Dear Editor, In the April 21 editorial
”
Time to change the water district’s familiar song-and-rate-hike
dance,
”
much of the information presented about the Santa Clara Valley
Water District was inaccurate.
Water district doing its job and being fiscally prudent as well
Dear Editor,
In the April 21 editorial “Time to change the water district’s familiar song-and-rate-hike dance,” much of the information presented about the Santa Clara Valley Water District was inaccurate.
As a district board member, I take my responsibility to the taxpayers very seriously. To allow such a misinformed opinion to be presented without countering with facts would truly be a disservice to them.
First, regarding rate setting, the board has traditionally set groundwater production charges annually, not every six months.
Editorial point #1: Expanding the distribution lines for recycled water would make sense. Response: for years the water district has been a strong proponent and financial backer of expanding the distribution lines for recycled water as an effective all-weather supply, which can help to conserve potable water as part of a conjunctive use program. The district has worked closely with Gilroy and Morgan Hill and has invested $12.3 million since 2000 on recycled water expansion, with plans to invest another $9.5 million to extend recycled water from the treatment plant to the Glen Loma development.
Although the district has received government grants to offset some costs, it will take time to fully recover all the investments. It is a classic example of investing for the future.
Editorial point #2: The water district needs to look to its own budget and cut 15 percent. Response: The board agrees that fiscal belt-tightening is imperative. Last fiscal year, the board reduced the budget by approximately $11 million, taking measures that included eliminating 28 positions and reducing overtime and consultant expenses.This year, to keep costs down and to offset an anticipated reduction in revenue, the staff will be recommending a budget with more than $20 million in reductions. Likely, 18 more positions will be eliminated. Addressing the issue of water conservation, the the district has more than 20 conservation programs for indoor and outdoor water usage for commercial and residential customers. These include numerous rebate programs, such as the high-efficiency toilet and washing machine rebates. The estimated water savings from these programs is more than 42,000 acre-feet per year countywide.
Editorial point #3: It’s unfathomable but true – the SCVWD has water in Bakersfield. Response: It is true, the district has a contractual relationship with the Semitropic Water Bank, allowing the district to store water in an underground aquifer in Kern County. Following the last major drought, the water district began storing imported water supplies during wet years to be used during dry years to mitigate shortages. While the investment is not cheap, it is miniscule compared to the cost of building, operating and maintaining a new reservoir, or to the economic and societal costs of water shortages.
Building a new reservoir could cost several hundred million dollars with commensurate increases in charges to water users. Meeting the county’s needs through the less-expensive banking program makes fiscal sense.
Sig Sanchez, Board Chair, Santa Clara Valley Water District
