State water officials recently reported that annual snowpack in the Sierra Nevada mountain range was 95 percent of average. While this should be cause for celebration – since two-thirds of all Californians and most of the state’s economy rely on mountain snowpack for much of our water – unfortunately, abundant snow and rain doesn’t translate into greater water security for Southern California.
Just recently, officials at the state Department of Water Resources announced that they were allocating only 15 percent of contracted water supplies to water agencies that receive their water through the state water project.
Our state’s main water distribution infrastructure that brings water from the Sierras to 27 million residents in the Bay Area and Central and Southern California is aging and at risk of collapse. This outdated system does not allow us to move and store water efficiently when we have abundant rain and snow.
In January alone, more than 270,000 acre-feet of water was lost because of outdated infrastructure. That’s enough water to serve more than 1.5 million people for an entire year. That amount of water would also fill more than one-third of Diamond Valley Lake – Southern California’s largest reservoir.
And that’s just one month. It is anticipated that we will lose 15,000 acre-feet of water per day as the rains continue.
And the kicker? We in Southern California, as well as our fellow Californians in the Bay Area and Central California, are paying for the water we don’t receive.
Systemic change
Fortunately, there is a plan to fix this system. The California Water Fix would replace aging infrastructure by building a modern water pipeline under the Sacramento San Joaquin Delta – the choke point of our water distribution system – to more efficiently and safely deliver water while adding far greater protection for the environment.
The plan is the culmination of nearly a decade of scientific and environmental review, reflecting extensive analysis and the recommendations of leading water experts, scientists and engineers.
Southern California would benefit greatly from this project. Nearly one-third of our region’s water supply comes from the Sierras through this infrastructure.
While our region is working hard to increase local water supplies and reduce imports, the simple reality is that we will always need this water and it is a critical part of the portfolio to ensure good water quality and adequate local water supplies.
While technologies such as desalination are important, they would only meet a tiny fraction of our water needs. In fact, the water that was lost in the month of January alone is five times the amount of water the new Carlsbad desalination plant expects to produce annually.
We need this good quality water from the Sierra snowpack to replenish groundwater basins and fill up our reservoirs. As we pursue water recycling in Southern California, we need good quality fresh water to blend it with, which requires a reliable conveyance system to move water where it’s needed.
The California Water Fix will only cost the average residential customer $5 a month, far less than the cost of developing other supplies. What’s more, we can’t afford not to invest in this project. Scientists warn that the outdated dirt levees that transport this water are severely vulnerable to earthquakes and natural disasters that could cut off water supplies to our region for months or even a year. This would cause catastrophic human and economic consequences for our region. Gov. Jerry Brown’s California Water Fix is the right investment for the citizens and businesses of our state.
Gary Toebben is chief executive of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. Ron Miller is executive secretary of the Los Angeles and Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council.
