Santa Cruz Water Department Publishes 2023 Water Quality Report in Spanish
SANTA CRUZ – The Santa Cruz Water Department is proud to announce that the 2023 Water Quality Report is now available in Spanish.
The Annual Water Quality Report shows Santa Cruz’s water meets or exceeds all state and federal drinking water standards. Providing the report in Spanish ensures that our diverse community has access to critical information about the quality of their drinking water and is part of the City’s ongoing efforts to improve communication with our community.
The report includes detailed information about the sources and quality of our water supply, the results of water quality testing, and important health information. By offering this report in English and Spanish, the Water Department aims to foster greater transparency and trust within our community.
The reports are available on the Water Department’s website at www.cityofsantacruz.com/water-quality-report. Printed copies can be made available at 212 Locust Street, Suite D, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
The Santa Cruz Water Quality Laboratory is certified by the California Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program and produces the Annual Water Quality Report each year. As in previous years, the laboratory is pleased to report that customers’ drinking water met all state and federal standards in 2023.
For more information, please visit www.cityofsantacruz.com/water-quality or contact the Water Quality Laboratory at (831) 420-5480 or WaterQuality@santacruzca.gov.
EMWD Celebrates Groundbreaking of San Jacinto Valley Groundwater Treatment Facility
PERRIS — Eastern Municipal Water District (EMWD) today commemorated the groundbreaking of its new San Jacinto Valley Groundwater Treatment Facility in a ceremony attended by federal and local dignitaries.
Flanked by Congressman Raul Ruiz and Riverside County Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez, EMWD’s Board of Directors and staff celebrated the groundbreaking with the traditional first shovel of dirt to kickstart the project which will further support EMWD’s continually expanding groundwater program.
EMWD has previously completed four new groundwater wells and pipelines that will deliver water to the facility, located on the northwest corner of Hewitt and Evans Streets in San Jacinto.
Projected to be operational in the spring of 2026, the facility will use filtration media technology to remove iron and manganese from local groundwater supplies in the San Jacinto Valley. Once the water leaves the treatment facility, it will be delivered to homes and businesses throughout the region, helping to increase EMWD’s local water supplies.
The $32 million project received $3 million in funding from the Fifth District of Riverside County, through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), a federal funding package. Gutierrez, who represents the Fifth District, has been an advocate of the project. Ruiz, who represents the San Jacinto Valley in Congress, has also expressed support for the project, which will lessen EMWD’s reliance on imported water supplies.
“EMWD works hard to return our customers’ tax dollars back into their communities, and the partnerships we have developed on the federal and local level have enabled us to do that with this project,” EMWD Board President Phil Paule said. “This facility will ensure the residents of the San Jacinto Valley, and surrounding areas, have a clean and reliable source of water for future generations.”
At peak capacity, the facility would produce more than 11,000 acre feet of clean and safe water per year – enough for more than 25,000 households annually.
EMWD is expanding its groundwater infrastructure throughout its service area, including the San Jacinto Valley. In recent years, EMWD has also constructed a new groundwater replenishment facility, a large diameter pipeline and a pump station that will help replenish groundwater with water from the State Water Project when it is available during years of heavy and average rainfall. These facilities will allow EMWD to improve the quality and quantity of groundwater supplies and provide a more sustainable local water source for its service area.
“EMWD is proud to invest in the future of our water supplies and our communities,” Paule said. “We look forward to celebrating the completion of this project and the benefits it will provide to our current and future customers.”
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Eastern Municipal Water District is the water, wastewater service and recycled water provider to nearly one million people living and working within a 601-square mile service area in western Riverside County and northern San Diego County. It is California’s sixth-largest retail water agency, and its mission is “To deliver value to our diverse customers and the communities we serve by providing safe, reliable, economical and environmentally sustainable water, wastewater and recycled water services.” More information can be found at www.emwd.org.
