Ventura County Grand Jury
• 2022-2023
• Agency Response
Water Availability for Wildfires in Ventura County*
⚠️ 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.
Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F11
Findings and Recommendations 13 findings
F01
Potable water systems are designed to provide domestic water service and sufficient supply of water for structure fires per requirements of the Ventura County Fire Department. The City of Simi Valley (City)/ Ventura County Waterworks District No. 8 (VCWWD8) makes every effort to maximize the water storage and flow available to fire personnel to aid in the successful suppression of wildfires.
Related Recommendations (1)
R01
The City/VCWWD8 has a written Standard Operating Procedure for FWWs, RFWs, active fires, and PSPS events, reviewed and updated annually, and conducts training sessions every September.
F02
The Grand Jury finds that the limited number of Fire Weather Watch (FWW) advisories amplifies the importance of establishing written procedures, protocols and training. (SF-01, SF-05, SF-07, SF-10) Response: The City/VCWWD8 concurs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R02
The City/VCWWD8 utilizes stationary and mobile emergency generators at critical pumping and reservoir sites, inspected on a weekly and monthly basis. An onsite emergency generator and a UPS support the central SCADA system. All reservoir sites and pump stations have battery back-up systems or UPS units installed to support communications and the components of the SCADA system.
F03
The Grand Jury finds that written procedures for actions taken by water purveyors during a Fire Weather Watch event is a best practice that is lacking in Ventura County. (SF-01, SF-05, SF-07, SF-10) Response: The City/VCWWD8 has a written Standard Operating Procedure that is reviewed and updated annually for wildfire preparedness defining specific actions taken during a Fire Weather Watch.
Related Recommendations (1)
R03
The City/VCWWD8 maintains an updated contact list for its neighboring water agencies such as Calleguas Municipal Water District, Golden State Water Company, Ventura County Waterworks District 17, and Las Virgines Municipal Water District. The City/VCWWD8 maintains an existing interconnection with Ventura County Waterworks District 17 and Las Virgenes Municipal Water District. Grand Jury Response - Water Availability for Wildfires in Ventura County 10/04/2023 WED 8:25 FAX ∅003 DocuSign Envelope ID: 72DC772E-18E6-4778-8DF0-53B0DEEC8F7E Ventura County Waterworks District No. 8City of Simi Valley Additional interconnection with neighboring water agencies requires further analysis as there are infrastructure limitations of systems to be able to transfer water between purveyors during an active fire event.
F04
The Grand Jury finds that the limited number of Red Flag Warning (RFW) events amplifies the importance of establishing written procedures, protocols, and training. (SF-O1, SF-06, SF-07, SF-10) Response: The City/VCWWD8 concurs.
No recommendations for this finding
F05
The Grand Jury finds that written procedures for actions taken by water purveyors during a Red Flag Warning event is a best practice that is lacking in Ventura County. (SF- O1, SF-06, SF-07, SF-10) Response: The City/VCWWD8 has a written Standard Operating Procedure that is reviewed and updated annually for wildfire preparedness defining specific actions. taken during a Red Flag Warning event. Grand Jury Response - Water Availability for Wildfires in Ventura County 10/04/2023 WED 8:25 FAX Ø005 DocuSign Envelope ID: 72DC772E-18E6-4778-8DF0-53B0DEEC8F7E Ventura County Waterworks District No. City of Simi Valley
Related Recommendations (1)
R05
The City/VCWWD8 is currently enrolled in Wireless Priority Service (WPS)
F06
The Grand Jury finds that written procedures for actions taken by water purveyors during an active fire event is a best practice that is lacking in Ventura County. (SF-O1, SF-08, SF-10) Response: The City/VCWWD8 has a written Standard Operating Procedure that is reviewed and updated annually for wildfire preparedness defining specific actions taken during an active fire event.
Related Recommendations (1)
R06
The City/VCWWD8 is currently enrolled in Government Emergency Telecommunications System (GETS).
F07
The Grand Jury finds that written procedures for actions taken by water purveyors during Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) events is a best practice that is lacking in Ventura County, (SF-01, SF-09, SF-10) Response: The City/VCWWD8 has a written Standard Operating Procedure that is reviewed and updated annually for wildfire preparedness defining specific actions taken during PSPS events. Water levels in reservoirs are increased to maximize storage capacity. The City/VCWWD8 is a member of the SCE Public Safety Partner Portal, providing advance notices and updates about potential PSPS events.
Related Recommendations (1)
R07
The City/VCWWD8 is currently enrolled in CalWarn.
F08
The City/VCWWD8 has stationary generators, battery back-up systems, and the capability to deploy mobile generators and battery back-up systems, at its critical pumping, control, and communication facilities.
Related Recommendations (1)
R08
The City/VCWWD8 conducts brush clearance on an annual basis around its water tanks, pump stations, and access roads, as required and in compliance with Ventura County Fire Code section 4907.8. Grand Jury Response - Water Availability for Wildfires in Ventura County 10/04/2023 WED 8:25 FAX 2004 DocuSign Envelope ID: 72DC772E-18E6-4778-8DF0-53B0DEEC8F7E ATTACHMENT B Ventura County Waterworks District No. City of Simi Valley Grand Jury Report Water Availability for Wildfires in Ventura County RSPONSES TO FINDINGS
F09
A standby generator equipped with an automatic transfer switch and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is located at City/VCWWD8 SCADA system to provide backup power in all instances.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
The City/VCWWD8 maintains an updated contact list for its neighboring water agencies such as Calleguas Municipal Water District, Golden State Water Company, Ventura County Waterworks District 17, and Las Virgines Municipal Water District. The City/District participates in monthly Water Agency Managers meetings spearheaded by Calleguas Municipal District.
No recommendations for this finding
F12
The Grand Jury finds that enrolling in GETS and WPS would allow Ventura County water purveyors priority access to landline and cellular telephone networks in emergency situations. (SF-16, SF-17) Response: The City/VCWWD8 is enrolled in GETS and WPS.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
The Grand Jury finds that enrolling in CalWARN would allow Ventura County water purveyors access to statewide resources. (SF-18) Response: The City/VCWWD8 is enrolled in CalWarn.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
The Grand Jury finds that Ventura County Fire Code section 4907.8 regarding brush clearance around water tanks, water supply pumps, pump houses and related infrastructure applies to all rural and unincorporated communities, and all cities except Fillmore, Oxnard and Ventura. (SF-19, SF-20, SF-21) Response: The City/VCWWD8 complies with Ventura County Fire Code section 4907.8 regarding brush clearance around water tanks, water supply pumps, pump houses and related infrastructure. RESPONSES TO RECOMMENDATIONS
No recommendations for this finding
* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.