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California’s ‘Salad Bowl’ Recharges Depleted Aquifer

/in , , /by /Governing by Carl Smith

A newly opened water treatment plant in Monterey, Calif., will replenish a vital regional groundwater resource with recycled water at a rate of millions of gallons per day. On an annual basis, the Pure Water Monterey treatment plant will inject at least 3,500 acre feet of water, equivalent to more than a billion gallons, into the Seaside Basin.

For two decades, Monterey One Water, formerly the Monterey Regional Water Pollution Control Agency, has been recycling wastewater for irrigation in what’s called the “salad bowl of the world” where almost two-thirds of American leaf lettuce is grown. In addition to purifying wastewater, Pure Water is expanding to recycle agricultural drainage water, agricultural wash water and storm water runoff.

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OPINION: The Water Resource Right Outside The Window

/in , /by /Governing Magazine (Washington D.C.)by Mary Ann Dickinson

Across most of America, the lawn sprinklers are taking their winter’s rest, but it won’t be long before billions of gallons of water start nursing thirsty turf back to life. Nationwide, the tug of war over diminishing water resources provokes challenging questions about how we should prioritize water use among competing interests like agriculture, urban consumption and the environment. These questions grow increasingly difficult as more communities realize they don’t have enough water to go around.

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Joining 6 States, Arizona Agrees to Use Less Water From Colorado River

/in , /by /Governing Magazine (Washington D.C.)by Tony Davis

“Everyone will feel pain” was the mantra emanating from supporters of Arizona’s drought plan for the Colorado River as it wound through the Legislature. It is true that under the plan, now embedded in state law, the major water users served by the $4 billion Central Arizona Project — cities, tribes and farms — will all take a hit. But some users will be hurt more, and some will be hurt sooner, than others. Cities will lose the least amount of water and those cuts will not be noticed by their customers.

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