General Manager Supports Cost-Saving Conservation Legislation in Sacramento
ROWLAND HEIGHTS — Rowland Water District (RWD) General Manager Tom Coleman spoke before the California State Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife on June 25, 2024, supporting SB 1330. The bill, co-sponsored by RWD, Walnut Valley Water District and Bellflower-Somerset Mutual Water Company, would ease the burden for water suppliers facing new water conservation mandates. The State Water Resources Control Board has developed regulations to implement two 2018 laws requiring urban retail water suppliers to reduce residential and commercial water use. The framework is called “Making Water Conservation a Way of Life.” Complying with these regulations poses costly challenges for water suppliers and their customers with compliance estimated by the State Board to cost nearly $5 billion statewide. This would conserve about 235,000 acre-feet of water annually by 2050—or less than one percent of the State’s water usage. “Our district alone has reduced 27% of our water demand over the past decade. The proposed State Board regulations will require us to reduce water use by an additional 29% for a 50% reduction in water use compared to 2013,” Coleman explained to the Assembly. SB 1330 provides flexibility for water suppliers and financial relief for their ratepayers. It extends deadlines for regulatory compliance, allowing agencies to educate customers and implement effective monitoring programs. Landscape area data would be developed by the California Department of Water Resources every 5 years instead of requiring water suppliers to update data annually, reducing staffing demands while maintaining important research collection. “Our goal is to improve data collection and analytics and refine methodologies and approaches to implement a conservation program over time that costs less for all water ratepayers, especially those that reside in disadvantaged communities where water affordability is already a concern,” Coleman said to the Assembly. A report by the Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), which provides fiscal and policy advice to the Legislature, bolsters legislation to provide suppliers more time and greater flexibility to meet the mandates. The report noted that proposed regulations under the “Making Water Conservation a Way of Life” framework created challenges for water suppliers, “in many cases without compelling justifications.” For example, performance measures for commercial customers are unnecessarily complex and administratively burdensome. The report notes that stringent standards for outdoor use could leave little “wiggle room” for compliance. “Both Senate Bill 1330 and the final regulation will provide water suppliers the time needed to collaborate with their customers to achieve meaningful water savings while considering cost affordability and suppliers’ good faith efforts on their part to meet water use objectives,” Senator Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera), who introduced SB 1330, said to the Assembly. SB 1330 passed the Assembly Water, Parks & Wildlife Committee on an 11-0 vote with amendments on June 25, 2024, and will be heard in Appropriations Committee in early August. Learn more at rwd.org.###
About Rowland Water District Rowland Water District was formed 70 years ago to provide water service to 200 ranchers and farmers in a rural, agricultural community. Over the years, the District has evolved to meet the changing needs of a dynamic and rapidly growing customer base. Rowland Water currently delivers 14 million gallons of safe drinking water to about 55,000 people every day. The District maintains 150 miles of potable water pipeline and 25 miles of recycled water pipeline to serve 13,800 customer connections across 17.2 square miles in southeast Los Angeles County, including portions of Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights, La Puente, and the cities of Industry and West Covina.WVWD Enhances Local Sustainability with Expanded Recycled Water Infrastructure
WALNUT — Walnut Valley Water District (WVWD) has taken a significant step towards bolstering local water sustainability through the expansion of its recycled water infrastructure. Recently, the WVWD Board of Directors approved the purchase of the North Side Line from the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, facilitating direct access to recycled water on the Upper Portion Pipeline from the Pomona Water Reclamation Plant to the City of Walnut.
This acquisition ensures a secure and reliable recycled water supply for Walnut Valley and neighboring areas. By integrating this new infrastructure, WVWD enhances its capacity to meet increasing recycled water demands while decreasing its dependence on imported potable water supplies from Northern California and Colorado. Recycled water from the Pomona Water Reclamation Plant will be used for non-potable purposes such as irrigation, industrial processes, and municipal landscaping.
Jared Macias, Assistant General Manager, highlighted the significance of this development, stating, “Enhancing our control over local water sources and fostering a strong partnership with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts are key steps in securing a reliable water supply that will benefit our community for years to come.”
This upgrade enhances WVWD’s management of the North Side Line, ensuring a reliable recycled water system, and reinforces the agency’s commitment to advancing water sustainability for the community.
