CCSD has for years fixated on desalination as the next, best opportunity for a new, supplemental water supply for Cambria. The decisions of this and prior Boards have jeopardized the future of Cambria. Their decisions have put us on a path to developing the most expensive and unsuccessful technology for a new drinking water source. Desalination is an amazing technology. Forcing non-potable water through fine reverse-osmosis membranes at high pressures purifies the water to drinking water standards. However, the high pressures require high cost energy to run the plant pumps. The membrane filter process yields high concentrations of salt laden contaminates, difficulty in cleaning the membranes, and raises great concerns for discharge of the filter waste to the environment.

Is desalination California’s answer to the drought?
Northern California just endured its driest winter in 20 years. The state’s population is growing by half a million people a year. New dams are controversial. Although 10 years ago there were none, today 20 desalination projects are on the drawing board in California’s coastal areas from San Diego to Marin County. Filtering salty ocean water into drinkable fresh water is expensive. And environmental challenges loom. But groundbreaking on several facilities may start within two years. New technology has cut the cost of filtering ocean water in half since 1990. Still, the process, which uses large amounts of electricity, can cost at least three times as much as other ways. In large part because of high costs, none of California’s 20 proposed projects is under construction. San Jose Mercury News_ 6/3/07

Desalination, with a Grain of Salt – Pacific Institute June 2006

“The potential benefits of ocean desalination are great, but the economic, cultural, and environmental costs of wide commercialization remain high.”

Less than 10% of desalination in the US is for desalination of seawater. The remaining capacity is primarily dedicated to desalinating wastewater and pure water for high-quality industrial purposes.

Of the plants constructed, many have not lived up to the expectations of cost of construction or operating efficiency. Tampa Bay built for over $100 Million has been fraught with difficulties due to “serious management and technological failures.” Changes valued at over $29Million (25+% over-run) have yet to yield an operating plant – six years late!

California experience is no better for municipal systems. Santa Barbara’s RO plant was decommissioned as it never operated commercially and proved to be an expensive burden. They decided to use other sources “more fully”. City of Morro Bay’s RO plant is intermittently used as an emergency source. Marina Coast Water District’s RO plant was idle at the time of the Pacific Institute report. Santa Catalina Island’s RO plant is inactive.

Who is moving ahead with their studies, even in light of all the adverse results to-date?

Large municipalities or water districts with deep pockets. Marin Municipal Water District; East Bay MUD/SF Utility Commission/Santa Clara Valley Water District; EBMUD; Monterrey Water and Sanitary District; City of Santa Cruz; California Water Company; LADWP; Long Beach; Huntington Beach; Orange County; San Diego/Orange County…

What are our Alternatives?

Recycled Water

Recycled water or tertiary treated water can be used for landscape and agriculture irrigation as well as groundwater-recharge, which would benefit the environmental concerns at Santa Rosa Creek and supplement the groundwater levels in San Simeon well field. The State Water Board and Coastal Commission place recycled water reuse as its highest priority of sound water supply management after household conservation. California Water Code Section 13511 states “The legislature finds and declares that a substantial portion of the future water requirements of this state may be economically met by beneficial use of recycled water….Use of recycled water constitutes the development of “new basic water supplies” as that term is used” in the water code.

Surface Water Supplies – State Water Project via San Luis Obispo County

The Bay News (Morro Bay and Cayucos) January 10, 2008 states: ”Of the (SLO) County’s 25,000 AF entitlement, only 4,830AF are actually under contract…Under the latest State apportionment of water San Luis Obispo could have gotten 6,250AF. (Which means that 1,420AF is availablefor sale). The County wants to sell the excess water allotment to the Central Coast Water Authority(Santa Barbara)!!! CCSD should immediately open discussions with SLO County to reserve rights to a new water supply by means of a 1 year water reliability agreement. All SLO County property owners have paid for our portion of the state water on their property tax bills for decades. Sale of our water to Santa Barbara, while we plan to pat $Millions for a new expensive, water supply is irresponsible!!!

Why can’t Cambria have the same benefits as every other coastal community? Is it the CCSD or San Luis Obipso County who has failed us?

Who are the beneficiaries of proper and timely planning? – Morro Bay (1,313AF), Pismo Beach (1,100AF), Questa College, County Jail Complex, California Men’s Colony, Oceano CSD, Avila CSD, and SLO Coastal School District.

Who has no benmefits of State water – Cambria!

Well Supplies

CCSD has failed to optimize the usage of the Santa Rosa well field and the San Simeon well field. Safe yield as determined by the State of California and agreed to by the State Fish and Game are a total over 1,600 AF. Our withdrawal permits total 1,230AF and we have never used more than 820AF (1988).

CCSD needs to reevaluate their decision making regarding the use of our valuable well fields. CCSD should be petitioning the State and the Fish and Game for further definition to the pumping regimens, be more cooperative and pro-active in their dealings with the State and County to utilize our full allotment of water supply.

Frank J. DeMicco

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