Pure Water Monterey: A Groundwater Replenishment Project

From CCoWS Wiki
Revision as of 21:20, 4 April 2014 by Jessicam (Talk | contribs)

Jump to: navigation, search

Summary

The Monterey Peninsula Groundwater Replenishment Project (GWR Project) proposed in 2010, is a collaboration between Monterey Peninsula Water Management District (MPWMD), Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency (MRWPCA), and California American Water Company (Cal-Am) to supplement Cal-Am's water supply (see Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project) while simultaneously recharging the Seaside Groundwater Basin.

The project proposes recharging the Seaside Basin with Advanced Treated Wastewater using injection wells beginning in 2016. The project goal is to provide Cal-Am with a supplemental water supply source. Cal-Am is pursuing alternative water supply due to the State Water Resources Control Board’s Cease and Desist Order to reduce diversions from the Carmel River and to comply with the Seaside Basin Adjudication (see CalAm Use of Carmel River Groundwater Basin) [1]. The GWR Project will produce 3,500 acre-feet per year (AFY)for sale to Cal-Am. Subsequently, Cal-Am will be able to reduce the capacity of its desalination plant by the same amount.

Current Status

The project entered a NOP on May 30, 2014.

Project Location

The GWR Project is proposed to be located in northern Monterey County in Marina and Seaside as well as unincorporated areas of the Salinas Valley [2].

GWR Project aims to replenish groundwater in the Seaside Groundwater Basin. The Seaside Groundwater Basin is located below Seaside, Sand City, Del Rey Oaks, Monterey and unincorporated areas of Monterey County, California [3]. The Paso Robles and Santa Margarita aquifers are the primary water supply aquifers within the Seaside Basin. There are approximately 37 groundwater wells that extract water from the Seaside Basin. Since 1987 the water table has has been dropping with a substantial drop in 1995 when Cal-Am switched its water supply from the Carmel River to the Seaside Groundwater Basin [3]. Cal-Am and MPWMD jointly operate a Storage and Recovery (SAR) project that injects excess flow from the Carmel River into the Seaside Basin during periods of high flow.

Systems

The GWR Project will artificially recharge the Seaside Groundwater Basin with advanced, treated wasterwater from the Marina water treatment plant. The treated water will be injected underground using a series of shallow and deep injection wells [1]. The goal if to have injected water mix with existing groundwater for storage until CalAm begins to use the water to supply its customers [1].


The GWR Project would require the development of the following facilities (list adapted from the NOP)[3]:

  • Source Water Conveyance Facilities: diversion and collection facilities, including pipelines and pump stations to convey source water to the new treatment facilities. Water sources to the treatment facility include: City of Salinas Treatment Plant water, Blanco Drain water, storm water from City of Salinas, effluent from the Regional Treatment Plant and Reclamation Ditch water,
  • Treatment Facilities: pretreatment facilities, a new Advanced Water Treatment Plant, and associated facilities at the existing Regional Treatment Plant site to filter and treat the source water,
  • Product Water Conveyance Facilities: pipelines, pump stations, and appurtenant facilities along one of two optional alignments to convey the treated water to the Seaside Basin, and
  • Replenishment/Recharge Facilities: pipelines, deep injection and shallow (vadose zone) wells, and backflush facilities to be located at one or both of two optional locations (coastal and/or inland recharge sites) within the Seaside Basin boundaries.

Laws, policies, & regulations

In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) the project must prepare an Environmental Impact Report (EIR). Under CEQA the lead agency will be the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency (MRWPCA). MRWPCA is currently preparing the EIR.

Resource/s at stake

Stakeholders

Links

Desalination in the Central Coast

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 http://www.mpwaterreplenishment.org/docs/Final%20GWR%20NOP%2030May2013%20with%20figures.pdf
  2. http://www.mpwaterreplenishment.org/docs/Final%20GWR%20NOP%2030May2013%20with%20figures.pdf
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 http://www.mpwaterreplenishment.org/docs/regulatory_research/BenefirtsofRecycledWaterRechargetoOver-DraftedCoastalGWBasin%20-%20Jerry%20Cole.pdf

Disclaimer

This page may contain student work completed as part of assigned coursework. It may not be accurate. It does not necessary reflect the opinion or policy of CSUMB, its staff, or students.