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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996-04-10; Water Commission Ad Hoc; MinutesMINUTES MEETING OF: DATE OF MEETING: TIME OF MEETING: 2:OO p.m. PLACE OF MEETING: WATER COMMISSION (Regular Meeting) April 10, 1996 5950 El Camino Real CALL TO ORDER: Vice-Chairperson Kubota called the Meeting to order at 2:OO p.m. ROLL CALL: Present Commissioners Kubota, Cap, Henley, Louis and Maerkle Absent: None. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was led by Commissioner Henley. COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE: Margaret Bonas stated that reclaimed water has been one of her long-time favorite subjects, and as a former Water Board Member, she is very interested in the use of reclaimed water. She stated that she was in Palm Springs and Las Vegas recently and inquired about where they were getting all that water for the golf courses, etc., and they said they have wells and get water from Colorado. Ms. Bonas said that the residents in San Diego County are being asked to conserve water and the developers are getting busy again in the area, but construction water is still potable water. She said that potable water is still used to water down the streets, and she does not understand why the trucks can’t go to San Marcos and get reclaimed water. Commissioner Maerkle stated that in Las Vegas they do use reclaimed water. He said the water is coming from the river, through the white water and under the ground and they swap their water for the northern water. NEW BUSINESS: 1. AB #0410-01 - WELCOMING OF NEW COMMISSIONER. Vice-Chairperson Kubota welcomed Marvin Cap as the new Commissioner. 2. AB #041O-02 - ELECTION OF OFFICERS. ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Louis, Commissioner Kubota was elected Chairperson for the coming year. AYES: Cap, Henley, Louis and Maerkle ABSTAl N: Kubota April 10, 1906 WATER COMMISSION Page 2 NEW BUSINESS: (Continued) ACTION: On motion by Commissioner Louis, Commissioner Maerkle was elected Vice- Chairperson for the coming year. AYES: ABSTAIN: Maerkle Kubota, Cap, Henley and Louis Clint Phillips requested that the next two items be trailed to allow time for Bill Plummer to arrive at the offices from a previous meeting. WATER COMMISSION: Presidents and Managers Meetinq Commissioner Maerkle stated he had no report. WARAC Chairperson Kubota stated he had no report. Commissioner Louis requested a copy of the report on the Rate Study. Clint Phillips reported that staff is in the process of delivering the report to the Water Board and it will be in the City Manager’s Office by the end of this week. The report is tentatively scheduled for the agenda of the Water Board April 23, 1996. There will be no action on the report at that time: however, a public hearing date will be set, and that is tentatively May 14. Chairperson Kubota stated that some of the Commissioners would probably attend that meeting. He also asked for a copy of the Rate Study report. Clint Phillips stated that he wanted to make certain that the Commission was aware that the Board adopted an ordinance that would sunset this Commission as of January 1998. Chairperson Kubota stated he had gotten a copy of the ordinance out of the newspaper this morning. He said he would like to see the staff report or the Minutes of the Board Meeting, giving the dialogue on this matter. He said the Commission should see how their program will be affected and to make certain that the Commission was doing what they should be the next two years. He asked staff to have an information item on this matter on the next agenda. Mr. Phillips stated this could be an agenda item at the next meeting. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: On motion by Commissioner Henley, the Minutes of the Regular Meeting held February 28, 1996, were approved as presented. AYES: Kubota, Henley, Louis and Maerkle ABSTAIN: Cap April 10, 1996 WATER COMMISSION Page 3 RECESS: Chairperson Kubota declared a recess at 2:24 p.m., and the Water Commission re-convened at 2:33 p.m., with all five Members present. NEW BUSINESS: (Continued) 3. AB #0410-03 - SAN MARCOS CREEK DAM. Bill Plummer, District Engineer, gave the report, using transparencies to show the Preliminary Site Evaluation for Construction of a proposed dam on San Marcos Creek. The dam characteristics were shown, the appurtenant facilities, the water quality and tributary flow rate. Mr. Plummer concluded his report showing the other considerations, ending the report with the recommendation that this project could be considered in more detail in the 1996 Master Plan process. (A copy of this report is attached to these Minutes.) In reply to query, Mr. Plummer stated he did not investigate flood control as far as La Costa was concerned, and Commissioner Louis suggested that La Costa might be interested in helping finance such a project in order to alleviate the flooding of the golf course. The Commissioners felt these ideas should be investigated and reports made on new ideas for water storage. They requested copies of the reports. 