Water 10/13/2011. It s Fresh! Local water resources (Shelley) Integrated water plan (focus on desalination) (Melanie) Interesting water facts (Ron)

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1 Water Presentation Outline Local water resources (Shelley) Integrated water plan (focus on desalination) (Melanie) October 13, 2011 Interesting water facts (Ron) Shelley Flock Beyond the Faucet Education B.S. Environmental Biology Hazardous Materials Management Certificate (UCSC extension) Site Remediation Certificate classes (UCB extension) Jobs Lockheed, Philips Semiconductors, Seagate Air, wastewater, hazardous waste, stormwater & groundwater remediation Do You Know Where Your Water Comes From??? Home Work School It may not all come from the same place Soquel Creek Water District Water conservation Surface water It s Fresh! Groundwater It s 100% Local! No water is imported into the County City of Santa Cruz Water primarily comes from rainfall into local streams and reservoirs Small portion of the system is groundwater Soquel Creek Water District: Local groundwater is the only source No water from creeks or rivers 1

2 Santa Cruz County Water Source: 80% groundwater 20% surface water Total: about 86,000 acre-feet per year Mostly agricultural (about 60%) Residential use accounts for ~ 25% Santa Cruz County Water Purveyors San Lorenzo Valley Water District Scotts Valley Water District City of Santa Cruz Central Water District Soquel Creek Water District Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency City of Watsonville Mutuals Many private pumpers 86,000 Santa Cruz County Watersheds Pros & Cons of 100% Local Supply Pros: Don t have to rely on others 100% local control Cons: You re at the whim of Mother Nature Especially true for those reliant on surface water Santa Cruz County 31 inches of rain per year Getting Groundwater 16.5 is runoff 11.5 evaporates 2.5 into groundwater.5 surface water to be used Groundwater is in the spaces between sand and gravel 2

3 Overview Planning for Our Water Future: City of Santa Cruz & Soquel Creek Water District Cabrillo College October 13, 2011 Background information on City of Santa Cruz and Soquel Creek Water District Our Water Supply Problems Our Water Plans Progress & Updates to our Water Plans scwd 2 Desalination Program- Timeline Frequently Asked Questions Melanie Mow Schumacher scwd 2 is a collaboration between the Santa Cruz Water Dept. & Soquel Creek Water Dist. Demographics Santa Cruz Soquel Together we serve over 135,000 people Similar values and objectives Our different needs led us to a collaborative approach for sustainable water resources Our Primary Goals Regarding Water Supply: Safe Adequate Reliable Population served:~91,000 Employment: ~45,000 63% residential, 26% business, industry, UCSC Indoor use 75-80%, Outdoor use 20-25% Population served: ~38,000 Employment: not available 79% residential, 13% commercial, remainder is irrigation and other Indoor use 75%, Outdoor use 25% Our Water Supplies: 100% Local Supply- No water is imported Soquel Creek Water District: Local groundwater is the only source No water from creeks or rivers City of Santa Cruz Water primarily comes from rainfall into local streams and reservoirs Small portion of the system is groundwater 1. Shortage during drought conditions Water Supply Issues Approximately 40% shortfall if drought similar to occurs 2. Safe stream flow passage New regulatory requirements to protect endangered fish species (Habitat Conservation Plan) 3. Water rights Pending applications could affect reservoir operations and reduce water withdrawals 4. Water quality Groundwater basin is overdrafted 3

4 Water Supply Issues No Supplemental Supply? What could happen. 1. Groundwater Overdraft Sustainable yield could as much as 40% less than what was previously assumed 2. Seawater Intrusion Contamination by seawater into the freshwater aquifers will make the groundwater unusable 3. Water Quality New drinking water regulations for Cr 6 could impact 1/3 of our groundwater supply 4. Climate Change Potential for intense storms with greater runoff and less percolation into the aquifers, more frequent droughts, and rising sea levels Soquel Creek Water District Severe water rationing Contamination of our only water supply Damage can be irreversible Affects residents, businesses, tourism, etc. City of Santa Cruz (during drought conditions) Severe water rationing Extreme limits on outdoor use Recreation facilities (parks, pools) reduced or shut down Affects residents, businesses, tourism, etc. Our Water Plan: A multi-faceted approach Santa Cruz and Soquel Creek have active ongoing Conservation Programs to reduce water demand Partial List: Home water surveys Toilet rebates Clothes washer rebates Turf replacement Rainwater cisterns Plumbing fixture retrofit ordinances This Water Plan is a culmination of over 30 years of evaluation. Tiered rate structures Both agencies have been recognized for award-winning Conservation Programs Santa Cruz Residents use 50% less (residential, gallons per person per day) In a drought, 15% additional rationing and restrictions are needed For City, likely drought scenario (Stage 3) includes: 111 Water Use Comparison 56 Restricted residential water use (27%) Minor cutbacks to businesses (8-10%) Reduced large landscape water budgets (66% reduction) California (Average, 2005) Santa Cruz (2010) Our customers already do a great job conserving - With rationing, mandatory use restrictions would be in effect. 4

