Word to the Wise: Water, Water Everywhere?

By David GreenwaldJune 18, 20091 comments

By E. A. Roberts –

watersupplydemand

Above is a forecast of Davis water supply demand/capacity projected to the year 2040, as envisioned by City Staff. This pictorial representation was presented at the June 2, 2009 City Council meeting, and discussed in the June 11, 2009 Senior Citizens Commission meeting with Bob Weir of the Davis Public Works Dept. What is striking are the assumptions built into this model. The line representing peak water demand assumes a 1% growth rate in housing development.

Which brings to mind the following observations and questions:

1) Why was the number 1% chosen as an assumption, the maximum allowable growth rate for Davis? Is that what staff believes the growth rate for housing will be? When deciding how much water supply is required for this city, is maximum development being planned for? Or is this the estimate of a worst case scenario?

2) The less development, the less steep the peak hour demand for water. If this city were to stay exactly the size it is today, it appears as if the water supply we currently have would sufficient until the year 2027. So is the possibility of future development the real reason behind the professed need for more water from the Sacramento River?

3) It is my understanding if there were a confluence of certain events that would tax our current water system, it is not sufficient to meet demand. In other words, if there was a nearby forest fire in the middle of a summer drought, we might not have enough water capacity to deal with such a dire situation. But how likely is such a scenario, and do we need to prepare for every possible contingency?

4) Citizens of this city just simply cannot afford the steep costs to pay for a wastewater treatment plant upgrade, water supply project, and maintenance of our water system all at the same time. City staff has indicated we have no choice. But how does one get blood ($$$) out of a turnip (a taxpayer that is broke)?

5) City staff has indicated developers need to pay their fair share of capital water/sewer projects, to defray the costs caused by new development. Will the city make sure that happens if new development occurs, or be too beholden to developer interests to toughen up during the negotiating process?

6) According to the independent water consultants Ed & George, the less water used, the less will be the need for an expensive wastewater treatment plant upgrade. Water conservation is key. How better to conserve water than for Davis to grow slowly, keeping future development to a healthy minimum? That will be far more effective in conserving water than any conservation techniques citizens could possibly employ.

I’m not advocating any particular position, just posing the questions.

 

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  • David Greenwald

    Greenwald is the founder, editor, and executive director of the Davis Vanguard. He founded the Vanguard in 2006. David Greenwald moved to Davis in 1996 to attend Graduate School at UC Davis in Political Science. He lives in South Davis with his wife Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald and three children.

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1 comment

  1. Since when has a public works project come in on or under budget? A reasonable person would assume the actual costs would be on the order of 1.5-2.5x the projected costs. If it was unaffordable originally, what does that make it when the bill comes due?

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