A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment
February 19, 2008
2. Supply
WATER USE AGREEMENT:
Water accord awaits approval - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Higher water rates possible; Rate increases would apply to agencies exceeding their allocation - Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Big water-rate hike on the way; Price of water from Metropolitan district jumping again -
GROUNDWATER ISSUES:
Water district says
WATER RECYCLING:
Recycled-water line approved for resort golf course - Riverside Press
Riverside utilities board sends water-recycling proposal to City Council - Riverside Press
WATER CONSERVATION ISSUES:
Water board puts kink in program hose - Antelope Valley Press
THIRD SNOW SURVEY OF 2008 SCHEDULED:
DWR Schedules Third Snow Survey of 2008 Season - News Release, Department of Water Resources
WATER USE AGREEMENT:
Water accord awaits approval
By Andrew Edwards, staff writer
Local water agencies have entered into an agreement that would help them use
The agreement, signed on Feb. 6, includes the San Bernardino Valley Municipal and Western Municipal water districts, as well as the San Bernardino Valley Water Conservation District, which is responsible for recharging groundwater.
The outcome, officials said, could be a more stable water supply for the
"Every drop we can save is a drop we don't have to import from somewhere else," San Bernardino Valley Municipal general manager Randy Van Gelder said.
The water providers have asked the state for the right to draw a large amount of water from the
Conservation District general manager Marvin Shaw said that if the water rights are granted, the providers could use water that would be diverted from the
"We look at it as a bank, if you will," Shaw said. "This shores up the water supply."
San Bernardino Valley Municipal and Western Municipal - which serves western
State water deliveries were significantly curtailed this winter following a federal court ruling that mandated a reduction in the amount of water pumped from the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta to protect the delta smelt.
Van Gelder and Western Municipal general manager John Rossi both said the water would likely flow south to the Pacific Ocean if not used by their districts.
Rossi offered that water providers' ability to augment their supplies with
The districts have asked for the right to use as much as 200,000 acre-feet of
State Water Resources Control Board spokeswoman Kathie Smith said a decision on the water providers' applications for water rights could be made by the end of June.
A public hearing was held last May in
The water providers responded in a legal filing at the close of the hearing that using
http://www.dailybulletin.com/search/ci_8291030?IADID=Search-www.dailybulletin.com-www.dailybulletin.com
Higher water rates possible; Rate increases would apply to agencies exceeding their allocation
By Lauren McSherry, staff writer
A ruling by a federal judge that cut by two-thirds the amount of water flowing from the Sacramento-San Joaquin delta to Southern California - combined with a lingering drought - has set off a chain reaction which could result in higher water rates in parts of
Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, a regional water supplier based in Los Angeles, adopted a plan Tuesday which would penalize client water agencies exceeding their allocation, a cost that could be passed on to ratepayers.
One of Metropolitan's 26 clients is the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA), which relies on Metropolitan for roughly one-third of its water supply.
The agency serves 800,000 customers in seven cities -
"The first thing to understand is they're going to apply very significant rate increases and penalties if we use water above what we're allocated," said Wyatt Troxel, IEUA board president.
Troxel estimated water rates could increase 3-5 percent in the short-term and predicted that cities experiencing rapid population growth could be hit hardest.
Programs to provide recycled water to municipalities should decrease the demand for imported water in the long-term, he said.
Fontana Water Co., which will begin processing IEUA water this summer, does not expect its rates to be affected by the recently adopted plan, said Assistant General Manager Robert Young.
Fontana Water is a unit of San Gabriel Valley Water Co.
Penalties could be imposed as early as July, although it is unlikely that allocations will be exceeded so quickly following this winter's rains, said Jeff Kightlinger, Metropolitan's general manager.
In addition, Metropolitan will consider adopting a general rate increase in March, Kightlinger said. #
Big water-rate hike on the way; Price of water from Metropolitan district jumping again
By Gig Conaughton, staff writer
Board members of the Los Angeles-based Metropolitan Water District are expected to approve what amounts to a 14.3 percent increase for its water in March, officials said.
If approved, the increase means that the typical household could pay about $1.50 more a month, said Bob Muir, spokesman for the Metropolitan Water District. It would take effect Jan. 1, 2009.
