Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
December 17, 2007
5. Agencies, Programs, People
RESERVOIRS TO BE DRAINED:
L.A. must dump water from two reservoirs; An unexpected, potentially dangerous chemical reaction occurred at the Silver Lake and Elysian facilities - Los Angeles Times
TREATMENT PLANT COMPLETED:
Water soon to flow through PID bypass pipe - Paradise Post
WATER BOND ISSUES:
Group pushes $11.7B bond; Ballot initiative would fund dams, delta restoration - Capital Press
Ten-Year Effort to Access NID Treated Water Ends in Success for
RESERVOIRS TO BE DRAINED:
By Duke Helfand, staff writer
In the midst of a drought,
The reservoirs delivered water to an estimated 600,000 consumers, but state public health officials say the dangers were minimal. Bromate, they said, poses a small cancer risk only after being consumed daily over a lifetime.
Department of Water and Power officials said they removed the reservoirs from service within two days of learning about the problem in October and diverted wells that fed them. The reservoirs will be drained and cleaned early next year so they can be replenished for the high-demand summer season.
The state Department of Public Health commended the DWP's action. But two elected leaders criticized the city agency for not alerting the public until Friday, more than two months after the contamination was discovered and only after being urged to do so by the state health agency.
"I praise the swift and quick reaction of the DWP, but I don't like how long it took the residents of
One of those ratepayers,
Hoyt, who makes a point of drinking tap water to save money, was dropping his 4-year-old son at the Neighborhood Nursery School, its swing sets sitting almost at the edge of Ivanhoe Reservoir, which abuts its larger Silver Lake cousin but was unaffected by the bromate.
The DWP said there was no risk to the children there or to others who frequent the fenced-off reservoirs. The perimeter of the
"It seems to me that the whole point of having tap water is that it is supposed to be reliable drinking water," Hoyt said.
DWP officials said they did not want to go public until they fully understood the cause of the problem, which affected water delivered to Elysian Park, areas south of Sunset Boulevard and east of
State health officials said the DWP was not required to notify the public because the elevated bromate still fell below levels considered dangerous under state and federal clean water regulations.
To be in violation, bromate sampled each month must exceed 10 parts per billion on average over a year.
When DWP crews tested
The imminent water loss comes amid a prolonged dry spell that prompted Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to call for voluntary conservation. But DWP officials downplayed the consequences, saying the two reservoirs account for less than 1% of the city's annual water use.
And they say some of the water, while unsuitable for drinking, could be rechanneled for other uses.
Water from the Elysian Reservoir, for example, could be used to irrigate nearby hillsides, they said. And officials were trying to determine whether they could channel Silver Lake Reservoir, which contains the bulk of the supply at issue, to irrigate parts of
"At a time of water shortages, we are loath to [drain the reservoirs]. Every drop is precious," said DWP General Manager H. David Nahai. "But we want to make sure that . . . the public continues to retain a high level of confidence in the quality of the water."
Nahai said the agency became aware of the problem in October when an outside lab identified the existence of bromate; the lab traced the problem back to June.
The DWP conducted its own tests and immediately removed the two reservoirs from service, Nahai said. Officials said the bromate levels were a surprise because such a chemical reaction had never occurred in any of the city's six reservoirs.
DWP officials said they also immediately tested all of the city reservoirs and determined that water was safe to drink at the remaining four.
DWP crews will begin draining the
In the meantime, customers normally served by the reservoirs will receive water pumped through the Ivanhoe Reservoir.
"The DWP is vigilant and will go to an over-abundance of caution in dealing with the water supply," Nahai said. "The water supply is safe." #
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-water15dec15,1,949651.story?coll=la-headlines-california
TREATMENT PLANT COMPLETED:
Water soon to flow through PID bypass pipe
By Paul Wellersdick, staff writer
By the time Paradise Irrigation District starts its monthly meeting Wednesday, it should have water flowing through its nearly $3 million pipe to its treatment plant.
