City of San Buenaventura Water Commission
Knowledgeable resident analyzes water situation, finds it wanting
By Daniel Cormode
- Agenda Item 3 to the City of San Buenaventura Water Commission Meeting of 22 March 2016 contains a recommendation for approval of the final draft of the Water Resources Net Zero Policy Ordinance. The basis for the water resource net zero fee Is contained in an attached Evaluation of a Water Resource Net Zero Fee Report. That evaluation establishes the estimated costs of obtaining water resources and the basis for determination of the net zero fee. It is recommended that the data contained in the Evaluation of a Water Resource Net Zero Fee Report be verified for accuracy prior to reviewing the proposed ordinance.
- A review of the Evaluation of a Water Resource Net Zero Fee Report was conducted with significant errors and omissions found,
- The total estimated capital cost is underestimated. The stated total estimated capital cost of this program is stated as $127.8 million (2015), however, the sum of the costs contained in the CIP sheets is $160,030,000 with an estimated financing cost of $74,573,980 for a total cost of $234,603,980.
| Estimated Direct Potable Reuse Water Costs | ||
| CIP No, | Title | Cost |
| 74070 | Advanced Treatment Plant Land Acquisition | $1,430,000 |
| 97949 | Ventura-Oxnard Emergency Water Intertie | $15,600,000 |
| 74058 | Recycled Water Line – Purewater Pipelines | $40,000,000 |
| 74084 | Brine Line Ocean Outfall | $26,000,000 |
| 74059 | Advanced Treatment Potable Reuse | $75,000,000 |
| 73078 | Bailey Blending | $2,000,000 |
| Subtotal Advanced Treatment Potable Reuse | $160,030,000 | |
| Estimated Financing Cost | $74,573,980 | |
| Total Cost of Advanced Treatment Potable Reuse | $234,603,980 | |
- Development of an additional water supply source includes the Foster Park Wellfield Restoration Project which purports to increase the capacity by 2,500 acre-feet per year. The historical estimated increase in production is erroneously based on operational scenario comparable to the 50 year average historical city production records between 1960 and 2009 which included water collected from the surface diversion facility. The surface diversion capability was destroyed in 2005 when the course of the river permanently shifted easterly, thereby, eliminating the capability of using the surface diversion facility. Furthermore, Loss of the surface diversion capability invalidated the use of the results of the 50 year average historical city production records for prediction of future production yields. The average production between 1995 and 2004 was 7,041 acre-feet per year and the average production between 2005 and 2009 was 2,250 acre-feet per year. The Ventura Water 2015 Comprehensive Water Resources Report identifies the 2016 Future Supply Drought Impact for Ventura River/Foster Park to be 0-800 acre-feet per year.
- The Foster Park Wellfield Production Restoration is presented as a project for a new water supply, however, it appears from a review of the construction estimate that most of the effort is repair and maintenance and not related to development of new water supply facilities. The following comments to proposed improvements contained in the City of San Buenaventura Foster Park Wellfield Production Restoration Construction Estimate, CIP 97921, dated 01 October 2015 are contained in the table below
| Comments of Proposed City of San Buenaventura Foster Park Wellfield Production Restoration Construction Estimate | ||||
| Item | Description | Cost | Mid-Point Construction | Comment |
| 1 | New Well – Nye 9 | $605,036 | 2019 | New well subject to regulatory approval and environmental impact review. |
| 2 | New Well – Nye 10 | $651,883 | 2021 | New well subject to regulatory approval and environmental impact review. |
| 3 | Wellhead – Nye 12 | $361,222 | 2025 | May not be operated unless turbidity is impacted by Matilija Dam removal project. |
| 4 | Wellhead – Nye 13 | $361,222 | 2025 | May not be operated unless turbidity is impacted by Matilija Dam removal project. |
| 5 | New Well – Nye 14 | $837,511 | 2030 | This is a replacement for existing Nye Well 7 and not a new well. |
| 6 | New Well – Nye 15 | $837,511 | 2030 | This is a replacement for existing Nye Well 8 and not a new well. |
