santa Cruz County community is a leader in implementing "The Three Rs" - reduce, reuse, recycle. Not only a plastic bag ban, but as of 2017 no plastic straws or stir sticks, and only compostable cups, lids, containers, and cutlery for County...

WaterFlix - Have You Seen These Water Films? - March 2017

This winter - with the relentless stormy days and flu/cold season in full swing - it may be an opportune time to stretch out on the couch, grab a blanket and some popcorn, and watch a movie. How about making your next movie binge all about water? Many peo...

True or False? - February 2017

There's a lot of talk these days about "fake" news, "alternative facts", and general mistrust of the media. With multiple sources of news available, it's important to understand and separate the information from misin...

Reflecting on 2016 & Leaping into 2017 - January 2017

Happy New Year! Soquel Creek Water District is proud to be an integral part of the Santa Cruz Mid-County community for over 55 years. To kick off 2017, we'd like to reflect back on a few of our key moments in 2016:

February 2016 - Ron Duncan was a...

Pure Water Soquel: Evaluation of Groundwater Replenishment Seeks Public Input - December 2016

We are very excited to dedicate our entire column this month to Soquel Creek Water District's Groundwater Replenishment Project, recently named Pure Water Soquel. Evaluation of the project is currently underway. Please take a moment to learn abou...

Winter Surface Water Pilot Project - A Careful Transition - November 2016

As we've mentioned in our previous columns, Soquel Creek Water District (District) has been working with the City of Santa Cruz Water Department (City) on a 5-year pilot project to purchase a small amount of treated surface water (also referred t...

Mid-County Groundwater Management Efforts Evolving - October 2016

The Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Agency (MGA) reached two important milestones this summer and continues to make progress in meeting the mandates of the state's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). In our April 2016 column, we high...

Innovative Waste-Free Flushing Cleans Pipes & Saves Water - September 2016

Water main flushing is a necessary program for water agencies to ensure high-quality water. The traditional method of flushing involves opening up fire hydrants and letting the water flow out to scour and remove the buildup in pipes that may cause discolo...

Partnering is the “New Norm” in our Local Water World - August 2016

The mission of providing reliable services in a cost-effective and environmentally sensitive manner is now prevalent amongst most public agencies and collaboration is a key ingredient. No longer are agencies bound by their jurisdictional boundaries, the &...

Soquel Creek Water District Board Approves Priority Based Budget for FY 2016-2017 - July 2016

On June 7, 2016, the Soquel Creek Water District (District) Board of Directors approved its Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 to 2017 Budget (PDF). The year's budget took a new approach for its development, utilizing a priority-based budget process and integ...

The 2015 Consumer Confidence/Water Quality Report is Available Now - June 2016

The Soquel Creek Water District is pleased to announce that we have completed our 2015 Consumer Confidence/Water Quality Report (PDF).

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) are tasked with...

Water-Smart Gardening Website Highlights Native & Low Water Use Plants - May 2016

Helping our customers with water conservation is an essential part of what we do at the Soquel Creek Water District. A lot of water savings can be achieved through changes inside our homes, but a significant amount of residential water consumption is rela...

Say Hello to the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Agency - April 2016

A new player just joined the local water scene, and it goes by a name you probably haven't heard much yet: the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Agency (MGA). While everyone in Santa Cruz County was swept up in the Water Supply Advisory Committee...

Surface Water Purchase from the Santa Cruz Water Department - March 2016

On February 9, the Santa Cruz City Council agreed to sell the Soquel Creek Water District a limited amount of available winter surface water each year from the City's north coast sources for the next 5 years. The Cooperative Water Transfer and Pu...

Soquel Creek Water District 2015 Year in Review - February 2016

When most people think of the Soquel Creek Water District, they probably think of pipes, people in hard hats, and water being pumped up out of the ground, treated, and delivered to their faucets, because that is the side of our organization they see out i...

Water-Wise Winter Storm Preparedness - January 2016

By Rachél Lather, President, Soquel Creek Water District Board of Directors

Many people are breathing a sigh of relief as the new year begins, looking forward to 2021 with hope and optimism while saying farewell to 2020. It was indeed an unprece...