ITEM:

ACTION ITEMS

 

15.

CONSIDER REQUEST OF MONTEREY REGIONAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY TO FORM JOINT BOARD LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE TO COORDINATE THE GROUNDWATER REPLENISHMENT PROJECT

 

Meeting Date:

January 26, 2006

Budgeted: 

N/A

 

From:

David A. Berger,

Program/

N/A

 

General Manager

Line Item No.:

 

Prepared By:

Same

Cost Estimate:

N/A

 

General Counsel Approval:  N/A

Committee Recommendation:  N/A

CEQA Compliance:  N/A

 

SUMMARY:  The Board will consider a November 30, 2005 letter request by the Board Chair of the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency (MRWPCA) to form a joint board-level committee with our District, in order to coordinate policy development and continued planning between our two entities on the Groundwater Replenishment Project (Exhibit 15-A).  This MRWPCA-sponsored project envisions purification of recycled water to State health and water quality standards for transmission and percolation (or injection) into the Seaside Groundwater Basin, which would be available for later recovery as a supplemental potable water source.  In his December 12, 2005 acknowledgment letter former Chair Foy indicated that he planned to recommend that the Board assign its proposed Water Supply Committee to fulfill this purpose, rather than forming another ad hoc District committee (Exhibit 15-B).  The Board will consider forming a Water Supply Committee as a separate item on this agenda.      

 

RECOMMENDATION:   It is recommended that the Board assign the proposed Water Supply Committee to meet with the MRWPCA Recycled Water Storage Committee for the purpose described above, and to provide the District Board with regular progress reports on the Groundwater Replenishment Project.  Alternatively, the Board may wish to assign this role to its existing Water Demand Committee.   

 

BACKGROUND:  District staff provided MRWPCA with technical advice regarding Seaside Groundwater Basin conditions for purposes of the latter’s initial analysis of Groundwater Replenishment Project (GRP) feasibility.  Staff anticipates the need for continued technical support and coordination with MRWPCA and its consultants as the project moves into the next stage of study.  The District has incorporated detailed information on the GRP in its September 2005 comparative matrix of project alternatives that address the Monterey Peninsula’s long-term supply water supply need, as well as one of several proposed supply projects included in the District’s Prop. 50 round-one implementation grant application filed with the State last year.  The GRP is modeled after a large-scale purified, recycled water project, for which the Orange County Water District successfully gained wide community support, obtained State health and water quality permits, secured necessary funding, and now has under construction as a major new potable water resource.

 

IMPACT TO STAFF/RESOURCES:  If the Board assigns this joint meeting function to a newly formed Water Supply Committee, or its existing Water Demand Committee, minimal additional workload impact and no expense is envisioned beyond that which the District already anticipates in supporting further study of the GRP.  Staff effort should be limited to supporting joint meetings, as we expect MRWPCA staff would take the lead on meeting arrangements, materials distribution, etc.  

 

EXHIBITS

15-A    MRWPCA Board Chair Pendergrass’ November 30, 2005 letter

15-B    MPWMD Chair Foy’s December 12, 2005 letter

 

 

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