| 7 | Destroy Nye Well 2 | $268,783 | 2025 | This is a river restoration project not related to developing a new source of water. |
| 8 | Convert Surface Intake into Subsurface only | $165,285 | 2030 | This is a maintenance project not related developing a new source of water. |
| 9 | New Pipeline for River Crossing | $2,419,049 | 2025 | This appears to be a maintenance project not related developing a new source of water. |
| 10 | New Pipe Interconnections/ Transmission Pipes | $4,681,691 | 2025 | This appears to be a maintenance project not related developing a new source of water. |
| 11 | Subsurface Collector Rehab/ Replacement/ Extension | $562,754 | 2019 | Fugro (2002) evaluated the feasibility of modifying, rehabilitating, or otherwise improving the subsurface collector to produce additional yield and concluded that rehabilitation of the subsurface collector is not considered feasible due to the age of the structure, the nature of the openings, the materials of construction, and the anticipated high cost of what would be considered unconventional rehabilitation techniques |
| 12 | East Stream Bank Protection | $5,864,189 | 2025 | This appears to be a maintenance project not related developing a new source of water. |
| 13 | West Stream Bank Protection | $2,576,099 | 2025 | This appears to be a maintenance project not related developing a new source of water. |
| 14 | Other Misc. Improvements/ Mitigation | $1,652,848 | 2030 | This appears to be a maintenance project not related developing a new source of water. |
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- For additional information, please contact Daniel Cormode by telephone at (805)647-4063 or by e-mail at [email protected].
Some past articles by Daniel Cormode:
The Future of Ventura’s Water Supply
By Daniel Cormorde Editor’s note: This article contains Mr. Cormorde’s letter to the Ventura City Council/Mayor and his presentation- READ: Venturas Future Water Supply 2016 02 25. He says that the water supply forecast from Lake Casitas and Foster Park is bleak. He also points out that a water reclamation project will likely cost far more than people […]
Foster Park Wellfield Water Production Estimate Errors
By Daniel Cormode The future capability for the Foster Park to produce 6,700 acre-feet of water per year reported in the 2011 City of Ventura Water Master Plan is based on erroneous data. The report anticipates improvements resulting from the Foster Park production restoration will restore the historical production capability to produce of up to 6,700 […]
Water supply issues on 2-22 Ventura Council agenda
By Daniel Cormonde Tomorrow night’s 22 Feb 2016 Ventura City Council Meeting has the following items of interest on the agenda. Adopting a resolution approving the Initial Study and Negative Declaration Environmental Review for the proposed Ventura Wastewater Reclamation Facility Recycled Water Project. The project continues to allow potable water to be used for dust […]
Overestimation of Ventura River/Foster Park Wellfield Water Supply
By Daniel Cormonde Ventura Water admittedly continues to wrongly overestimate the 2020 and 2025 amount of water available from the Ventura River and Foster Park wellfield. Water rights do not equate to water availability. Plans and data are being based on 1993 information which has been overcome by events and has become outdated. Foster Park Wellfield […]
Ventura activist lodges Brown Act complaint over handling of his comments on water
By Daniel Cormode Editor’s note: This Ventura activist filed a complaint with Ventura, because comments he made in an open meeting are not being forwarded to the agency involved (city Water Commission), which he believes circumvents the intent of the Brown Act on public information transparency. Update 9-29-15- Mr. Cormode has since sent this to the […]
Ventura resident warns of water supply threats, opportunities
From: Daniel Cormode Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2015 1:01 PM To: Undisclosed Recipients Cc: [email protected] Subject: Ventura River/Foster Park Wellfield Water Supply All, Ventura Water continued to support the Ventura River/Foster Park Wellfield as a viable normal source of supply for 4,200-6,700 acre-feet of water for the City of Ventura during the City of San […]
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