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About WVWD
WVWD was formed in 1952, and after seven decades of service to the community, the District operates and maintains a drinking water and recycled water system serving a population of nearly 100,000 residents. The WVWD team is comprised of water professionals dedicated to meeting the water supply needs of the communities it serves (Diamond Bar, Walnut, Rowland Heights, Pomona, Industry, and West Covina). WVWD is committed to leading with integrity and does so through excellence in customer service, communication, accountability, reliability, efficiency, and quality.
SCV Water Dedicates Water Treatment Plant after the Late Edward G. “Jerry” Gladbach
SCV Water recently held a dedication ceremony to rename its Rio Vista Water Treatment as the E. G. “Jerry” Gladbach Water Treatment Plant in honor of the late SCV Water Board Vice President Jerry Gladbach. Gladbach served on the SCV Water Board of Directors, and its predecessor, the Castaic Lake Water Agency, from 1985 until his passing in July 2022, and was a pillar in the water industry, locally, state-wide and nationally, with a career stretching back more than 60 years. SCV Water Board President Gary Martin shared the inscription of a plaque presented to him at the Urban Water Institute Annual Conference in August 2022, saying, “Jerry was one of the most highly regarded water professionals and decision makers in California. He had an impressive ability to combine his extensive knowledge with his congenial, gentle and graceful style, to work with others, to reach agreements when conflicts arose. He was a teacher and mentor to many in the business, and a visionary leader, respecting all affected by water policies at the local, state and national levels” Martin continued, “People remember him as the consummate public servant, a deeply knowledgeable water professional, and a gentleman who showed grace even in the most difficult times. His legacy is a recognition of and an admiration for his consistent dedication in support to provide reliable, high-quality water for the community that he lived through his extensive statewide leadership roles.” The SCV Water Board of Directors also formally announced a ceremonial approval of the treatment plant name change at its June 18, 2024, regular Board meeting. History of the Rio Vista Water Treatment Plant One of the many projects Gladbach championed was the construction of the Rio Vista Water Treatment Plant, which broke ground in 1991. Construction was completed in 1995, with the Plant boasting a treatment capacity of 30 million gallons per day of imported water. As the population in the Santa Clarita Valley grew, the Rio Vista Water Treatment Plan was expanded between 2009 and 2011, an undertaking that more than doubled the Agency’s capacity for treating imported water to a total of 66 million gallons per day. Gladbach’s Legacy Gladbach was first elected to the Castaic Lake Water Agency Board of Directors in 1985 and has served the community continuously, including when CLWA merged with other local water entities to become SCV Water in January 2018. He was the SCV Water Board’s Vice President until his passing in 2022 and served as President of the CLWA Board from 1987-1991. He also played a key role in increasing the imported water supply to the Santa Clarita Valley by 13% through the acquisition of the Devil’s Den Water District in Kern County in 1991. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for SCV Water, Gladbach was a leader in state and national water organizations. He was active in the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), serving as president from 2002–2004 and taking roles on many of its committees. In 2022, he was the President of the Board of Directors of the ACWA Joint Powers Insurance Authority, which provides liability, property, workers’ compensation, and health insurance to members of ACWA. Gladbach was also the 2022 Chair of the Local Agency Formation Commission for Los Angeles County, serving on the commission since 2001. He was the Past President of the California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions and was presented with its “Most Outstanding Commissioner” award in 2013. ACWA’s Scholarship Program SCV Water, in partnership with ACWA, established the Edward G. “Jerry” Gladbach Scholarship in 2023. Each year, the ACWA Scholarship Program will award one $2,500 scholarship to a qualified undergraduate student majoring in engineering, agricultural and/or urban water supply, environmental studies, public administration, or other water-resource-related fields. “Jerry had an enduring passion and commitment to the water industry on a local, state and national level,” said SCV Water General Manager Matt Stone. “He had such consistency and commitment, day in and day out, with a degree of passion and inspiration to bring others along. Jerry was a wonderful blend of all those things.”###
