A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
February 15, 2008
2. Supply
WATER RECYCLING:
Water agreement settled with Pechanga;
WATER CONSERVATION:
San Diego County grand jury urges water conservation - Associated Press
WATER RECYCLING:
Water agreement settled with Pechanga;
TEMECULA ---- Salt was making things sticky with a recycled waterline agreement that has been batted around by the Rancho California Water District Board of Directors since August.
Yet, despite concern about increased salt concentrations in the
The 20-year contract promises to deliver approximately 1,000 acre-feet of water ---- 325 million gallons ---- per year to the 18-hole golf course, which is scheduled to open this summer.
The vote was made after an amendment was included to address concerns about rising salinity in the
"The issue of reclaimed water on a golf course is a prudent use and saves our ground water," said water board member Larry Libeu. "With or without a project, ground water is going to get salty. Within the next one to two years, we need a regional plan to look at balancing the salt. As long as we continue to use ground water, we're going to face this."
While expanding the use of recycled water for landscaping is a high priority for the water district ---- it frees up more potable water for drinking, cooking and washing ---- board members previously had concerns that the recycled water used on the golf course would seep into the ground water basin and increase brine levels in the drinking water reserve.
Pechanga Tribal Chairman Mark Macarro echoed those concerns in a written statement issued Thursday, stating that the tribe is committed to working with water districts to find a regional solution to the rising salinity of the
"Today's approval is another step forward in Pechanga's efforts to conserve water resources in a prudent and appropriate manner," Macarro wrote. "This agreement demonstrates our commitment to work cooperatively with other water rights holders in the basin to manage the valley's water resources."
Recycled water is water that has already been used by a consumer and has returned for treatment. It goes through a mechanical process of screens, settling tanks and skimmers that remove 70 percent of suspended solids. Then, a biological treatment is administered. The entire process, called primary treatment, removes 85 percent to 90 percent of suspended solids and other impurities. The recycled water is sold to agricultural and large landscaping customers.
A separate recycled water supply agreement between Eastern Municipal Water District and Pechanga has already been approved. Eastern does not have the facilities capable of delivering recycled water to the reservation. But Rancho
Pechanga would be charged a rate of $246 per acre-foot of water by Eastern, according to John O'Donnell, assistant general manager of engineering and operations for the Rancho California district.
An acre-foot of water is 325,851 gallons, enough to cover a football field with one foot of water.
The Pechanga are paying and constructing the reclaimed water pipe, which will run along
The Rancho California district and Eastern will own the water main once it is completed. #
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/02/15/news/californian/21_45_712_14_08.txt
WATER CONSERVATION:
Associated Press – 2/15/08
A county grand jury report says the city of
Wednesday's report recommends increasing water rates to dampen consumption, controlling population growth, bolstering enforcement of water-use laws and replacing voluntary water restrictions with mandatory ones.
"The citizens of
For months, city officials have said conservation mandates are confusing and unnecessary.
The grand jury also urged
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