Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation for DWR personnel of significant news articles and comment
September 16, 2008
1. Top Item
Businesses facing less water
By Megan Bakker, staff writer
New businesses are feeling a pinch as the Imperial Irrigation District deals with a water supply-demand imbalance — namely that there isn’t any water for them.
While reviewing applications for new businesses, Andy Horne, county deputy CEO for natural resources development, said the county looks closely at whether it can provide enough water before approving new businesses.
But, under the IID’s proposed water regulation guidelines, businesses’ water usage will be determined based on past usage — something new businesses don’t have.
“It is a new kind of situation for everyone down here to deal with,” Horne said. “We’re going to have to learn how to deal with it.”
However, it’s still enough for the board to consider an equitable distribution program that would start Jan. 1.
Under the program, farms, businesses, cities and other water users would be allotted a set amount of water. Proposed regulations separate agricultural and non-agricultural water uses, creating different guidelines for the amount allotted and what to do about the over- and under-use of water. Under the plan, all of
IID board President John Pierre Menvielle said the board is working on an integrated water resource plan that will find new sources of water for new businesses, but that it won’t be completed until July. The plan would look to conservation efforts such as wastewater treatment or drain collection to create a water supply for new businesses.
In the meantime, though, some businesses have taken a second look at their plans. Brian Harms, general manager of Imperial Valley Operations for Ormat, which provides geothermal power, said they have had to enter into special negotiations with IID over a water contract for their new Brawley plant. Construction for the plant is scheduled to end later this fall.
“It’s been a challenging negotiation because of … competing interests for water,” Harms said. He said that he understood the IID faced challenges in balancing the Valley’s water needs.
But he said that they are debating whether to continue with phase two of the plant’s construction, which is still in the planning and designing phase. Harms said he hoped their offers to the IID will help them with future water agreements for phase two. He declined to elaborate, as the negotiations are ongoing.
Horne said that one of the problems with limiting development is that it also limits jobs in the Valley. Several renewable energy projects, which would bring jobs along with greener power to the Valley, use water as part of their processes. For example, solar thermal facilities use steam turbines that need water power.
Cathy Kennerson, CEO of El Centro’s Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau, said the proposed water regulations “create a whole new set of rules” for businesses.
According to the IID’s Web site, after businesses are allotted their water, they are discouraged from using more than their share and will be fined if they do.
By contrast, agricultural water users have a variety of proposed trading and re-apportionment programs, including buying or selling unused water with the IID, and a possible supply of last resort that they can dip into if they go over their allotment.
“We want to make sure there is water available to industries,” Kennerson said.
The IID board will hold a workshop Oct. 6 where the proposed regulations will be presented in further detail, and these kinds of concerns can be addressed before final approval.
IID Water Manager Michael King said the issue may change depending on how much rain the
King said 1 inch of rain, spread out over a couple of days to give it time to soak into the ground, could reduce the imbalance by 40,000 to 60,000 acre-feet. This means that another wet winter could erase the imbalance this year.
However, King said, the IID board plans to continue as if equitable distribution will be needed.#
http://www.ivpressonline.com/articles/2008/09/16/local_news/news03.txt
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