The Magalia bypass project included a diversion upstream of the Magalia reservoir and a pipe to transport the untreated water to the plant. The project has a number of benefits including safety, quality of water and cost savings.
It was partially paid for by grants secured by the district. Although not operational at press time, PID Manager George Barber said the bypass should be operational after crews finish restoring the creek near the diversion and finish debris screens at the diversion.
The board will approve an application to extend water rights permits at the meeting. The district plans to file the application with the California Water Resources Control Board. PID hired an outside consultant to investigate its water rights and usage permits associated with Little Butte Creek. The consultant found that the language in PID's permit had them illegally using water.
Barber said the district isn't alone and many municipal water purveyors ran into the language problem. The district hopes to solve the problem by proposing to add a direct diversion component to its permit. The district does expect approval from the California Resources Control Board, Barber said.
If the proposal is not approved the district doesn't know what the next step to solving the problem would be, Barber said.
"It's hard to say, not a yes or no question," he said. "Something will get worked out."
There is no concern the district may lose its water rights or be fined for illegal usage either, he said.
"We don't anticipate any fines, there are other municipalities at the water rights board trying to get it cleaned up," he said. "We've operated the system the same way for many years, it's more of a technical issue. We're letting them know there is this issue that needs to be resolved."
The district has built 12,300 acre feet of storage and has rights for 18,300. The language in the current permit allows PID to divert water to storage rather than divert water to treatment.
"We've been diverting water directly into the plant rather than to storage," Barber said. "We aren't using more water than we've got rights to."
The problem has existed since the permit began, Barber said.
"(The diversion issue is) something we think was overlooked when the permit was put together," he said.
The district is also proposing to demolish a mobile home, a garage and a shed on a piece of property the district closed escrow on Friday. The board bought the property to house a new corporate yard instead of its current Black Olive location. Since PID is a public agency it is always looking for potential problems, Barber said.
The potential for injury to people from the unsafe structures is too great for PID to risk because the property is not fenced.
"We don't want a squatter in there and have the building fall on them and have it be our fault," he said. #
http://www.paradisepost.com/ci_7725212
WATER BOND ISSUES:
Group pushes $11.7B bond; Ballot initiative would fund dams, delta restoration
Capital Press – 12/14/07
By Bob Krauter, Capital Press
The California Chamber of Commerce has filed four versions of the "Comprehensive Safe Drinking Water, Water Supply Reliability and Delta Restoration Act of 2008" initiative with the state attorney general's office. The chamber proposals include funds for new dams, restoration of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta and new conveyance in the Delta - many of the same elements in the legislative plan backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Chamber President Alan Zaremberg characterized the initiatives as insurance in case lawmakers and the governor cannot agree on a water deal.
"We remain committed to working with the governor and legislative leadership to produce a solution and are encouraged and hopeful that a legislative agreement can be reached and a measure placed before voters next year," Zaremberg said in a statement. "In case this does not happen legislatively, we felt it necessary to file these measures today in order to preserve our options and have adequate time to gather signatures for the November ballot."
The chamber's initiatives are promoted by a coalition, Californians for Clean and Reliable Water. Among the organizations in the coalition are the California Alliance for Jobs, the California Business Roundtable and the Western Growers Association.
Steve Patricio, chairman of Western Growers, told Capital Press last month that new surface storage is an essential component of fixing the state's water supply reliability problem. He added that growers have grown frustrated with promises that lawmakers would address new storage needs.
"For the last 12 years, the grower community has supported and voted for bond proposals with all of our friends, and they always said the same thing: 'Take care of this and next time we'll get you some storage. Take care of this and next time we'll get you some storage.' There is no next time," Patricio said. "Storage has to be part of the solution and conveyance, too."
Up to $3.5 billion in the chamber's versions could be used to build new reservoirs. Other funds would be used for regional water supply projects and for restoration of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, the key hub of the state's water delivery system.
Lawmakers, who have been meeting in a special session called by Schwarzenegger, have been unable to find consensus on a water agreement.
