News Release
San Diego County Water Authority
News Release: June 1, 2007 |
Contact:
John Liarakos
Office (858) 522-6703
Mobile (858) 761-2544 |
or
Craig Balben
Office (858) 522-6726
Mobile (858) 361-4596 |
Water Authority Urges Increased Conservation in Response to Temporary
State Water Project Shutdown
Shutdown highlights need for long-term Delta fix
The San Diego County Water Authority does not expect the seven- to 10-day temporary shutdown of a key State Water Project pumping plant announced Thursday to have any immediate impacts on water supply deliveries to its member agencies. However, the long-term ramifications of this shutdown on water supplies are potentially more serious, and the Water Authority is calling upon residents and businesses to increase their conservation efforts.
The Department of Water Resources shut down the Harvey O. Banks Pumping Plant near Stockton Thursday as an emergency measure to protect Delta smelt, an endangered fish species whose numbers are in steep decline. The plant is the main facility for pumping water from the Bay-Delta region in northern California to most of central and Southern California.
DWR officials expect the shutdown to last seven to 10 days. They will monitor the situation daily, but said the pumps will be shut down until warmer water prompts the smelt to move away from the facility and out of danger.
Southern California water agencies can draw upon water stored in reservoirs south of the Banks plant to sustain water deliveries during a short-term shutdown of the pumps.
“The State Water Project faces actions in federal and state courts,” said Water Authority General Manager Maureen Stapleton. “We don’t know what the courts may order or what the impacts of their orders will be on our supplies from the Bay-Delta.”
Because of the historic drought on the Colorado River, water imported from the Bay-Delta has increased over the last five years and now accounts for about two-thirds of Southern California’s water supply. Last year, 41 percent of all water used in San Diego County was imported from the Bay-Delta.
“We’ll work closely with our member agencies, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, and the Department of Water Resources to identify actions that will lessen the potential impacts of this and any future shutdown or export reductions,” Stapleton said.
The State Water Project shutdown and related litigation add another layer of complexity to a water supply outlook already made challenging by historic dry-year conditions in California and the West. These conditions have affected all of San Diego’s primary water supply sources, and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California already was withdrawing water from storage to meet demand this year.
“We are calling on all water users – residents, businesses, public agencies and agriculture – to renew their commitment to water conservation and find ways to increase water savings,” Stapleton said. “It is now more important than ever that we reduce water demands so that we will have more water available next year if dry conditions persist.”
The Water Authority has already taken action to prepare for another potentially dry year in 2008. Over the past month, the Water Authority activated its Drought Management Plan, which outlines the steps needed to prepare for a potential multi-year drought, including a call for increased water conservation by the public.
While a significant reduction in deliveries from the State Water Project could have serious impacts on San Diego County’s water supplies over the next couple of years, Water Authority efforts to diversify water supplies are leading to increased long-term water supply reliability. For example, this year the Water Authority’s water transfer with the Imperial Irrigation District and supplies from the Coachella Canal lining project will provide 71,500 acre-feet of water. By 2011, the water transfer and canal lining projects will provide nearly 158,000 acre-feet of water. By 2021, they will provide 277,700 acre-feet annually. (An acre-foot is enough water to supply two families of four for a year.)
In addition, Water Authority member agencies are making significant investments in developing new local water supplies. Groundwater production is projected to triple from 14,956 acre-feet in 2006 to 52,600 acre-feet in 2020. Similarly, recycled water usage is expected to triple from 14,828 acre-feet in 2006 to 52,300 acre-feet in 2020. An additional 56,000 acre-feet per year from seawater desalination will be available by 2011. The Water Authority and its member agencies also plan to increase annual water savings from conservation from 51,000 acre-feet in 2006 to 94,000 acre-feet in 2020.
Visit www.sdcwa.org for conservation tips.
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The San Diego County Water Authority is a public agency serving the San Diego region as a wholesale supplier of water from the Colorado River and Northern California. The Water Authority works through its 24 member agencies to provide a safe, reliable water supply to support the region’s $150 billion economy and the quality of life of 3 million residents.
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