County agency won’t increase peak-demand water flow

The Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) has limited its supply to the Valley of the Moon Water District (VOMWD) and other contractors, a situation officials say could dangerously limit the ability to meet peak demands.
Budget constraints have forced a system-wide cap on delivery of Russian River water, according to SCWA General Manager Randy Poole. The cuts also assure a state-mandated 25 percent reduction, a goal he said cities “are not serious” about meeting.
“I have never seen a more rancorous display from an agency towards its clients,” said Mark Bramfitt, a member of the VOMWD board of directors. “It’s clear that there are adequate supplies. This is political, not operational.”
The agency has limited its delivery to 53-million gallons per day. On a hot day, peak demand can reach 60-million gallons per day.
“During the week of July 13, agency tanks were allowed to drop to levels that had the potential to cause operational emergencies,” according to Chris DeGabriele of the North Marin Water District, an agency client. The cap he explains, “Dangerously limits our collective ability to meet short term peak demands,” and, “endangers the health and safety of our communities.”
The agency’s water storage capacity is 85-million gallons. Each day of peak demand draws approximately 7-million gallons from that total.
According to DeGabriele’s statement, any increased flow would be within environmental parameters. “There is enough water,” Bramfitt said. “The effect on the river would be negligible.”
General Manager Krishna Kumar and others at a VOMWD board meeting Tuesday night contested the agency’s budget argument. “The additional flow would be paid for by contractors,” he said. “We are only talking about brief periods, heat spells.”
Furthermore, Kumar said, the SCWA met its budget for the fiscal year which ended June 30, and the new fiscal year includes a rate hike. “Any expense in delivering the water would be compensated by the sale of the water,” he said.
The SCWA’s Poole said by closing pumping facilities, and laying-off maintenance workers, the agency will save $1 million. VOMWD Board President Ron Prushko said he doubted the agency had laid people off, but that its reduction in personnel was the result of attrition.
Bramfitt represents the local district on the eight-client Water Advisory Committee (WAC), which Monday unanimously passed a resolution requesting increased water flows on peak days and a full explanation of the agency’s budget issues.
“Are we subject to measures that are exceedingly constrictive?” questioned Laurie Gallian, another WAC member. “Is it budget, or other factors? We want something in writing.”
Poole has said his agency policy reflects a concern that cities and districts are not serious about water conservation. Kumar said he felt “slammed” by that charge. Kumar reported that VOMWD customers have met the 25 percent reduction threshold, and local conservation efforts are a model for cities around the country. “This district has a legacy of water conservation,” Kumar said.
Other agencies have reported success as well, including Rohnert Park (a 27 percent cut in June); Petaluma (29 percent down) and Santa Rosa (32 percent lower).
“People are making earnest efforts to conserve,” said Gallian. “I don’t feel our conservation efforts have been recognized. “