Republicans support a plan that would build new reservoirs - one near Fresno and another in the Sacramento Valley - that Schwarzenegger believes are essential to help solve the state's water crisis. Democrats remain focused on a $6.8 billion bond proposal by Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, D-Oakland, which emphasizes water conservation and groundwater storage, but does not earmark funds for new reservoirs.
Alicia Trost, a Perata spokeswoman, said a legislative solution is still a priority.
"What we came up with the governor was that we are willing to add another pot to our proposal - a $3 billion pot of money that could be used specifically for surface storage," Trost said. "Republicans didn't think that was enough money, and they wanted a continuous appropriation, whereas we wanted legislative oversight every year."
Perata, on Nov. 20, said he would forgo circulating his initiative to "foster good-faith discussions" for a legislative consensus with Schwarzenegger and Republican leaders.
"The stakes are too high," he said in a statement. "So we will keep working - now and into the New Year - because we recognize that providing an adequate supply of clean drinking water is vital to keeping
Westlands Water District, which serves about 600 farmers in western
"Our hope is that there would be one initiative on the ballot that basically addresses the needs that we have been requesting and that there weren't competing ballot measures," said Sarah Woolf, a Westlands spokeswoman. "We think that would cause more confusion, and in all likelihood make all of them fail."
Schwarzenegger has pledged that he will keep working to reach a deal. He had hoped to place a water bond on the February ballot, but that now appears unlikely as election officials have started mailing ballots to military personnel serving overseas.
It is more likely that any water bond approved by lawmakers or through the initiative process would end up on either the June or November election ballots. #
http://www.capitalpress.info/main.asp?SectionID=67&SubSectionID=792&ArticleID=37719&TM=71165.43
Ten-Year Effort to Access NID Treated Water Ends in Success for
YubaNet.com – 12/15/07
By Susan Snider, YubaNet
With more than the required two-thirds vote, 82 percent of Cement Hill property owners recently elected overwhelmingly to approve the formation of a new Community Facilities District (CFD).
Following the close on December 11 of a special election to determine approval of the CFD, Nevada Irrigation District (NID) could proceed with a project that would bring treated water to residents within the CFD boundary on Cement Hill in
NID directors voted unanimously on December 12 to adopt the resolution (2007-39) that recognized the special election results and allowed for the project to move forward.
Funding for the project is made possible by a state low-interest loan. NID will also provide additional financing. The 240 parcels in the CFD will be taxed an annual assessment over a period of 20 years to pay off the California Department of Health Services loan.
Property owners will have the option of prepaying the CFD obligation in full without penalty or interest within 30 days from NID's adoption of resolution 2007-39.
Nancy Weber, director for the water district's division which includes the Cement Hill area, thanked NID General Manager Ron Nelson for spearheading the Department of Health Services loan. She also pointed to the efforts of Assistant General Manager Tim Crough, observing "I don't know how you've had time for anything else."
Director John Drew observed that the formation of the CFD and its pursuant project is a real milestone for both NID and residents of
At the same meeting, board members unanimously approved a contract with Hydroscience Engineers, Inc. for professional engineering, right-of-way issues, surveying, and construction management services for the Cement Hill CFD water supply project.
Other Water Line Projects Hang in the Balance
During the public comment period at Wednesday's NID board meeting, Rodeo Flat property owner Glen Fuller thanked the district's staff for their efforts to bring NID water to area residents.
Yet with 89 percent of local property owners in support of the proposed Rodeo Flat Benefit Assessment District (according to a recent survey), final approval rests with the Nevada County Board of Supervisors.
While a benefit assessment district requires only 50 percent plus one voter approval, there are questions whether Supervisor Sue Horne will cast her vote in favor of the project without a two-thirds approval vote from property owners within the proposed district.
Providing Water is Big Business
Trying to balance a proposed 2008 annual budget of $64 million is no mean feat. But NID Finance Manager Marie Owens certainly appeared capable of handling the task when she presented a comprehensive 2008-2010 final budget to NID's board on December 12 for approval.
Not surprisingly, water sales produce the majority of the district's revenues.
