City of Watsonville Public Works and Utilities Department

The current groundwater conditions are as follows: • Groundwater levels are declining. The basin water usage exceeds recharge. This is referred to as overdraft. • Overdraft causes lowering of the groundwater table and seawater intrusion that results in high salt levels in wells near the ocean, west of San Andreas Road in the Watsonville area. • Groundwater conservation is an important planning issue for Watsonville because the aquifers in the Pajaro Valley supply approximately 85 percent of the city water. Response: City of Watsonville AGREES.

In the event of drought or breakdown of the surface water filtration plant, the city will depend more heavily on groundwater. Response: City of Watsonville AGREES.

The city of Watsonville has a water reclamation facility currently in use. Reclaimed water used for irrigation purposes increases the water available for existing residential use. Response: City of Watsonville DISAGREES. The City of Watsonville does not currently have a water reclamation facility. The city is designing a water reclamation facility, which would be funded by grants and by PVWMA, to provide 4,000 acre-feet of water for crop irrigation. This water will help reduce seawater intrusion by reducing groundwater pumping. The project will mainly benefit agriculture, which uses 83% of the water in the Pajaro Valley Groundwater Basin. The water reclamation project will not directly provide additional water for existing or future urban use.

The city calculates the number of water users and usage in planning for future growth by reviewing population figures and growth estimates provided by the Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments (AMBAG). AMBAG analyzes how much water is being used by new developments. Water Planning in Santa Cruz County: - 51 Response: City of Watsonville PARTIALLY AGREES. The city uses both AMBAG data and US Census Bureau population data, in combination with internal city water demand data, to calculate water use for existing customers and to project water use for future developments.

City of Watsonville population statistics have been gathered for years 2000, 2003 and 2005 yielding totals of 44,265, 46,159 and 49,600 respectively. These percentages document a substantial increase in the city’s recent rate of growth. Watsonville Annual Population Growth 4 3.5 Ye 3 ar Ov er 2.5 Ye ar Gr 2 ow th 1.5 1 0.5 0 2000 2003 2005 Year Figure 1. Watsonville Population Growth.1 Response: City of Watsonville PARTIALLY DISAGREES. The above graph provides a grossly distorted view of population growth in Watsonville because it focuses on the highest growth period the city has ever seen. This short-term and unusual population increase is due to the completion of several large housing developments at the same time. The attached chart shows the long-term population change in Watsonville, and does not artificially exaggerate the very short- term growth period that has recently occurred. The current population growth rate is expected to revert to historical rates within the next year, as these development projects are completed. U.S. Census Bureau Data, www.census.gov. - 52 Water Planning in Santa Cruz County: Further, while the city population numbers have increased substantially over the last ten years, the majority of the increased population came through annexation of existing, adjacent urban areas. If the annexation areas were excluded, the actual population growth averaged over the last ten years would be significantly lower. Watsonville Historical Water Use 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000 - 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 Year 6. From 1990 to 2003, new connections were added at a rate of 1.3 percent per year in proportion to population growth. From 2003 to 2004, the number of connections increased at a rate of 3.3 percent. Water Planning in Santa Cruz County: - 53 Watsonville Public Works and Utilities Department noitalupoP dna teeF-ercA Water Use Population Year Total Ground Surface Number of Production Water Water Water Connections per Production Production Production Connection (AF) (AF) (AF) (AF) 2000 7,633 6,331 1,302 13,108 0.582 2001 7,615 6,527 1,088 13,197 0.581 2002 7,683 6,617 1,066 13,177 0.583 2003 7,635 6,791 844 13,542 0.564 2004 7,804 7,055 749 13,995 0.558 Table 1. City of Watsonville Total Water Production. Response: City of Watsonville PARTIALLY AGREES. While the statement is true, it is important to note that this is a short-term perspective. The above statement provides a distorted view of population growth in Watsonville because it focuses on the highest growth period the city has ever seen. The chart included in Response 5 shows the long-term population change in Watsonville and does not artificially exaggerate the very short-term growth period that has recently occurred. Water demand has not increased proportionately to population growth, but has increased at a much lower rate, probably because of the city’s water conservation program.

Water demand is now increasing at a rate of only one percent per year as a result of conservation education programs, landscape guidelines and new, efficient plumbing. Response: City of Watsonville AGREES.

Changes in many crops grown in the Pajaro Valley have led to increased groundwater use. Many growers have switched from apple orchards to berry fields, which require more water. Urban water use has also increased over time. Response: City of Watsonville AGREES.