5 Conceptual 2.5 MGD Desalination Facility Why Desalination? Potential Facility: Located within the Industrial Area of SC Intake example Technology is safe and used worldwide to provide potable water One desalination facility would meet the needs for both agencies at a shared cost Diversifies our water portfolios The ocean is a viable supplement to surface and groundwater sources that are vulnerable to drought and seawater contamination A desalination facility is a flexible supply project. Can be responsive to growth, but not out ahead of growth. * Shared Use *Shared Costs Sharing 2.5 MGD of Desalinated Water Water Supply Planning: Engineering, Science and Policy Would use up to 2.5 million gallons per day (May-October) Operate during droughts, approx. 1 or 2 in 7 years Potentially use 3 in 10 years for HCP. May use ~1.5 million gallons per day (year round) (1) Operate to restore groundwater basin (could take 10+ years) then (2) at a lesser amount to sustain protective groundwater levels Overall scwd 2 Proposed Project Schedule and Timeline Frequently Asked Questions Pilot Plant Testing Additional Studies & Environmental Impact Report Design and Permitting What studies have been conducted? Does desalination use a lot of energy? How are the agencies addressing greenhouse gas emissions? What about a surface water transfer? (Schedule subject to change) Construction Are there successful desalination plants currently in operation? How much will the proposed project cost? 5

6 How to stay informed about the project These are back up slides to use during Q/A if needed Handouts are available at back table Updates sign up to receive monthly notices and project updates For more info contact: Desalination Program Coordinator at (831) Visit our website: Questions? What studies have been conducted? Numerous technical What studies are the preliminary are providing results? the data that substantiates that desalination is plausible Will the proposed desalination project use a lot of energy? Energy to operate desal plant is less than 20% of energy used for TVs in our service areas Concern Water Quality Marine Impacts with Intake Marine Impacts with Brine Discharge Energy and GHGs Study Pilot Plant Testing Open Ocean Effects (Entrainment and screen effectiveness) Brine Dilution Study Energy Minimization & GHG Reduction Plan Study Findings Technical studies will be used to fully inform the environmental impact report (EIR). Desal water is safe No endangered or threatened species found, entrainment impacts considered de minimus Can effectively blend treated wastewater and brine. Currently underway On a household basis, the additional energy for desal is equivalent to leaving a computer on for 1-3 hours a day. Household Energy Equivalents for Desalination How are the agencies addressing greenhouse gas emissions? 8 to 24 hours per day 1 to 3 loads per week A white paper on Energy Use related to Desalination is now available. 1 to 3 hours per day An Energy Minimization and GHG Reduction Plan is underway with a Technical Working Group to evaluate ways to reduce the carbon footprint, including net-carbon neutral. Desalination uses electricity so it indirectly causes GHG emissions in the same manner as homes and businesses The addtional indirect GHGs to operate the desal plant is equivalent to approx typical automobiles. 6

7 What about the surface water transfer project? SCWD and SqCWD support the County s continued evaluation of surface water transfers but project does not meet either agency s near-term needs. Passive wedgewire screens at an open ocean intake are designed to protect marine organisms Potential intake system under evaluation: Estimated ~340 afy available to SqCWD. This is less than 25% of the supplemental supply needed. SCWD is not guaranteed any water back from SqCWD or SV because both groundwater basins are overdrafted... not considered an alternative to developing a new reliable and flexible supplemental supply. - John Ricker, Water Resource Division Director Santa Cruz County Environmental Health Services Slot size of 2 mm Intake velocity < 0.33 fps Courtesy of: Alden Research Comparison of impacts related to the potential open-ocean intake system How much will the proposed project cost? Conceptual Project Costs Several components continue to be evaluated Costs will be shared equitably between the City and District Conceptual cost estimated at ~$115 million (includes 30% contingency) Monterey County commercial and recreational fishing: ~ 160,000 white croaker per year Screened openocean intake: equivalent of ~ 50 white croaker per year Intake Structure Alternative Energy Land Acquisition Concentrate Disposal Treatment Plant Storage & Delivery Pacific Fisheries Information Network and Tenera Desalination is a proven and successful technology 1950s - First major desalination plants built in the Middle East Evaluating ways to bring ocean water to facility and limit impacts First U.S. seawater desalination plant built in Freeport, Texas Sand City s RO units Open ocean intake Subsurface intake Currently over 15,000 desalination plants in operation worldwide 70% of U.S. desalination capacity uses reverse osmosis technology scwd 2 is evaluating two intake approaches in terms of engineering feasibility, cost, and affects to marine life/ocean floor Working with regulatory agencies and scientific community through Technical Working Groups Intake impacts will be evaluated in the EIR Process 7