Metropolitan is the region's main water provider, selling water to nearly 18 million Southern Californians in six counties -- including
Brian Thomas, Metropolitan's chief financial officer, said the cost of supplying Southern Californians with water was going up, and would continue to go up for the next several years, for several reasons, including:
- Rising electrical costs: The price of the power needed to pump water from Northern California over the Tehachipi mountains and to
- Fish: In August, a federal court issued a ruling to protect
- Mussels: Last year,
Water officials in
Just a year ago, Metropolitan board members approved a 5.8 percent rate increase, which was the agency's largest rate increase in more than a decade.
"It's very troubling," said Randy Record, a board member with Eastern Municipal Water District, which serves customers in parts of
Thomas said the proposed increase was actually 9.8 percent, plus a $25 per acre-foot surcharge, which penciled out to the 14.3 percent hike. An acre-foot of water is 325,900 gallons, enough to sustain two households for an entire year.
Jim Bond, an Encinitas councilman and longtime San Diego County Water Authority board member, said many people might not notice the increase.
That is because water is cheaper than other utilities, such as electricity, and because Metropolitan's wholesale rates make up only a portion of
However, the Metropolitan increase could eventually prompt the agencies that buy its water, such as the Water Authority, and, in turn, local retail agencies to increase their own rates.
"But when you think that an average family uses half an acre-foot of water a year," Bond said, "that $25 per acre-foot is not an egregious amount."
However, Bond, Record and Metropolitan officials said they expect rates to continue to increase.
Metropolitan officials said they expect a cumulative 25 percent to 30 percent increase by 2011. #
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/02/19/news/top_stories/1_01_502_18_08.txt
GROUNDWATER ISSUES:
Water district says
Desert Sun – 2/16/08
By Keith Matheny, staff writer
Coachella Valley Water District and
The water district has filed a second lawsuit against the city, asking a judge to force city officials to pay the district a fee that enables the agency to bring in water from outside the valley to help replenish groundwater.
Studies have shown groundwater overuse is causing subsidence, the literal sinking of the valley, which if left unchecked could cause millions in infrastructure damage to buildings, pipelines and roads.
District general manager Steve Robbins said the fee is charged to all groundwater users who take more than 25 acre-feet of water a year, including farmers, industries and cities.
One acre-foot equals about 327,000 gallons of water, or the amount of water a typical
The district's recharging fee in the east valley is $7.70 per acre-foot. With Indio Water Authority drawing about 24,000 acre-feet of water from the aquifer each year, the fee has meant about a $185,000 annual cost to the city, Robbins said.
But
According to Robbins,
"We believe we were paying a fee we were not getting any benefit from," City Manager Glenn Southard said. "We don't think they are doing any groundwater recharge that benefits the
District water officials dispute that assertion. Replenishing the underground aquifer is essential, they said. The valley's growth has meant the district for years has used about 120,000 acre-feet of water more per year than is returning to the ground.
"It's hard to understand why (
The water district earlier filed suit against the city over its approval of a large project planned north of Interstate 10 called Citrus Ranch.
The project, on about 1,200 acres at the corner of Dillon and
District officials claim the city failed to take steps to limit further aquifer overuse, or adequately consider potential environmental impacts.
City officials have denied the claim, asserting they were in compliance with environmental and other laws.
Southard noted that the cities of Indian Wells, La Quinta and
"It's not fair to say to
In a response to the district's Citrus Ranch lawsuit, the city through its attorneys stated the litigation stems from the district's "frustration that neither its money nor its purported authority afford it absolute control over the Indio Water Authority and city of
The city's lawsuit response further asserts the water district "has neither jurisdiction nor authority to levy" fees against the city.
The suit reveals a water district operating principle "that if a party wants to develop land in the Coachella Valley, it must pay CVWD whatever it demands," the city's lawsuit response states.
Robbins said the district is ready to work with
"We'd love to see this resolved sitting around a table rather than in a courtroom," he said. #
http://www.mydesert.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008802160319
WATER RECYCLING:
Recycled-water line approved for resort golf course
Riverside Press
By Jeff Horseman, staff writer
TEMECULA - An agreement to run a recycled-water line serving the Pechanga Resort & Casino golf course won approval from the Rancho California Water District board Thursday, despite concerns over potentially higher salt content in drinking water.
