HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/06/2003, CLR 1 - NORTH COUNTY WATER FORUM LIAISON REPORT RED FILE RECEIVED
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May 2, 2003 R000�
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To: Mayor Romero and Council Colleagues 2ACAO AFIRE CHIEF
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From: Ken Schwartz, City Couneilm ❑ �RT HEADS p.REC w
Prepared by: John Moss,Utilities Director 1 . 8 UTIL L'
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Subject: North County Water Forum Liais eport
The May meeting of the North County Water Forum was held on Thursday May 15S in Templeton. The
items discussed a this meeting included an update on the Nacimiento Water Supply project and the
result of a recent study completed for the City of Paso Robles by the consulting firm of Malcolm
Pirnie, which evaluates options for the City to attain compliance with their wastewater discharge
requirements to the Salinas River.
There was good news on the Nacimiento project. The long awaited revised draft EIR was delivered to
the County in administrative draft form on May IS`. Following County staff review,they expect the
public draft to be released in mid-June. This document has lagged considerably from its original
schedule,however assuming it stays on track, we may expect to see certification by the Board of
Supervisors in late fall.
The Paso Robles Water and Wastewater Quality Concerns and Strategy report(report)prepared for the
City of Paso Robles was completed in response to increasing pressure from the Regional Water
Quality Control Board(RWQCB)to reduce the concentration of total dissolved solids (TDS or salts) in
their wastewater discharge. The study specifically analyzed methods for removing TDS from the
wastewater and/or improving source water quality(less salty water supply=less salty wastewater
discharge). The purpose of the study was to develop a joint water quality/supply strategy for the City.
Fourteen options were analyzed and their costs to implement range from$100,000 to $ 6 million per
year. A number of options were dismissed as either not feasible or not able to provide the assurances
or meet the objectives of the City. The final recommended mix of alternatives (strategy) include:
regulation of industrial dischargers to the City's wastewater collection and treatment system;
desalination of at least a portion of the wastewater effluent; and,bringing on Nacimiento water as a
lower TDS source of supply. The report determined that Paso Robles needs to have a"combined"
strategy such as outlined above, as no one solution was found to satisfy their objectives..
Obviously the above strategy is not without its challenges. Brine disposal from the desalination
process will be complicated and costly, and the fate of the Nacimiento project looms as a large
concern. The study does consider the possibility of Paso developing a Nacimiento project to serve
their needs on their own. At this time, the City is unsure what the RWQCB will require them to do as
their permit is pending and is expected to be released this fall. The study completed by Malcolm
Pimie was an analysis of information gathered in a number of previous studies performed for the City
of Paso Robles.
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What this all means relative to the City of San Luis Obispo's interests in the Nacimiento project
remains to be seen, however this study does support Paso Robles increased interest in the Nacimiento
Project. Given the seeming importance of the issue being presented to the North County Water Forum,
it was at least a little curious that no representatives from the City of Paso Robles were present at the
meeting,except their consultant.
If you have any questions regarding this report, please feel free to call John Moss at X205.