City of Santa Cruz WaterCity of Santa Cruz Water

System OverviewSystem Overview

Water Service Area Characteristics

Area served: entire City, parts of Santa Cruz County, City of Capitola

Population served: 90,000

Number of housing units: 34,000

Employment base: 45,000 jobs

San Lorenzo San Lorenzo RiverRiver

Tait Tait StreetStreet WellsWells

LiddeLiddellll

SprinSpringg

Tait Street Tait Street DiversionDiversion

North North Coast Coast

DiversionsDiversions

Felton Felton DiversionDiversion

1

Newell CreekNewell Creek

Loch Lomond ReservoirLoch Lomond Reservoir

Laguna/Laguna/RiggiardoRiggiardo

MajorsMajorsBeltzBeltzWellsWells

Sources of SupplySources of Supply

The Good…The Good…

The water quality in the City’s sources is The water quality in the City’s sources is excellentexcellent

The number of sources are very diverse, The number of sources are very diverse, allowing flexibility in operationsallowing flexibility in operations

In most years, there is good rainfall and In most years, there is good rainfall and adequate supply to meet full system adequate supply to meet full system demandsdemands

The Bad…The Bad…

The City of Santa Cruz is vulnerable to The City of Santa Cruz is vulnerable to water shortages in times of droughtwater shortages in times of drought

…….and the ugly.and the ugly

Under present conditions, the worst case Under present conditions, the worst case water shortage (assuming repeat of 1976-water shortage (assuming repeat of 1976-77 hydrologic conditions) is on the order of 77 hydrologic conditions) is on the order of 40%40%

By 2020, if nothing is done to balance By 2020, if nothing is done to balance supply and demand, the supply deficit is supply and demand, the supply deficit is expected to be over 50%expected to be over 50%

Comparison of Comparison of Water Supply and Demand Water Supply and Demand

(million gallons per year)(million gallons per year)

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

Demand Average YearSupply

Critically DryYear Supply

(1977)

The why…The why…

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

300000

1921

1923

1925

1927

1929

1931

1933

1935

1937

1939

1941

1943

1945

1947

1949

1951

1953

1955

1957

1959

1961

1963

1965

1967

1969

1971

1973

1975

1977

1979

1981

1983

1985

1987

1989

1991

1993

1995

1997

1999

2001

Water Year

An

nu

al R

un

off

(AF

)

Wet Normal Dry Critically Dry

Average Runoff:93,000 AF

To deal with it…To deal with it…

Implement additional conservation Implement additional conservation programs to stretch existing suppliesprograms to stretch existing supplies

Prepare to ration use in drought times, but Prepare to ration use in drought times, but at a reasonable level that will be decided at a reasonable level that will be decided at a policy (Council) levelat a policy (Council) level

Augment supply modestly to make up the Augment supply modestly to make up the difference after deducting conservation difference after deducting conservation and rationingand rationing

Non-Residential Conservation Programs

Commercial ULF Toilet Rebate Commercial Water Audits Large Landscape Water Audits

Residential Commercial Golf Course

Parks Review and Irrigation Upgrade

Residential Conservation Programs

Conservation kit distribution ULF toilet rebate High efficiency clothes washer rebate Plumbing fixture retrofit ordinance Water audits for top users Submeters for multifamily units New construction ordinance

Goals of Curtailment Effort

Identify actions customers would take if required to cut back by specified amount

Describe the types of impacts and degree of hardship imposed :

- economic

- inconvenience

- health and safety

Use Curtailment ObjectiveUse Curtailment Objective

Consensus that the maximum level of curtailment in the future should not exceed 25%

Eleven supply options identified for Eleven supply options identified for evaluation:evaluation:

• Brackish groundwater at Brackish groundwater at mouth of San Lorenzo Rivermouth of San Lorenzo River

• Fresh groundwater from San Fresh groundwater from San Lorenzo river alluvial plainLorenzo river alluvial plain

• Maximized use of existing Maximized use of existing sources and storagesources and storage

• Groundwater recharge/Groundwater recharge/ extraction near Wilder Ranchextraction near Wilder Ranch• Seawater desalinationSeawater desalination• Conjunctive use with Soquel Conjunctive use with Soquel

Creek Water DistrictCreek Water District

• Groundwater from Purisima Groundwater from Purisima aquifer in Live Oakaquifer in Live Oak

• Groundwater from Santa Groundwater from Santa Margarita aquifer near Wilder Margarita aquifer near Wilder RanchRanch

• Groundwater from Santa Groundwater from Santa Margarita aquifer near Margarita aquifer near downtown/eastside Santa Cruzdowntown/eastside Santa Cruz

• Wastewater reclamationWastewater reclamation• Reservoir storage in Olympia Reservoir storage in Olympia

Quarry Quarry

How do pay for all this while still How do pay for all this while still using rates to encourage using rates to encourage

conservation?conservation? Five-tier rate structureFive-tier rate structure

1- 4 Billing units1- 4 Billing units $1.36 Ccf$1.36 Ccf

5-9 Billing units5-9 Billing units $3.47 Ccf$3.47 Ccf

10-14 billing units10-14 billing units $4.45 Ccf$4.45 Ccf

15-18 billing units15-18 billing units $6.10 Ccf$6.10 Ccf

>18 billing units>18 billing units $7.61 Ccf$7.61 Ccf

Outside City rates are 27% higher per CcfOutside City rates are 27% higher per Ccf

How about University growth?How about University growth?

The University is part of that growth we The University is part of that growth we are talking aboutare talking about

The City was concerned with the LRDP The City was concerned with the LRDP and the fact that it counted on water that and the fact that it counted on water that was not yet developedwas not yet developed

How the University can grow as it wants to How the University can grow as it wants to with an uncertain water source remains to with an uncertain water source remains to be resolvedbe resolved

How uncertain is desalination?How uncertain is desalination?

4 Big Issues that could sink the ship4 Big Issues that could sink the ship1.1. Entrainment/entrapment on intakesEntrainment/entrapment on intakes

2.2. Disposal of concentrateDisposal of concentrate

3.3. Growth inducement Growth inducement

4.4. Energy consumptionEnergy consumption