About SCV Water: The Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency (SCV Water) is a full-service regional water agency located in the Santa Clarita Valley. SCV Water provides water service to approximately 75,000 business and residential customers. It was formed on January 1, 2018, when local water suppliers combined into one integrated, regional water provider. More information can be found at www.yourSCVwater.com.Engaging Digital Report Inspires Water Quality Confidence
ROWLAND HEIGHTS — Rowland Water District (RWD) customers can now explore the District’s Annual Water Quality Report through an interactive web experience. Customers who visit the online report will learn how RWD’s drinking water meets or exceeds all state and federal standards through educational videos and features that ensure confidence in the District’s safe, healthy drinking water. The Annual Water Quality Report provides sample results from 2023 that assess contaminant levels and water safety. The District runs nearly 1,200 tests for bacteria and other substances yearly, which customers can access in an easy-to-read interface in the online report. The public will learn about RWD’s high-quality water, alongside the context for each contaminant and how it may end up in drinking water at a safe level. “We are dedicated to transparency and maintaining the highest water quality standards for our community,” said Dusty Moisio, RWD Assistant General Manager. “This report is a testament to our ongoing efforts to provide clean, safe drinking water that meets or exceeds all water quality standards, to all our customers.” The Water Quality Report shows where RWD’s water comes from, spanning the State Water Project in Sacramento to the Colorado River Aqueduct in Utah, and even under residents’ feet in the Main San Gabriel Basin. Engaging videos make learning about water quality fun throughout the report, with topics including “Where Does Your Water Come From?” and “RWD Virtual Treatment Plant Tour.” Another video provides an inside look at the water testing process. Quick links to conservation, landscape classes, and rebate information make the report a useful water-saving resource. Elisabeth Mendez, RWD Compliance and Safety Manager, shared her enthusiasm about the new digital format of this year’s Water Quality Report: “Through an interactive web experience filled with engaging videos and valuable links, we are empowering our community to learn about their water sources, water quality, and conservation. This innovative, user-friendly approach makes learning about water easily accessible and educational for the entire family.” Find the 2023 Annual Water Quality Report at www.rwd.org/2023waterquality. A printable PDF version of the report is available on the website.###
About Rowland Water District Rowland Water District was formed 70 years ago to provide water service to 200 ranchers and farmers in a rural, agricultural community. Over the years, the District has evolved to meet the changing needs of a dynamic and rapidly growing customer base. Rowland Water currently delivers 14 million gallons of safe drinking water to about 55,000 people every day. The District maintains 150 miles of potable water pipeline and 25 miles of recycled water pipeline to serve 13,800 customer connections across 17.2 square miles in southeast Los Angeles County, including portions of Rowland Heights, Hacienda Heights, La Puente, and the cities of Industry and West Covina.State Water Board Adopts Making Conservation a California Way of Life Regulation
SACRAMENTO – The State Water Resources Control Board July 3 adopted the Making Conservation a California Way of Life regulation. The regulation is intended to achieve long-term water use efficiency with the purpose of adapting to climate change by establishing unique goals for each urban retail water supplier in California.
The regulation was unanimously approved by the State Water Board and starts taking effect in 2025. More information on the regulation is available in a fact sheet online.
ACWA worked extensively with its members and coalition partners over the last year to secure extensive amendments that have resulted in a more feasible and cost-effective regulation. Under the regulation, suppliers must work with their customers to achieve water savings. Individual customers are not required to comply with the urban water use objective.
ACWA Regulatory Relations Manager Chelsea Haines joined several representatives from ACWA member agencies speaking during a comment period preceding the regulation’s adoption.
“This is just the beginning of a multi-decade process,” Haines said. “We are going to learn a lot, we’ll have new data, new partnerships and we look at the success of this regulation as compliance; compliance being healthy landscapes, shade trees, equity among communities and implementing cost-effective strategies.”
ACWA distributed an Advisory to member agencies following the regulation’s adoption. It is available online and member login is required.
