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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Score: +1
(1/0/0)
Sonoma County Grand Jury
• 2019-2020
Emergency Water Shortages in Sonoma Valley The Situation Has Worsened
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 8 findings
F1
The decision of California Department of General Services to close the Sonoma Developmental Center treatment plant has impacted emergency water planning in Sonoma Valley.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
The City of Sonoma, Valley of the Moon Water District, and Sonoma Developmental Center would reduce risk by sharing water during an emergency, using existing and easily implemented interconnections.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
By December 31, 2020, The Valley of the Moon Water District, City of Sonoma, and Sonoma Developmental Center initiate cooperative planning to reduce risk in emergencies, including promptly implementing ways to share existing water resources. (F2)
R3
The Valley of the Moon Water District and the City of Sonoma interconnect their distribution systems, and establish an agreement for sharing water during emergencies by December 31, 2020. (F2)
F3
The Valley of the Moon Water District’s emergency water supply plan, which relied on wells and the mutual aid agreement with Sonoma Developmental Center, is impaired by the reduction in water available from those sources, increasing risks that Valley of the Moon Water District customers will not have sufficient water in an emergency.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
The Valley of the Moon Water District has failed to inform its customers adequately of elevated risks due to deficient local water supplies and reduced availability under the mutual aid agreement with Sonoma Developmental Center.
Related Recommendations (2)
R6
The Valley of the Moon Water District establish specific emergency water-use restrictions and communicate them to its customers by September 30, 2020. (F4)
R7
By September 30, 2020, the Valley of the Moon Water District inform customers annually, or when conditions change, regarding risks and deficiencies in the emergency water supply and any actions taken to mitigate them. (F4)
F5
The decision to close the water treatment plant at Sonoma Developmental Center impacted performance under the mutual aid agreement between the Valley of the Moon Water District and Sonoma Developmental Center.
Related Recommendations (2)
R2
The Valley of the Moon Water District evaluate by November 30, 2020 whether District operation of Sonoma Developmental Center water distribution and storage facilities would offset deficiencies in emergency water for both Valley of the Moon Water District and Sonoma Developmental Center. (F5)
R4
Sonoma Water, Valley of the Moon Water District, the City of Sonoma, Permit Sonoma, and the California Department of General Services form an agreement by October 31, 2020, that potable water storage facilities at Sonoma Developmental Center shall remain active and available for shared access during emergencies. (F5)
F6
Water production from the Valley of the Moon Water District’s wells is falling behind projections.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The Valley of the Moon Water District accelerate its program for expanding well capacity and water storage by December 31, 2020. (F6)
F7
The Department of General Services has chosen to purchase water for the Sonoma Developmental Center site from Sonoma Water, rather than continue treating local water for its supply.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
The planning process currently underway for the SDC Specific Plan will impact all Sonoma Valley water agencies.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
Permit Sonoma establish, by September 30, 2020, communication with water system managers for the City of Sonoma, the Valley of the Moon Water District, and Sonoma Developmental Center to inform the SDC Specific Plan process. (F8)
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 8The need for potable water affects everyone in Sonoma Valley, and becomes critical during emergency conditions arising from fire, earthquake, drought or flood. Responses to emergencies and other needs often depend on close cooperation. As conditions change and we need better ways to manage water, we must look for solutions through coordinated planning and operations. This concern inspired the Grand Jury to conduct an additional investigation and issue a companion report, Sonoma Valley Regional Water Resources. The burden of dealing with reductions in its emergency water resources rests heavily on the Valley of the Moon Water District. The VOMWD is also the presumed water supplier for a new Eldridge (the former SDC) within its service area. This presents the VOMWD with planning challenges that involve costs, uncertain liabilities and investments. It is important that the VOMWD participate in the SDC Specific Plan process, and remain flexible in anticipating the future. It is incumbent on neighboring water entities to cooperate with the VOMWD as it seeks and implements solutions. While the City of Sonoma’s emergency water supply plans were not immediately affected by the SDC closure, it too would benefit from access to the surface water supply at SDC in the event of an emergency that compromises the Sonoma Aqueduct or the City’s well supply.
Agency Responses 2
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.
No Responses Found 3
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.