Also Thursday, a representative of
The district Board of Directors voted 6-1 to approve an agreement allowing the Eastern Municipal Water District of Perris to pump recycled water through Rancho California Water District pipes to the Pechanga water line, which will irrigate the 18-hole Journeys at Pechanga course slated to open this summer.
"Today's approval is another step forward in Pechanga's efforts to conserve water resources in a prudent and appropriate manner," Tribal Chairman Mark Macarro said in a statement.
Rancho California Water District will be paid $71.50 per acre-foot of water pumped by Eastern Municipal, with about 1,000 acre-feet to be delivered per year. An acre-foot is the amount of water used by a family of four in two years.
Some board members were worried the recycled water would add salt to groundwater in a nearby basin that is already experiencing elevated salt levels.
Excess salt comes from a variety of sources, including agricultural runoff and imported water. Salty water can corrode pipes and leave drinkers thirstier.
In the end, the board voted to approve the water delivery, but added language calling for a regional plan to address the salt issue within two years. The agreement also calls for a regional brine line, which would extract salt from the water for disposal.
"As consumers of water from the
Board member John Hoagland cast the only dissenting vote.
The board unanimously approved a "mitigated negative declaration" for the wastewater-plant expansion in Murrieta.
The expansion will increase the plant's wastewater treatment capacity from 5 to 7 million gallons a day.
Under state law, the declaration means the district will not have to undertake a more rigorous environmental analysis of the project.
Marine Capt. Mike Rod objected to the declaration, saying a thorough study is needed to determine the expansion's effect on water quality and supply in the Santa Margarita watershed. The Santa Margarita River is the primary drinking water source for
In a staff report, district officials said a consultant's study found no need for a more extensive environmental impact report. #
http://www.pe.com/localnews/inland/stories/PE_News_Local_S_swater15.421ba42.html
Riverside utilities board sends water-recycling proposal to City Council
Riverside Press
By Jennifer Bowles, staff writer
Without the city of Riverside embarking on a multimillion-dollar plan to treat its wastewater and use it to irrigate parks, schools grounds and other outdoor landscaping, its residents would eventually have to rely more heavily on imported supplies and pay steeper prices for it, the city's top utilities director said Friday.
David Wright, general manager of the Riverside Public Utilities, made his plea for a new water recycling project before the utilities' board. The board voted 7-0 to approve the concept and to allow six months to devise a plan.
It now goes to the City Council for consideration, likely in a month, Wright said.
"As demand grows, our resources are tapped out," he told the board. "Any new increased demand that we get from customers is going to have to be satisfied with purchased water if we did nothing else."
The recycling project, which would cost $60 million to $100 million, could help meet those new demands, Wright said. The city also may be able to sell any leftover water to Western Municipal Water District, which serves a large area from
Tom Evans, a member of Western's board, said what now costs the city $600 to import could cost as much as $1,000 in the near future for a unit of water that serves an average family for two years.
Wright said the recycling project could be eligible for state water bond funding. The remainder of the cost could be paid through monthly water rate hikes of $3 to $4, but that may not need to happen, he added, explaining the project is still in its very early stages.
Sue Sims, chief deputy director of the California Department of Water Resources, said in a telephone interview that a project like the one proposed by Riverside Public Utilities could be eligible for funding through Prop. 84, a $5.4 billion measure that voters passed in 2006.
"Certainly there is this big pot of money there to do that kind of thing -- to make a region more self-efficient and less dependent on imported water," she said. #
http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_R_recycle16.3f7578f.html
WATER CONSERVATION ISSUES:
Water board puts kink in program hose
By Alisha Semchuck, staff writer
PALMDALE - A proposed $82,000 pilot program that would test water conservation measures in 2,500 homes has been put on hold temporarily by Palmdale Water District directors.
District board members wanted more details than they heard at a Wednesday night meeting.
They wanted to know exactly what spending $82,000 on a test program would get them, so they decided that Brian Barklage, president of TurfTech Industries in
If the board agrees, TurfTech would test its software in Palmdale to prove the product can help area consumers reduce their water use.
