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Home My WebLink About0176.091, , ....... -........ --~-,.:...-----.. -.-, • ~.,,'. ,.,,., " !larch 7. lnl THE HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL Palo Alto, California city of P,10 Alto we'l, Start-uP Keabers of the Council. This staff report provides backqrouncJ and informs the Council of the nRed to comaence operation of the City's four main wate~ vells beginning on M~rch 20, 1991. NO Council action is required. Bocl;argund Since five years of a continuing drouqht have created a severe shortaqe of water, the San Francisco Public utility commission approved a new mandatory rationing program on February 26, 1991 .. This plan requires a systemwide reduction of 45 percent from 1987 levels on the city of San Francisco and the 30 suburban water custoaers .. Based on the formula used to allocate water between San Francisco and the 30 Suburban Purchasers, Palo Alto must reduce consumption by over 53 percent annually~ compared to the current 27 percent level of l:'eduction. Furthe.rmore., the allocation formula requires a 90 percent r~~uetion in outside water use. This obligates Palo Alto custo.ars to reduce water consumption over 65 percent during the suaaer months, when irrigation is at its peak. The objective of the cityts 1990-91 water reduction plan was to achieve targets throuqh conservation and avoid the use of wells if at all possible. However, during the winter .onths we vere unable to remain below allocation and had to pay $342,,151 J.n penalties. This v~s primarily due to the unseasonably warm and dry weather in November, December ~ January and February which prompted continued lrriqation. C'lIIU 171.11 ---..,,----:---'-'------ .-.'. peel. ion to start the WeIll In the face of the .u~ more stringent re~uctions ~~at the City will soon be required to ~eet, staft decided to operate the vells for the following reasons! Use of this alternative source of water will reduce overall demand on the Hatch Hetchy 8YBt~.; Operation of the wells will help the city meet the redtJction objective for 1991. This will avoid penalties, and allow the city to accrue b~inq credits durin<J this period; and Palo A1to will reduce the City's demand on Hetch Hetchy and make this Yater availabl~ to San Franci~co and the other suburban vater users. Palo Alto has invested in the aaintenance of the wells~ and it is appropriate at this tiae for Palo Alto to use the local qroundwater system. other suburban ~~rchasers are already relying on local well production to meet existing reduction objectives. These cities have accumulated banked vater credits, and have avoided payment of penalties. It s~ould be noted that the exact role the operation .of the W~lls will pla.y in the supply scenario for thE proposed 1991 Drought Plan has not yet been determined, and will be discussed within the context of the 1991 Drought P15n at the Council Study Session scheduled for early April. Actiyities Activities are underway to address Issues pertaining to the physical operation of the wells, the monitoring for subsidence, and the notification of City Officials and the public. Well Operation Well. are a qood, potable alternative source of w~ter, although tha vater viII be noticeably harder than Retch Hetchy. Chlorine and fluoride will be injected, and the well water will be tested in conforaance with the state Department of Health Services (ooBS) requireaents. Initially, testing will be more frequent CHR.176Ul 2 • , \ • _______________ • ..,;:.;.;.u;""! because the wells have not been used since 1988, and it is prudent to take extra precautions. Soma discoloration of the Yater may occur in the early staqes due to tha change in the direction ot the tlov~ which loosenB sediments accumulated inside the water distribUtion pipes. The discoloration Is expected to be minimal due to new equipment mQditications and operating procedurea, and will quickly subside. There is no reason to believe there vill be any sig:nificant aubsidence probleEs res~ltinq from operating the wells in Palo Alto. Fro. 1938 until 1962 the City's needs vere Det from a blend of vater trom H~tch Hetchy and continuous well operatIon. Prior to 1938 the wells supplied all of the City's needs without evidence of any subsidence problems. Bench mark elevation city are available. against the original after the wells have surveys of various points throughout the New surveys will be taken an~ compared bench marks to Doni tor possible subsidence, been operating for a period of time. Notification of the Pub] 10 Advertisements notifying the publi~ of the city's decision to commence well operation and any possible change that may be experienced by residences and businesses will be placed in the palo ~to Weekly issues of Karch 13 1 1991 and Karch 20, 1991. Respectfully submitted, R~f/-P B.,l • ..J RONALD P. BELVAL Manaqer, Ener9"i Planning &dulAd..--". -;(ro--' -~CIWID L. YOUNG Director of utilities ~~~ 3