Watsonville officials say seawater intrusion is the major issue the department faces. To stop seawater intrusion, the City of Watsonville Utilities Department is turning off coastal wells as far as three miles inland. Response: City of Watsonville PARTIALLY AGREES. The city has only one coastal well, which it has stopped using in order to help reduce seawater intrusion. - 54 Water Planning in Santa Cruz County: 10. The Public Works Department is charged with determining the availability of water supplies and monitoring all sources in conjunction with PVWMA. In the event water rationing is necessary, the city has a strict five-stage action plan. Response: City of Watsonville AGREES.

To supplement water production after turning off the coastal wells, the Public Works Department will connect to PVWMA’s Coastal Distribution System. This will shift the pumping of water near the ocean to inland wells to preserve the coastal area from seawater intrusion. The City of Watsonville plans to provide an additional 2,000 acre- feet of reclaimed water to PVWMA for agricultural use, starting in summer 2005. PVWMA will pay for construction costs. Response: City of Watsonville PARTIALLY AGREES. In order to provide immediate relief to farmers along the coast whose wells are contaminated by seawater intrusion, the city has agreed to supply 2,000 acre-feet of water per year to PVWMA’s Coastal Distribution System. This will shift the pumping of water near the ocean to inland wells to help reduce further seawater intrusion. The City of Watsonville plans to provide an additional 4,000 acre-feet of reclaimed water to PVWMA for agricultural use, starting in summer 2007. PVWMA will fund these projects.

PVWMA has a proposed plan to import water through a pipeline from the Central Valley Water Project. Water from this source will be used for agricultural purposes only. If the average annual rainfall exceeds consumption, this surplus water may be banked in the groundwater basin for future use. Response: City of Watsonville AGREES.

Plans exist for using excess surface water for the purpose of recharging the aquifer. Groundwater recharge allows surface water to replenish the aquifer. Response: City of Watsonville AGREES.

The city’s water conservation program goals include: • public education • school programs • tiered water rates • rebates of up to $100 for each water-saving device Response: City of Watsonville AGREES.

Proposed public works future water conservation programs may include: • landscape water reduction assistance • city facilities landscape retrofitting Water Planning in Santa Cruz County: - 55 • continued public education programs • additional tiered water rates • retrofit of plumbing fixtures upon sale or transfer of property • rebates on water saving plumbing devices Response: City of Watsonville AGREES.

City officials say future water supply needs could be met through an expanded water reclamation facility, which could provide 4,000 acre-feet/year of water at a cost of $29 million. Twenty million dollars in grant funds have been secured. Currently, the project is in its final design stage. This facility is expected to begin supplying water in 2007. Since this project requires additional land, the city must annex 14 acres of land to complete the project. The annexation also requires approval from the City of Watsonville, County of Santa Cruz, LAFCO and the Coastal Commission. Response: City of Watsonville DISAGREES. The Recycled Water Facility will provide 4,000 acre-feet per year of water for agricultural irrigation. PVWMA has estimated the overdraft to be 19,000 acre-feet per year. The water reclamation facility is just one of several supply projects planned by PVWMA that are needed to bring the groundwater basin into balance. The city is planning to meet future water needs through aggressive water conservation programs and is investigating additional water supply projects. The water reclamation facility will cost approximately $29 million. Twenty-five million dollars in grant funds has been secured. The remaining costs will be funded by PVWMA. Currently, the project is in its final design stage, and is expected to begin supplying water in 2007. Since this project requires additional land, the city must acquire and rezone 13 acres of land to complete the project. The rezoning requires approval from the City of Watsonville, County of Santa Cruz and the Coastal Commission.

Design plans for the water reclamation plant’s next phase of upgrade will cost $25 million. Five million dollars will come from a state grant and the remainder will come from city funds and PVWMA. Response: City of Watsonville DISAGREES. The water reclamation facility will cost approximately $29 million. Twenty-five million dollars in grant funds has been secured. The remaining costs will be funded by PVWMA. There are no further phases planned for the water reclamation plant.

Recycled water will be used for agricultural irrigation and will increase the water available for city water supply wells by reducing agricultural demand. Response: City of Watsonville PARTIALLY DISAGREES. - 56 Water Planning in Santa Cruz County: The Recycled Water Facility will provide 4,000 acre-feet per year of water for agricultural irrigation. PVWMA has estimated the overdraft to be 19,000 acre-feet per year. The recycled water facility is just one of several supply projects planned by PVWMA that is needed to bring the groundwater basin into balance. The city is planning to meet future water needs through aggressive water conservation programs and is investigating additional water supply projects. Conclusions 1. Overdraft of the underlying aquifer and seawater intrusion are increasing the importance of planning for future water needs through conservation efforts and production of additional water sources.