Water Wednesday

Water is a vital necessity that touches every facet of our lives. But just how valuable is this precious natural resource and the infrastructure that supports it? And how can utilities like EBMUD balance society’s thirst for water with the resources needed to deliver it, especially in the face of growing government regulations, affordability concerns and a changing climate?

This Water Wednesday webinar features David Sedlak, professor at UC Berkeley’s College of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director of the Berkeley Water Center, Laurel Firestone, board member of the California State Water Resources Control Board, Sophia Skoda, EBMUD Director of Finance, and EBMUD General Manager Clifford Chan, who moderated the conversation. 

EBMUD Water Wednesday webinars feature expert discussions about drought, water supply, water quality, conservation, low-water gardening, and much more. 

Learn about the rich history of the Orinda Water Treatment Plant as well as future improvements as we plan for the next 100 years.

Watch previous Water Wednesdays on YouTube.

Water Wednesday: Seeking the Source

EBMUD's drinking water makes an incredible journey to arrive at our taps.  As drought and climate change generate renewed interest in where our water comes from some people are taking extraordinary steps to seek the source.

Join the conversation with local “water walkers” John Silva and Nina Gordon-Kirsch as we learn about their recent 200 plus mile adventure tracing the entire length of the Mokelumne River to call attention and raise awareness to the value of our water supplies.

EBMUD’s Casey Del Rey, a Supervising Fisheries & Wildlife Biologist, joins the discussion to share what proactive measures EBMUD is taking to protect our watershed and the surrounding natural environment. 

Water Wednesday: Demystifying Desal

“Water, water, everywhere, Nor any drop to drink”- poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge  

In areas surrounded by water, why are water agencies still scrambling during drought years? Desalination, “desal,” seems like the panacea for areas where ocean water is abundant and yet many coastal water agencies are not currently pursuing this technology.  

Find out in EBMUD’s next Water Wednesday where desal fits into our long-term water supply goals from Senior Civil Engineer, Hasan Abdullah; and hear from leading experts in the future of desal technology, Meagan Mauter, Ph.D., Stanford; and Jenn Stokes-Draut Ph.D., Lawrence Berkeley Lab, about desal’s challenges and possible solutions.  

WATCH: "Demystifying Desal" Water Wednesday on YouTube.

Water Wednesday: Fire fight

It is the "hottest" topic in California… Fire. As we face what are now annual wildfires throughout the Golden State, find out what East Bay MUD and East Bay Regional Park District are doing to prevent fires in our watershed and learn how we ensure a reliable water supply during times of high fire risk. Vegetation Management is the key to reducing fuel for these wildfires that can affect our water supplies and the region's wellbeing.

WATCH: "Fire Fight" Water Wednesday on YouTube.