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HomeMy WebLinkAboutORANGE COUNTY WATER DISTRICT - OCWD - YEAR 2020 MASTER PLANof w' 1006,90 MEMORANDUM To: Ray Silver, City Administrator From: Robert F. Beardsley, Director of Public Work Date: October 5, 1998 RECEIVED FROM b/W AND MADE A PART OF THE R � Op ATkTHE COUNCIL MEETING OF OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK CONNIEE BR/OC/K],W,/AY, CITY CLERK Subject: Orange County Water District Year 2020 Master Plan For several months, the Orange County Water District (OCWD) has been preparing an updated master plan to guide the water supply policies which will serve our water basin over the next 20+ years. Unresolved Master Plan Issues What is anticipated to be the final meeting of the OCWD Ad Hoc Committee, comprised of member agencies' elected officials and water staff, is scheduled for October 16, 1998. The Committee, at that time, may decide to recommend adoption of the 2020 Master Plan. The cities of Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley, however, have collaborated to emphasize to OCWD that several, fundamental policy issues need more deliberation before the Master Plan is adopted. These are: • How will a differentiation be made between (1) annexations to the groundwater basin by long-term (existing) groundwater producers and (2) annexations by new producers who are not already in the groundwater basin? The concern is that new producers will not have paid their fair share toward the cost of the existing, regional infrastructure. • How will the ongoing costs between existing and newly -annexed groundwater producers be allocated for the purchase of additional water ("two-tier" ` pricing)? • How do the various upstream demands on the groundwater system affect the inland agencies as compared to the downstream coastal agencies? These demands affect groundwater quantity, quality and the benefits of recharge. • What effects do groundwater overdrafting policies have on water quality, particularly to the coastal agencies which are more vulnerable to brackish water intrusion? Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley will be formally requesting that additional time be given to provide a more thorough discussion of these legal and policy issues before a satisfactory resolution can be reached. G� Memorandum to Ray Silver Orange County Water District Year 2020 Master Plan October 5, 1998 Page 2 Major Concerns to Address in the Master Plan On July 6, 1998, staff prepared a letter to OCWD (attached), enumerating several critical issues raised by Councilman Ralph Bauer. The underlying intent of each of the points articulated in that letter was the need to raise the public's level of awareness toward water conservation. The following are some key facts: • Since the existing agencies are already required to purchase 25 percent of their water from MWD, it is clear that the groundwater basin does not have an infinite capacity to serve all users. • Water conservation efforts are essential to maintain water availability for all users. • Excessive demands on the groundwater basin will result in water quality degradation and, thus, less availability of acceptable quality supplies. • To the extent that we no longer can rely on the groundwater basin for our supplies, we are now relying on MWD, which, itself, may become undependable. • MWD water is dramatically more costly than, our groundwater. cc: Ray Silver, City Administrator Mayor and City Councilmembers Jeff Renna, Water Operations Manager Attachment Oct-05-98 04:55P P.OZ is C.tTY 0 F 2 0 0 a July 6, 1998 CgJV�0 HUNTINGT4RCCIi Main Street Mr, William R. Mills, Jr. Orange County Water District 10500 Ellis Avenue Fountain Valley, CA 92728-9300 Dear Mr. Mills, P.0•aax t 90 California 092846 Public Works Department - (714) 535-5431 Thank you for your presentation at the June 26, 1998, meeting of the Ad Hoc Advisory Group and the opportunity to learn more about the Master Plan currently being developed by the Orange County Water District. On behalf of the City of Huntington Beach, Councilmembers Ralph Bauer and Tom Harman have reviewed the information presented. The following list of issues should be considered in the plan: • Saltwater conversion: A benchmark for any such study should be the cost of saltwater conversion, both seawater and brackish water. As we all know, the water supply from these sources together is unlimited, but the cost of the water is high. However, this cost helps put the overall cost of water in perspective and helps the public in understanding the financial issues involved in finding long term solutions to our water supply concerns. Information about the capital required, site location and monitoring of new technology on saltwater conversion should be included. • Discussion of the District's future finances should clearly define the different components that determine the replenishment assessment. The cost of operations, maintenance, depreciation and replacement of capital assets should be examined separately from and as thoroughly as the cost of capital projects. A separate chapter with this information and discussion should be included so that the issues may be properly highlighted. A schedule of anticipated Replenishment Assessment rates that include these factors should be a main product of this chapter. as well as explanation, discussion, and recommendations on the District's reserves. • Maximize recapture of all Santa Ana River water. • Maximi.ze recapture of all rainwater falling on Orange County, including diversion of flood control channels in order to replenish the aquifer. Maximization of the Green Acres Project. • Consider the feasibility and cost of recovering all waste water. 1 -A Oct-05-98 04:55P P_03 • Encourage ongoing education and conservation by agencies and individual citizens. • Encourage ordinances that require all. toilets to be converted to low flush. • Consider providing financial rewards as incentives to agencies that reduce their water use per capita. • Provide more aggressive methods for containing saltwaterr intrusion into the groundwater basin. • Increase storage capacity, through dams, catch basins or reservoirs to capture more water during times of plenty. • Consider the treatment and cost of unpotable or colored groundwater for use by the public. • Educate the public on the costs. Emphasize to the public early and often that they must participate financially to solve their water problems and meet their long-term water needs. Frequent presentations to cities and city -based organizations need to be made. 9 Think beyond what we call "long-term." It must be realized that solutions to water problems must be ongoing rather than just to the year 2020. Due to the attractiveness of Orange County as a place to live, water availability is a "forever" problem. The list of issues above is certainly not meant to be all inclusive. In closing, the importance and significance of the OCWD Master Plan can be understated. Huntington Beach looks forward to being involved in this most important process. Sincerely yours, 4-- Manager cc: Mayor and City Council Ray Silver, City Administrator Robert F. Beardsley, Director of Public Works Wes Bannister, OCWD Board Member representing Huntington Beach