Funding Restored for Bay-Delta Agreements
The Budget Act of 2024, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom over the weekend, includes the restoration of nearly $500 million for the Agreements to Support Healthy Rivers and Landscapes (Agreements), formerly known as the Voluntary Agreements.
A previous budget bill had rescinded a significant portion of the funding, initiating a major advocacy push by ACWA, the Northern California Water Association, the State Water Contractors and more than 40 other organizations to maintain nearly all funding for the Agreements.
The Agreements represent an unprecedented opportunity to improve California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay-Delta ecosystem by creating a comprehensive program of habitat enhancement projects coupled with more water for fish and wildlife, managed in a collaborative, science-based manner.
ACWA applauded the leadership of Gov. Newsom, Administration officials and the Legislature in restoring the critical funding in a July 2 Advisory distributed to member agencies. The advisory and additional background is available online. Member login is required.
Salton Sea Authority Selects New Leadership Team
| President | Gina Dockstader Director, Imperial Irrigation District | |
| Vice President | Castulo Estrada Board Vice President, Coachella Valley Water District | |
| Secretary | Yxstian Gutierrez Supervisor, Riverside County | |
| Treasurer | Ryan Kelley Supervisor, Imperial County |
Zone 7 Groundwater Management Plan Receives State Approval
LIVERMORE – On June 27, 2024, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced that it approved the update to Zone 7’s groundwater management plan, formally known as an Alternative to a Groundwater Sustainability Plan (Alternative GSP). This Alternative GSP was initially approved in 2019. DWR determined that Livermore Valley Groundwater basin continues to be managed sustainably to meet the requirements of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA). Zone has one of nine approved Alternatives in California.
Starting from the late 1960s, Zone 7 has been proactively managing the groundwater basin for over 50 years to ensure this valuable resource remains a sustainable source of water for future generations of the Tri-Valley. The groundwater basin is a critical piece in the Tri-Valley’s water supply system, providing a local water source during drought years. The groundwater basin is strategically recharged with imported water during wet years, to provide water to the Tri-Valley during dry years, when imported water from the State Water Project is limited or unavailable.
The Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) signed in 2014, requires local agencies throughout the state to sustainably manage groundwater basins. In 2016, Zone 7 submitted its alternative plan, having already developed a groundwater management plan prior to enactment of the SGMA mandate. On July 17, 2019, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) announced the approval Zone 7’s Alternative Groundwater Sustainability Plan, a significant recognition of the agency’s proactive policies of managing groundwater.
SGMA also requires that an update to the plan be submitted every 5 years. The required update to the plan was completed by Zone 7 with the assistance of a $500,000 grant from DWR. The final draft of the updated Alternative GSP is available HERE.
This approval signifies that the Alternative GSP continues to comply with SGMA law, relying upon the best available science and information, and that implementing the plans is likely to achieve or maintain groundwater sustainability. Alternatives based on an existing water management plan must demonstrate that implementation is expected to maintain or achieve sustainability within 20 years.
With the approval, DWR included a Statement of Findings as part of its thorough review process, which provides a detailed description of how the Livermore Valley Basin Alternative satisfies the objectives of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) and substantially complies with the Groundwater Sustainability Plan (GSP) Regulations. The next submittal of the periodic review of the Alternative GSP is due by December 21, 2026.
Image: Livermore Valley Groundwater Basin Aquifer Layers courtesy Zone 7 Water Agency
Educational Video: Groundwater Recharge Animation courtesy Zone 7 Water Agency
About Zone 7 Water
Zone 7 Water Agency is one of the 10 active zones of the Alameda County Flood Control and Water Conservation District. The District was established by the State Legislature in October 1949 to solve problems of flooding, drainage, channel erosion and water supply and conservation in Alameda County. In 1957, by popular vote, Zone 7 became a special district governed by a seven-member board of directors. Along with flood protection, Zone 7 supplies water to all of eastern Alameda County and a population of 266,000 residents. Treated water is sold wholesale to local retailers, including the cities of Livermore and Pleasanton, the Dublin San Ramon Services District, and the California Water Service Company. Zone 7 also distributes untreated water to local agriculture operations and golf courses.