Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2014-2015
Desalination and Alternatives Water for a Thirsty County 20132014 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
⚠️ 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 15 findings
F1
Both SCWD and SqCWD urgently need a supplemental water source.
Related Recommendations (4)
R1
City of Santa Cruz Water Department should secure a supplemental water supply. (F1, F2)
R2
Soquel Creek Water District should secure a supplemental water supply. (F1, F2)
R5
The City of Santa Cruz should strongly consider reviving the scwd2 desalination plan prior to the next available General Election. (F17)
R6
City of Santa Cruz Water Department and Soquel Creek Water District should continue to pursue a regional solution such as Desalination or Regional Water Transfers 20 with Recycling. (F713)
F2
The longer SqCWD and SCWD wait to secure a viable alternative to the overdraft problem, the greater the danger of degradation and possible permanent loss of aquifers.
Related Recommendations (4)
R1
City of Santa Cruz Water Department should secure a supplemental water supply. (F1, F2)
R2
Soquel Creek Water District should secure a supplemental water supply. (F1, F2)
R5
The City of Santa Cruz should strongly consider reviving the scwd2 desalination plan prior to the next available General Election. (F17)
R6
City of Santa Cruz Water Department and Soquel Creek Water District should continue to pursue a regional solution such as Desalination or Regional Water Transfers 20 with Recycling. (F713)
F3
The decision by the City of Santa Cruz to suspend participation in the scwd2 desalination project forced SqCWD to restart the planning process without a regional partner.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The City of Santa Cruz should strongly consider reviving the scwd2 desalination plan prior to the next available General Election. (F17)
F4
The City of Santa Cruz did not adequately communicate the urgent need for a 19 supplemental water source to its ratepayers.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The City of Santa Cruz should immediately convey to its citizens the urgency of the long term regional water situation. (F14)
F5
The scwd2 desalination plant is the only available single alternative that can address in a timely manner all of the supplemental water needs of SCWD and SqCWD, while at the same time being immune to climate change.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The City of Santa Cruz should strongly consider reviving the scwd2 desalination plan prior to the next available General Election. (F17)
F6
The draft EIR must be finalized before the environmental studies and alternative projects included in it can be implemented.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The City of Santa Cruz should ensure that the scwd2 draft EIR be finalized by the end of calendar year 2014. (F57)
F7
DeepWater and Districtonly desalination projects will face many obstacles, including completion of EIRs and securing local approval.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The City of Santa Cruz should strongly consider reviving the scwd2 desalination plan prior to the next available General Election. (F17)
F8
The private company Central Coast Regional Water Project will have inordinate control over the water rates of the DeepWater Desalination project since it will control the intake pipe.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
Agencies that wait to buy into the DeepWater plant may be excluded because the limited amount of water produced may already be allocated.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
State water rights evaluations will delay the prospective start date of the Regional Water Transfer Project.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
City of Santa Cruz Water Department and Soquel Creek Water District should continue to pursue a regional solution such as Desalination or Regional Water Transfers 20 with Recycling. (F713)
F11
Without modification, the SCWD Tait Street treatment facility is not large enough to accommodate the needs of the Regional Water Transfer Project.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
City of Santa Cruz Water Department and Soquel Creek Water District should continue to pursue a regional solution such as Desalination or Regional Water Transfers 20 with Recycling. (F713)
F12
Officials in SCWD and SqCWD have not given sufficient consideration to a regional recycling plant.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
City of Santa Cruz Water Department and Soquel Creek Water District should continue to pursue a regional solution such as Desalination or Regional Water Transfers 20 with Recycling. (F713)
F13
A water recycling facility would allow for injection wells to either help recharge the aquifer or to build a barrier against seawater intrusion.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
City of Santa Cruz Water Department and Soquel Creek Water District should continue to pursue a regional solution such as Desalination or Regional Water Transfers 20 with Recycling. (F713)
F14
Because there is no detailed groundwater model of the Purisima basin, it is difficult to do the studies and research needed to protect the aquifer.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
Members of the Basin Implementation Group should complete work on a groundwater model of the Purisima basin as soon as possible. (F14)
F15
Private pumpers have unregulated access to water and do not contribute financially to aquifer protection efforts.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The Basin Implementation Group should establish a Replenishment District for the Purisima aquifer. (F15)
Commendations 1
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CM1C1. We commend SqCWD for holding board meetings at Capitola City Hall to address supplemental supply and mandatory rationing. This allows for greater public participation and awareness of the discussions via local access television and the internet.