But in spite of strong projected water revenues in 2008, NID will need to borrow from its reserves to balance its budget. This is unless a water rate increase to be decided in early February 2008 provides some or all of the needed funds.
This caught the attention several of the board members at the meeting. Director Weber voiced concerns that "the more we borrow from reserves, the more we will have to raise rates."
Director Scott Miller echoed these concerns, observing since NID is still working on a cost of service study, there are no guarantees that there will not be a significant rate increase.
Owens pointed out that whatever loans are made out of district reserves to each division, these loans will not have any impact on rate decisions.
Ultimately, board members unanimously adopted the 2008-2010 budget.
Are Rate Increases Inevitable?
At the same time board members pondered NID's proposed 2008 budget, they also revisited discussions on a financial master plan, a cost of service study, and a 10-year capital improvement budget.
Owens warned that the current gap which exists between water sales revenues and expenditures should not increase. NID needs to make a critical assessment of its capital improvement reserves within the next 10 years.
NID's successful Community Investment Program, which provides financial support to property owners seeking district water, should be preserved and not used as a funding source for other issues, Owens added.
Board members were presented with proposals stemming from months of critical analysis by consultants hired to assess NID's current rate structure. While final decisions on a formal rate structure will not be made until early 2008, board members heard several key recommendations.
For its treated water customers, NID would consider a simpler two-tier rate structure. The district would implement smaller increases to its base rate and tie larger increases to actual water usage. Such a system would help to encourage conservation for those who tend to use more water above base levels.
However, at one point, discussion surrounded the idea of keeping the base rate at a level that would not create hardships for the elderly and those on fixed incomes.
Raw water users, according to the proposal, would also be subject to a similar two-part rate structure, where base rates and use rates would depend on how much water in miner's inches a customer buys.
Heated discussion surrounded the subject of raw water rates. Director Weber objected to the fact that NID subsidizes raw water users with taxes from people who can't get NID water.
"There is real value for agriculture in our community, but the problem I have is that huge water users get tax subsidies," Weber noted.
Paul Williams, director for the area which includes the city of
Director Miller added that NID helps farmers stay in business which in turn maintains the unique aspect of our county. He also suggested that if NID increases its rates, farmers will be forced to sell their land to developers.
So what does all of this mean?
NID faces real challenges in balancing its fiscal obligations as a profit-making business with the realities of consumer economics within its district.
More to follow in the coming months on how NID will reconcile these challenges into a formal rate schedule that is due to be finalized in early 2008.
Think Twice Before Moving Your NID Meter
If you are contemplating moving the location of your current NID water meter, you may want to reconsider your decision.
Board members this week not only approved an increase for the installation of its standard five-eighths meter, but also agreed to a new charge for "abandonment" of established meters.
NID Chief Engineer Gary King advised board members that NID should be compensated for those customers who want existing meters relocated to a new service location on their property.
The Board approved a new $300 charge for abandonment of existing meters.
King also advised the board that it has been several years since NID changed its meter installation charges. Currently, the water district charges $945 to install a five-eights meter.
This fee, according to King, is "out of touch" with the current cost of installation.
While Board members approved a new meter installation fee of $1300, Director Weber pointed out that this is a "pilot" price. That is, the district intends to track the actual costs of installation as a means of establishing a realistic, uniform price.
More NID Water to Head South?
In August, NID approved a planning phase agreement for a new water treatment plant that will supply water to the City of
Director Nancy Weber argued that NID should delay its vote before committing district water because
At Wednesday's board meeting, NID directors heard that
Director Drew raised the obvious question about whether the additional 6400 acres are located within NID's boundaries.
In response to Drew's query, General Manager Ron Nelson responded that he would "look into this."
Board Members Shift Titles
As of January 2008, NID Division V director George Leipzig will assume the title of board president. John Drew, Division II director, becomes the new vice-president.
NID Board meetings are normally scheduled at 9 a.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month and are open to the public. The last regularly scheduled meeting of the year 2007 has been cancelled.
http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_72899.shtml
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