4. AB #0410-04 - RECLAIMED WATER STORAGE AT RESERVOIR, PALOMAR AIRPORT ROAD. Mr. Plummer gave the report, stating that Lee Ayers is in charge of the landscaping in the business park near McClellan Palomar Airport, and is interested in the irrigation of the landscaping there and the delivery of reclaimed water to the business park. Mr. Ayers’ proposal was to construct a small pond or lake in which reclaimed water placed during the day would be pumped out to irrigate the landscaping in the industrial business park during the night hours. Mr. Plummer said there is a waterfall feature on Palomar Airport Road, and this site would be behind that waterfall. There is a vacant lot adjacent to the waterfall, with a canyon between there and the road. Mr. Plummer said that there is a detention basin and an earthen dam and storm drain pipe there. At the present time, there is a total volume of three million gallons to overflow. If reclaimed water were to be stored there, it would be limited to six feet depth level behind the reservoir. Mr. Plummer said the average irrigation demand for the business park is 255,000 GPD (180 GPM). He said the range of pad elevation is 90 feet to 322 feet, with a total of 46 lots (23 vacant). There is service pressure available to all but eight lots from the existing reclaimed water system. Mr. Plummer said that the possibilities are: 1. Store reclaimed water in the reservoir and develop the site for passive use as a park. A. This would be of no benefit to the District. B. The aesthetic water quality would be a concern, due to the potential algae growth. April 10, 1996 WATER COMMISSION Page 4 NEW BUSINESS: (Continued) 2. Store reclaimed water in the reservoir and use the reservoir to supply reclaimed water for the irrigation of the business park. A. This would require allowance for fluctuating water levels in the reservoir and a construction of a 50 HP booster pump station. B. The water volume required is 0.5 MG. C. Operating assumes reclaimed water supplied to reservoir during the day and irrigation occurring during the night. (At night the booster pump would start and boost water into the irrigation pipe system.) D. Access around reservoir would need to be restricted. E. Aesthetic water quality concern from potential algae growth. F. Peak irrigation demand is reduced on District’s supply systems. G. High efficiency loss occurs resulting from discharging reclaimed water into the reservoir and then re-pumping the water into the irrigation system. H. The District receives only a limited benefit from this approach, resulting from a lower peak demand. 3. Convert reservoir to wetlands research/demonstration area. A. Reclaimed water would be placed in upstream from the reservoir, and the reservoir could be filled in the daytime and drawn down at night. This would benefit the District. B. Looking at how wetlands need to be constructed and made to work, the site would have to be re-graded. (50,000 CY at estimated cost of $500,000.) C. Possible use of area by University Research and public access for the passive use would be allowed. D. Initial investigation shows there is insufficient land area to adequately develop and operate a wetlands. Mr. Plummer stated he did not think there is significant benefit to the District to spend funds to build this type of lake in that area. He stated he is going to respond to Mr. Ayers and tell him that he could build the lake, if he wants to at his cost. Chairperson Kubota stated that he was pleased to see these reports; particularly with the public becoming more interested in reclaimed water and water storage. Mr. Plummer stated that there is money budgeted this year to explore new ideas and concepts and staff will be doing more of that. In response to Commission query, Mr. Plummer stated that there will be an update at the next meeting about the Livermore desalination pilot plant proposal. He said the plan is to have the pilot plant built by the end of the year. April 10, 1996 WATER COMMISSION Page 5 Set Next Meetina Date. Mr. Phillips stated the next regular meeting is scheduled for April 24, 1996. ADJOURNMENT: By proper motion, the Regular Meeting of April 10, 1996, was adjourned at 3:43 p.m. Minutes Clerk PRELIMINARY SITE EVALUATION FOR CONSTRUCTION OF SAN MARCOS CREEK DAM DAM CHARACTERISTICS HEIGHT: 175 feet CREST LENGTH: 400 feet BASE WIDTH: 550 feet EARTH VOLUME: ACCESS ROAD: 277,000 CY - Reinforced Concrete Face With Rockfill Piragua Street - Vista Bonita STORAGE CAPACITY: 1,640 ACRE-FEET APPURTENANT FACILITIES PUMP STATION: MAHR RESERVOIR: 600-feet elevation PIPELINE: 7,000 feet of 12-inch PRESSURE FILTERS CHLORINATION SYSTEM 700 gpm at 500-feet TDH using 120 HP motors WATER QUALIN Chemical Water Condition Reference Standards TDS 536 mg/L to 4OOO mg/L Max 750 to 1500 mg/L PH 7.70 6.5 to 8.5 Fecal Coliform Bacteria 1,600 per 100 ml 1 per 100 ml NITRATE as NO, 10.5 mg/L (COD-15mg/L) 10 mg/L (Max DO- 5mg/L) PHOSPHATE 1.64 mg/L 1.95 mg/L (High levels of nutrients will encourage the growth of algae, cause for low oxygen levels) Some heavy metals were found in high concentrations. CONSIDERATION FOR LIVE STREAM DISCHARGE FROM MEADOWLARK WRP TO IMPROVE WATER QUALITY POSSIBLE USE OF WATER FOR IRRIGATION TRIBUTARY FLOW RATE No stream gage data available October, 1991 measurement at <0.6 cfs 100-YEAR STORM: 12,000 cfs 500-YEAR STORM: 19,OOO CfS OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 1. PROJECT COST $9,OOO,~ 2. ASSUMED WATER MELD - lo00 ACRE-FEET PER YEAR. (WATER USED ONLY FOR IRRIGATION). 3. WATER QUALITY MAY LIMIT THE USE OF THIS WATER SOURCE 4. TRIBUTARY FLOW IS LOW EXCEPT DURING STORM EVENTS 5. ALGAE GROWTH ANTICIPATED RESULTING IN TOXICITY AND VISUAL AESTHETIC CONCERNS 6. COULD CONSIDER IMPROVING WATER QUALITYAND FLOW RATE BY HAVING LIVE STREAM DISCHARGE FROM MEADOWLARK WRP & AERATION 7. DIRECT IMPACT TO SAN MARCOS CREEK CONSERVED HABITAT 8. CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS TO LOCAL COMMUNITY COULD CONSIDER REVIEWING PROJECT IN MORE DETAIL IN 1996 MASTER PLAN PROCESS