Settlement Reached on Desal Plant Return Water
June 15 2016 - 2:29PM
Business Wire
Ahead of State Decision on Pumping Cutbacks,
Project Stakeholders Reach Agreement on Future Water Plan
A broad group of stakeholders including agricultural and
environmental groups, water agencies and policy leaders, submitted
a settlement agreement to the California Public Utilities
Commission today, concerning what many have described as the last
remaining obstacle to obtaining consensus on California American
Water’s proposed future water supply project for the Monterey
Peninsula.
The settlement addresses the “return water” that will be
produced at the company’s proposed desalination plant. The project
will draw seawater from beneath the ocean floor, pulling in a small
percentage of groundwater in the process. The project proponents
have committed to “return” the amount of groundwater drawn from the
project to the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin to meet applicable
requirements of the Monterey County Water Resources Agency Act.
Under the terms of the settlement, the return water will be
delivered to the Castroville Community Services District, whose
current groundwater supplies have been impacted due to seawater
intrusion.
The arrangement was made public earlier this year when the
parties to the agreement released a draft term sheet. Today’s
filing formalizes that plan and brings with it new signatories,
including the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District and
Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency, the two groups
leading a recycled water project that will contribute 3,500 acre
feet of water a year to the Monterey Peninsula under Cal Am’s
future supply plan.
A final water purchase agreement between California American
Water and the Castroville Community Services District will be
included in the filing. The filing comes approximately one month
before the State Water Resources Control Board is set to consider
postponing a cutback order on pumping from the Carmel River, the
area’s primary source of water, in light of recent progress made
toward a replacement supply.
“The plan we’ve set forth to solve the Peninsula’s water supply
crisis has been in development for many years,” said California
American Water president Rob MacLean. “During that time, we’ve
worked closely with stakeholders and have made adjustments in order
to address their concerns. It’s been a careful, considered process
and the outcome arrived at today is one I feel confident the State
can support as it reflects California’s vision for a sustainable
water future.”
By delivering the return water to the Castroville Community
Services District, the $322 million Monterey Peninsula Water Supply
Project will help to address broader regional water supply
concerns, improve operational efficiency in the existing
Castroville Seawater Intrusion Project which provides recycled
water for crop irrigation, and provide a source of supply to an
economically disadvantaged community.
“The return water settlement embodies many of the state’s water
policy directives,” said Monterey County Water Resources Agency
general manager Dave Chardavoyne. “Efficient reuse of water,
regional cooperation and assisting communities in need are central
aspects of this agreement.”
The Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project additionally
reflects key points of the State Water Resources Control Board’s
recent Ocean Plan through its use of subsurface intakes and
exploration of alternative energy and energy-saving technology. The
project’s primary objective is to benefit the environment by
reducing pumping from the Carmel River, home to threatened
species.
“We understand that in asking the state for more time to satisfy
the terms of its cutback order, we need to show broad support and
considerable progress,” said Monterey Peninsula Regional Water
Authority president and Pacific Grove Mayor Bill Kampe. “Today’s
filing accomplishes both objectives. From the beginning, the
protection of the Salinas Valley Groundwater Basin has been source
of major concern for the many groups engaged in this project. To
see this question now resolved, and added to previous settlements
regarding the brine discharge, intake technology, financing, and so
many other aspects of this project, shows we have come together to
solve our water shortage.”
In April a separate agreement was announced to reduce pumping
from the Carmel River in the period before the desalination plant
is built by retiring irrigation to the a portion of the Rancho
Canada golf course in Carmel Valley. That agreement, which will add
an estimated 1,000 acre feet of water back into the river over
three years, won support for a delay in river cutbacks from the
Sierra Club and the Planning and Conservation League. Supporters of
the return water settlement filed today include LandWatch Monterey
County, the Planning and Conservation League, the Coalition of
Peninsula Businesses, Monterey County Farm Bureau and Salinas
Valley Water Coalition.
“Water issues can be tough,” said Monterey County Farm Bureau
Executive Director Norm Groot. “But when you have parties committed
to working together and identifying solutions, real progress is
made. It’s time to rethink Monterey County’s reputation as a
community where water problems go unsolved. Through the efforts of
many, we’re leading the way in water conservation and innovative
projects to address the needs of industry, the community and the
environment.”
Salinas Valley Water Coalition president Nancy Isakson also
praised the agreement. “Without Castroville’s participation, the
issue of groundwater extraction from the Salinas Valley would go
unresolved,” she said. “By working together, Castroville and the
Peninsula are helping each other address their water issues and
needs. This is truly a win-win. We’re glad to see a beneficial
solution reached to a critical issue, the protection of the
groundwater basin.”
The return water agreement will not be legally effective until a
Final Environmental Impact Report for the water supply project is
certified and other approvals obtained, which is expected to occur
near the end of this year. For more information on the Monterey
Peninsula Water Supply project, visit
www.watersupplyproject.org.
“The level of regional cooperation seen through this agreement
is truly to be commended,” said Castroville Community Services
District board president Ron Stefani. “Working together, we’re
finding ways to conserve and beneficially use every drop of water,
while helping to replenish our natural resources. It’s a model for
other communities and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
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version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160615006407/en/
California American WaterCatherine StedmanOffice:
831-646-3208Mobile: 831-241-2990catherine.stedman@amwater.com
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