GROUNDWATER BASINS CAN PROVIDE STORAGE AND INCREASED WATER SUPPLY

Conservative estimates of grounwater storage benefits are that we could increase average annual water deliveries throughout the State by 500,000 acre feet by using 9 million acre feet of “new” groundwater storage.

New groundwater storage includes both re-operation of existing groundwater storage and recharging water into de-watered aquifer space.

More aggressive estimates are that we could increase average annual water deliveries by 2 million acre feet using 20 million acre-feet of new storage.

CLEANUP AND MONITORING IS NEEDED TO ENSURE HIGH QUALITY GROUNDWATER

Based on Department of Health Services data, 10-15 % of our water supply wells have had at least one chemical exceedance of the maximum contaminant level. In agricultural areas, many wells have been impacted by nitrate. Tools and technologies are available to cleanup our groundwater. More investment in groundwater monitoring, protection, and cleanup is needed to increase future water supply reliability and ensure high water quality standards.

More Funding Is Needing >>