by Wendy Wert
Speakers Mike Sullivan, Rob Whitaker, Grace Chan, Rich Atwater, Ray Tremblay, Mike Selna.
On Sept. 26, 2013, the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists hosted a dinner with 3 speakers discussing California water resources management and the role of local agencies facilitating water reuse. Two speakers from Southern California (Ms. Grace Robinson Chan, Chief Engineer and General Manager for the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, and Mr. Robb Whitaker, General Manager for the Water Replenishment District) spoke about Los Angeles-area programs that used reclaimed water. The third speaker, Mr. Rich Atwater, Executive Director of the Southern California Water Committee, spoke about the Bay Delta Conservation Plan regarding plans to restore the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and the California water supply.
Water Reclamation, Ground Water Recharge and the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County
The Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (Districts) has a 50 plus year history of water reclamation and have provided tertiary treated water for direct industrial reuse, landscape irrigation, agricultural irrigation and groundwater recharge. When totaled, the Districts have over 50 reuse sites for recycled water. Groundwater replenishment using recycled water is a source of the local potable water supply, and also is used to prevent seawater intrusion along the coast of greater Los Angeles County. The Districts completed construction of its first water reclamation facility, the Whittier Narrows Water Reclamation Facility, in 1962. The facility has been providing tertiary treated reclaimed water to the San Gabriel and Rio Hondo Spreading Grounds in the Montebello Forebay ever since. Currently the Districts provide tertiary effluent treated water from several water reclamation plants for groundwater replenishment. The Districts treated water has become an important part of the overall supply providing water to the spreading grounds. This locally controlled and sustainable water source helps alleviate the historic over-drafting of the Central Groundwater Basin. In addition to maximizing ground water recharge with tertiary effluent treated water, the Districts recently assisted with research to determine if the higher-salinity wastewater bypassed around the water reclamation facilities can be cost-effectively recycled.
Attendees.
Water Replenishment District Commitment to Eliminating Colorado River Water as a Source of greater Los Angeles Area Potable Water
Mr. Robb Whittaker spoke about the Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD), the Groundwater Reliability Improvement Program (GRIP) and the desire to be water independent (from State Water Project, MWD and Colorado River Water) by 2018. The latter program to achieve water independence is known by the acronym WIN (Water Independence Now). The WRD manages and provides groundwater to the southern and western sections of Los Angeles County. WRD's water sources include the existing groundwater, imported water from the California Aqueduct and the Colorado River, the above mentioned recycled water, and storm water, all of which are used to recharge the groundwater basin through the spreading grounds. The WRD set a goal of eliminating the need for imported water by 2018 through the increased use of recycled water. Through the GRIP and WIN programs, the Water Replenishment District hopes to take advantage of recent advances in membrane filtration and reverse osmosis to use more recycled water for groundwater replenishment. The supply of recycled water will be more stable and may be lower cost than the supply of imported water, especially in lean drought years.
Attendees.
The Bay Delta Conservation Program, Peripheral Canal, and the Potential for Reliable State Project Waters
Mr. Richard Atwater of the Bay Delta Conservation Program (BDCP) spoke last. The Bay Delta is comprised of the area from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River delta to the San Francisco Bay. It is the source of water for 25 million Californians and the home of 750 species of wildlife and plants, but the system is in need of an upgrade. Decades-long fights between Northern and Southern California, environmentalists, farmers, and urban end users have culminated in the formation of the BDCP that will, in its authors' words, "balance the needs of fish and wildlife with California's human and economic needs." Part of a proposed Bay Delta restoration plan may be two 35-mile long tunnels to convey water without disturbing the sensitive ecosystems. The proposed tunnels have an estimated capital cost of $14 billion, according to the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and will take approximately 10 years to construct. Metropolitan Water District (MWD) financial studies indicate that these capital costs could be financed using DWR revenue bonds. The cost to the 19 million customers within the MWD service area would result in monthly water bill increases of about $4-$5 (per month) after the 10 year construction period (2026). This would be an increase from a typical 2013 monthly water bill in LA County of approximately $50 to $70.
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