Conservation efforts and exploring other options for maintaining
the county’s water supply are priorities for the Santa Clara Valley
Water District, according to agency directors who participated in a
three-hour study session Tuesday morning.
Conservation efforts and exploring other options for maintaining the county’s water supply are priorities for the Santa Clara Valley Water District, according to agency directors who participated in a three-hour study session Tuesday morning.
In June, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a drought for the state, based on two dry winters. That same month, Board Chairwoman Rosemary Kamei and directors asked the community for a voluntary 10 percent conservation, but asked district staff to create a mandatory conservation plan to be reviewed during its Aug. 26 meeting. The mandatory plan would only be implemented if necessary, they said.
The district, which employs about 750 people, supplies drinking water and flood protection to 1.8 million residents who live in Santa Clara County. Its $312 million annual budget comes from water bills and property taxes. The agency has been steeped in controversy recently as board members voted to raise water rates, and at the same time have kept their salaries the highest in the state. Former CEO Stan Williams resigned after then-board director Greg Zlotnick was hired for a $184,000-a-year job without advertising for the position or telling his colleagues. Interim CEO Olga Martin Steele is making more money than Williams, $252,000 per year.
Directors heard details Tuesday about the challenges the district faces in maintaining its water supply and increasing it to meet future demands. Climate change, a shrinking snow pack, restrictions on reservoirs and requirements for preserving and protecting certain species all are driving district efforts to find new options to provide the water needed in the district.
“Recycled water is probably the most promising thing we have today,” said Keith Whitman, water supply manager for the district, of the efforts to prepare for future demands on the water supply.
Director Patrick Kwok said public water conservation awareness is important. Immediately after the board called for a 10 percent voluntary conservation, he said, demand did decrease, but then the public seemed to forget.
“We are just preparing to kick off a year-long conservation campaign,” Meenakshi Ganjoo, public relations representative, told the board Tuesday.
Director Tony Estremera said he would like to see the district supplement that with visits to homeowner associations and other community organizations to let residents know how they can conserve. Whitman replied that the district does as much of that as possible, but would need more people to do more.
While conservation efforts are important, Whitman told the group the district is looking at many options for maintaining and increasing the water supply.
The possibility of recycling water is being explored, he said, as well as desalination and entering into agreements with other water districts, Whitman said.
Another challenge the district faces is maintaining its infrastructure. Whitman told directors the district has 10 reservoirs, three water treatment plants, 90 miles of streams, 90 recharge ponds, 18 miles of canals, five water supply diversions, three groundwater subbasins and 140 miles of pipeline.
As the district maintains its facilities, Kamei said, hopefully it is considering options for expanding its capacity.
“Are we maximizing our existing facilities?” she asked. “Before we consider agreements with other districts, we ought to look at our own existing facilities. Anything we can do that is in our own control, that makes more sense.”
