The Sunnyvale Sun
News
City taking the steps to protect its water supply
By Cody Kraatz
The city of Sunnyvale's water security depends on state pumping operations in the Sacramento River delta and on the coming winter's rainfall. This year is the 15th driest on record in California, with rainfall and snowpack far below normal, said James Craig, assistant director of public works.
"We have a lot of flexibility in our system," said Craig, confident enough to raise the possibility of selling water rights to nearby cities like Menlo Park in the event of water rationing.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District would take a hit if the state stopped pumping water from the delta, which it has done recently to protect the delta smelt, an endangered fish considered to be an indicator of the health of the delta. Pumping is currently near full capacity.
Craig told the city council during a July 10 study session that the delta situation can change quickly, with pumps running full speed one week and completely shut off the next. The water district can also turn to San Luis Reservoir, but it shares that with the Central Valley and Southern California, which are drawing on that heavily.
The council asked for the report in April after the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission issued a request for a voluntary 10 percent reduction in water usage. The water district issued a 10 percent request in June.
Sunnyvale gets its water from the SFPUC, which pumps its water from Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in the Sierra Nevada, from the water district which gets most of its water from the delta, the San Luis Reservoir and from local groundwater wells.
A third of Sunnyvale north of Central Expressway gets SFPUC water, and the southern two-thirds get water from the district and well water. Office parks in the northern part of the city water lawns with non-potable recycled water from the city's Water Pollution Control Plant, which processes 29.5 million gallons of wastewater per day.
The city is moving forward with advertising and possibly a website to promote water conservation through steps like sweeping instead of hosing down sidewalks and watering lawns in the cool part of the day.
"Water is going to become a very precious item and to see it running down the gutter or running down the drain is not going to be desirable," said councilman Ron Swegles. He said that individual water meters for townhouses are needed to measure water usage and can be affordable.
The city gives away free showerheads, and the water district offers rebates on efficient toilets, washing machines and other appliances.
Visit www.valleywater.org for water conservation information.
