NBWRA WEBLOG

The following notice from the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF), This Week In Washington from WEF, provides a good example of why recycled water is an increasingly critical water resource in the North Bay Region and throughout the country.

According to a report (www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/watersustainability)  released on July 20 by the Natural Resources Defense Council (www.nrdc.org), more than 1,100 U.S. counties, a full one-third of all counties in the lower 48 states, now face higher risks of water shortages by mid-century as the result of global warming, and more than 400 of these counties will be at extremely high risk for water shortages. The report uses publicly available water use data across the United States and climate projections from a set of models used in recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) work to evaluate withdrawals related to renewable water
supply. The report finds that 14 states face an extreme or high risk to water sustainability, or are likely to see limitations on water availability as demand exceeds supply by 2050. These areas include parts of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. In particular, in the Great Plains and Southwest United States, water sustainability is at extreme risk.

The report estimates that water withdrawal will grow by 25 percent in many areas of the U.S. including the arid Arizona/New Mexico area, the populated areas in the South Atlantic region, Florida, the Mississippi River basin, and Washington, D.C. and surrounding regions. Estimated water withdrawal as a percentage of available precipitation is generally less than 5 percent for
the majority of the Eastern United States, and less than 30 percent for the majority of the Western United States. In some arid regions (such as Texas, the Southwest, and California) and agricultural areas, water withdrawal is greater than 100 percent of the available precipitation. County- and state-specific maps detailing the report findings (http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/watersustainability/).

The North Bay Water Recycling Program conducted tours for federal and state officials, and regulators, in June and August , 2009 to provide them with a greater understanding of this important regional, cooperative water project and to answer their questions.

LINKS TO RECENT NEWS STORIES ABOUT THE DROUGHT
FROM NAPA, SONOMA AND MARIN COUNTIES

Thursday, January 29, 2009
Sonoma Index-Tribune: Water rationing a reality
http://sonomanews.com/articles/2009/01/30/news/doc49825e2283627740244097.txt

Friday, January 30, 2009
San Francisco Chronicle: Forecast: Worst Drought Ever
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/30/MNC615JNHB.DTL&hw=drought&sn=001&sc=1000

Saturday, January 31, 2009
Press Democrat: Cities brace for impending water rationing
http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20090130/ARTICLES/901309837

Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Marin Independent Journal: Dry conditions have Marin talking water drought, rationing
http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_11569690?IADID=Search-www.marinij.com-www.marinij.com

Thursday, February 5, 2009,
Napa Valley Register: Drought May Mean Reductions Around the Valley
http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2009/02/05/news/local/doc498a8ecb1ccd8982867616.txt

Read more…?

News headlines across the state are warning us that California may be in the grip of its most significant water crisis in its history.

North Bay Water Recycling Program Is One Part of the Solution.

Here is how the California Department of Water Resources Describes the Drought Crisis:
California is facing the most significant water crisis in its history. After experiencing two years of drought and the driest spring in recorded history, water reserves are extremely low. http://www.water.ca.gov/drought/

Drought Impacts at a Glance

• California and the North Bay region are entering a third year of drought in 2009, following the driest spring in recorded history last year

• Water reserves are extremely low in Lake Mendocino and Lake Sonoma.  Lake Mendocino may be out of water by mid-summer. Up to 50% mandatory rationing may be needed in parts of Sonoma and Marin Counties. Napa is also be affected by limited surface water supplies, and falling groundwater levels in some areas are impacting the region.

• Court restrictions on water from the Delta reduced supplies from state’s water systems by 20% to 30% and the Delta ecosystem has been described as near collapse.

• The specific impacts of global warming locally are unknown but add uncertainty and concern about future water supply reliability. Reduction in snow runoff from the Sierra has already been measured due to global warming

North Bay Water Recycling Program an Important Part of the Solution

• Recycled water provides reliable irrigation water for parks, golf courses, school grounds, other public landscaping, vineyards, agricultural uses, as well as for restoration of wetland habitat and improved stream flows for riparian habitat and fisheries recovery

• Recycled water is proven safe and growing rapidly in popularity. Over 180 cities and communities are using recycled water throughout California with many located throughout the North Bay. San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park has been irrigated with recycled water since 1932.

• A warming climate may further stress water supplies, and the North Bay Water Recycling Program can help. Reusing our water instead of disposing it is the most efficient use of this critical resource. Recycled water uses less energy and has lower carbon footprint than potable supplies.

• NBWRA’s cooperative approach lowers costs and increases access to federal and state grant funds. Already $1.25 million in federal grants have been received and up to $25 million more have been applied for.