8 Subsurface Infiltration Gallery would cover a surface area on the ocean floor equivalent to 4.5 football fields. Brine discharge can be safely handled: Mix brine with existing wastewater effluent Conceptual design will mix brine from proposed project with the existing wastewater effluent Brine Dilution Study ensures that brine can be effectively mixed with effluent so as to have no altering effect on the Bay. Utilize existing infrastructure Ron Duncan World Picture Education B.S. Geology M.S. Hydrology Jobs US Geological Survey Smithsonian Institution Consulting SC Harbor Soquel Creek Water District Population increase: tripled since 1940 Water use increase: tripled since 1940 Next fifty years: population grows 50 % Less available water, more people Water Shortages 3 years of Columns Picked the Best for You 8

9 Water Industry - Help Wanted Water Footprint Aging Workforce next 10 years 50% retire Sister to Carbon Footprint Less available people the rising Generation X (30 50 yrs) is 25% smaller than current workforce Growing industry growing and changing as technology advances, new water sources are developed, wastewater treatment technologies evolve, and regulations increase 654,000 gals avg. US citizen Footprint Only 5% (37,000 gals) from direct use 1 hamburger = 600 gallons 1 cotton T-shirt = 500 gallons 1 slice of bread = 10 gallons 1 beer = 20 gallons (can t use that as excuse anymore to save water) Rinse or Not to Rinse Do you need to rinse recyclables? Is it worth the water to rinse recyclables? Based on every kilowatt of energy you save 25 gallons of water. Aluminum can= 6 gallons Milk jug =10 gallons Glass bottle = ¼ gallon Who Doesn t Like a Swimming Hole San Lorenzo Valley alone has 150 miles of streams Where to go: Google Santa Cruz swimming holes ( directions to a few classic spots (Garden of Eden, Big Rock Hole, Huck Finn s Hollow) How Clean is the water: Depends, check County web site, many sites test and published on the web. (Top Secret Locations in Following Pictures) 9

10 Paper or Plastic? neither please Invented paper bag 1880s, 1970s exploded 130 bags/person/yr Bags recycled = plastic 3%, paper 12% Couples gals to produce bags Secret carry small bag with you Low Impact Development (LID) Changing our approach 180 degrees from pipe it off to slow it, spread it, sink it. EPA 70% of water pollution from stormwater runoff 50% of the runoff pollution from households Reduces pollution and helps recharge aquifers 10

11 It s Clear Graywater is Good New CA law allows graywater Need drives change Changing what we call waste water WaterSense Toilets Technology Evolution EnergyStar WaterSense Pre gallons per flush Country-wide approach Save 20% over traditional fixtures 3 rd party tested gallons per flush ish 1.6 gpf gpf (2010 invent 0.8 gpf, future no water?) 11

12 Hot-water Recirculation Systems Who likes to waste water? Who steps into a cold shower? Nifty device saves water (best type is the self activate type systems save energy too) Peanut Butter & Jelly Energy produces water, water makes E In CA 20% of energy use related to water USA - energy uses 39% of water 100 watt light blub for 10 hrs takes 25 gals 3 Rounds Who wins? Safety a draw (EPA vs. FDA) Environmental tap takes it (bottle 1/4 oil) Co$t bottle 1000 times more costly KNOCKOUT tap wins 12

13 Transboundary Water You will hear more about this 145 countries share rivers Sharing or war? Efforts locally to share Overdrafted groundwater basins 13

14 Water Quotes My fake plants died because I pretended not to water them. Mitch Hedberg When the water starts boiling it is foolish to turn it off. Nelson Mandela If you must speak ill of another, write it in the sand at the water s edge. Napoleon Hill Best Life/Work Lesson It s not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change. Charles Darwin Thank you 14