Weigh in on Report About Water Supply, Quality

Message from the Dublin San Ramon Services District:

Water retailers in the Tri-Valley have issued a draft of their fiscal year 2010/11 annual report for public review before the Committee of Valley Water Retailers considers approval of the report at its annual meeting on Oct. 26.

The draft annual report for fiscal year 2010/11 can be obtained at the following locations, from the noted individuals:

• Darren Greenwood, City of Livermore, Water Resources Division, 101 W. Jack London Blvd, Livermore, CA 94551
• John Freeman, California Water Service Company, 195 S. “N” St., Livermore, CA 94550
• Abbas Masjedi, City of Pleasanton, Operations Services Department, 3333 Busch Road, Pleasanton, CA 94566
• Bert Michalczyk, Dublin San Ramon Services District, 7051 Dublin Blvd., Dublin, CA 94568
• On the Internet at: http://www.dsrsd.com/news_and_event/2010-11_TVWRG_AnnualReportFinalDraft.pdf

Written comments must be submitted no later than close of business on October 26, 2011, to the Committee of Valley Water Retailers, c/o Darren Greenwood, City of Livermore, Water Resources Division, 101 W. Jack London Blvd., Livermore, CA 94551. Verbal comments can be made at the annual meeting, which will be on October 26 at 6:00 PM in the Dublin San Ramon Services District Board Room, 7051 Dublin Blvd., Dublin.

Highlights of the retailers’ key actions during the past year include the following:

1.    Continue to support Zone 7’s involvement in Delta water supply issues in fiscal year 2010/11 and beyond, including support of immediate-term projects that could improve the Delta water supply situation.

2.    Continue to work closely with Zone 7 to prepare the Water Supply
Evaluation (previously referred to as the Water System Master Plan Update) using a risk-based planning approach to address the projected future shortfall in water supplies in the Tri-Valley.

3.    Work closely with Zone 7 and with each other to review the current regional water conservation programs and develop new programs and methods for more effective and efficient use of the regional water conservation fund.

4.    Continue to work with Zone 7 on the update of the Asset Management Program (AMP), and review and provide comments on the AMP as it is being developed in an effort to sustain a reasonable balance between cost and infrastructure reliability.

5.    Develop a process to receive regular operational status updates on the Zone 7 Mocho Demineralization Facility, as well as criteria for evaluating the results of the treatment process.

Recommended action items for FY11/12 include the following:

1.    Continue to stay informed and be supportive of Zone 7’s involvement in Delta water supply issues in fiscal year 2011/12 and beyond, including support of immediate-term projects that could improve the Delta water supply situation.

2.    Continue to work closely with Zone 7 to implement the recommendations of the 2011 Water Supply Evaluation to address the projected future shortfall in water supplies in the Tri-Valley. Focus specifically on the adoption of an appropriate reliability policy by the Zone 7 Board.

3.    Work closely with Zone 7 to review the current regional water conservation programs and to redirect funding as necessary to programs that meet the specific needs of the retailers in achieving and/or maintaining compliance with SBx7-7.

4.    Continue to work with Zone 7 in regard to revising the recommendations of the Asset Management Program (AMP) and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) project planning to sustain a reasonable balance between cost, rates, and infrastructure reliability. Focus specifically on confirming the economic viability of System Wide Improvement Projects budgeted in the CIP and on adoption of updated reserve policies by the Zone 7 Board.

5.    Continue to monitor operation of the Zone 7 Mocho Demineralization Facility and work with Zone 7 to establish meaningful monitoring and reporting parameters to evaluate the cost and effectiveness of the treatment process.

The Committee of Valley Water Retailers’ objectives are to maintain a safe and reliable water supply, to acknowledge and identify issues they have in common, to establish a forum to enhance communication and cooperation between the retailers, and to initiate a process for mutual and coordinated efforts to review and influence the Zone 7 Water Agency’s policies, procedures, and actions on water supply issues of mutual concern.