Provide for the current and long-term water and wastewater collection needs of the district and its service area

By Sid Williams

Provide safe and clean water to all customers in the long and short term.

A. Short Term: Monitor well production to ensure that seawater intrusion and other toxics do not enter the supply for either the current district or the new Ord Community service area. Take steps to encourage water conservation. Maintain and or expand the water delivery and wastewater collection systems as necessary.

B. Long Term: See A above plus continue to search for new sources of water for the current district and the Ord Community.

1. Water Conservation is the cheapest source of water. Programs to encourage Hot Water Circulation Systems, Turf Reduction, Low Flow fixtures and High Efficiency Appliances, to name a few, should either continue or be assessed.

2. The current system of wells must be monitored to determine if sea water intrusion or toxic plumes intrusion, etc. become an issue, and consider moving the well field farther inland over time.

3. Recycled Water may be a good source of new water in the future however, it is almost as expensive as desalination and new "purple" pipe must be laid to make it worthwhile. Where would we store the water before distribution? This potential source should continue to be investigated. It should be a more regional issue but MCWD should be working with our neighbors to determine the answers. There is currently a Draft EIR considering this and other issues.

4. Desalinated Water has many options and projects that are currently being considered. Because of expense this should be a regional issue. Some advantages are no need for "purple" pipe and it can be used in aquifer storage.

5. Cloud Seeding Projects + Currently being conducted by MCRWA along with a proposal for rubber dam to capture more run off for aquifer recharge and agricultural use. This would then allow less aquifer depletion and therefore less likelihood of seawater intrusion. That could make our wells more secure and more productive in the long term. MCWD does participate with MCRWA and should continue to do so.