"It's a software program we developed," Barklage said. "We had success with cities we worked with in the past.
"I'm currently under contract with Rolling Hills Estates," he said during a telephone interview Friday.
"We just started tracking their usage. After the first billing period, we reduced their water usage 65.87%. The first month we saved them 1,005 cubic feet." (A cubic foot equals 748 gallons.)
"Normally, cities will show a pretty significant savings once they get on board," Barklage added.
TurfTech would assess each participant's landscaping and irrigation systems and, through the company's software program, collect data on water use efficiency.
Once a month, the company would send an e-mail to homeowners at the test sites, with a copy to their gardeners, advising them on "how to adjust their (irrigation system) controllers," Barklage said.
"I thought we were clear we wanted a complete plan," Director Raul Figueroa said.
"We talked about it at budget. What about people who don't have e-mail, don't have computers? Are they excluded?"
"When I saw an article on the water situation here, we were looking to put a program together," Barklage said.
"Part of the program is education," he said.
"I can tell homeowners, 'It just rained. Shut down your irrigation systems.' "
Then, using the software and inputting weather conditions and other factors, he said he "can calculate exactly what day (homeowners) need to turn their irrigation systems back on."
Barklage said the test sites would be homes with high water use.
"What constitutes high use?" Figueroa asked.
"We want motivated people," Barklage responded.
Though Barklage didn't define "high water use," Palmdale district water conservation manager Claudette Roberts said during a telephone interview Friday that means "probably people who use 50 or more units a month."
Roberts said the purpose of testing the pilot program is to determine how well it works in this desert area "so we could see how much water we saved."
Efficiency for most irrigation systems runs at roughly 40% or 50%, she said. "We would like to get it up to 70%."
Figueroa said he would like to be able to inform ratepayers on the breakdown of the $82,000, where the money goes.
"My fee is not to exceed $62,000," Barklage said.
The remaining $20,000 is to pay for marketing materials and training people to work with the program, Roberts said.
"This is actually inexpensive. We're getting a lot for the money. It's going to cost (Barklage) more than what we're paying to do these audits," Roberts said.
Barklage estimated that getting the program operation for 2,500 homes would take between three and six months and that he would need to pay a computer program operator and possibly some other help.
He calculated the cost at $25 per home for houses with five irrigation stations.
Figueroa emphasized that he felt he needed more information before he could vote.
"I've got to take a certain amount of responsibility for not having all the information," said Bob Toone, the district's interim general manager.
"I agree with Mr. Figueroa. I understand your frustration. I would like to continue this to the next meeting."
The board agreed. #
http://www.avpress.com/n/16/0216_s11.hts
THIRD SNOW SURVEY OF 2008 SCHEDULED:
DWR Schedules Third Snow Survey of 2008 Season
News Release, Department of Water Resources – 2/19/08
Contacts: Elissa Lynn, Senior Meteorologist, (916) 574-2221; Don Strickland, Information Officer, (916) 653-9515; Ted Thomas, Information Officer, (916) 653-9712; Frank Gehrke, Snow Surveys Office (916) 574-2635; (916 952-4044 on-site number on survey day)
Historic Phillips Station, Highway 50 and
Parking is permitted only along Highway 50…not along
Complete snow course measurements should be available by noon.
Monthly measurements are made through April to help determine spring runoff into reservoirs.
In addition to this single manually measured site, reporters can find real-time readings of statewide water content posted on the Internet at http://cdec.water.ca.gov/cgi-progs/snow/DLYSWEQ.
Importance of Snow Surveying
Snow-water content is important in determining the coming year's water supply. The measurements help hydrologists prepare water supply forecasts as well as provide others, such as hydroelectric power companies and the recreation industry, with much needed data.
Monitoring is coordinated by the Department of Water Resources as part of the multi-agency California Cooperative Snow Surveys Program. Surveyors from more than 50 agencies and utilities visit hundreds of snow measurement courses each month to gauge the amount of water in the State’s snowpack.
The Department of Water Resources operates and maintains the State Water Project, provides dam safety and flood control and inspection services, assists local water districts in water management and water conservation planning, and plans for future statewide water needs.
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