A Conversation about A Conversation about California Water Management: California Water Management:

Past, Present and FuturePast, Present and Future

John A. DracupJohn A. DracupProfessor of the Graduate SchoolProfessor of the Graduate School

Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley

Science Cafe Series @ Cafe RoyaleScience Cafe Series @ Cafe RoyaleSan Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California

Tuesday, August 21, 2007Tuesday, August 21, 2007

OutlineOutline

• The PastThe Past• The PresentThe Present• The FutureThe Future• A Summary A Summary

OutlineOutline

• The past: How California’s major The past: How California’s major water projects developed over water projects developed over time. time.

The evolution The evolution of of

California’s California’s Major Water Major Water

ProjectsProjects

Source: DWR web pageSource: DWR web page

1. Los Angeles Aqueduct

Los Angeles Aqueduct-Los Angeles Aqueduct-Mono LakeMono Lake and Owens Valleyand Owens Valley

• Municipal Supply for the city of Los AngelesMunicipal Supply for the city of Los Angeles• Two Aqueducts (1913 and 1970)Two Aqueducts (1913 and 1970)• Total capacity: 775 ftTotal capacity: 775 ft33/s/s• Length: 223 and 137 milesLength: 223 and 137 miles• Combination of channels, conduits, Combination of channels, conduits, pipelines and tunnelspipelines and tunnels

Jawbone Siphon -Jawbone Siphon -Owens Valley AqueductOwens Valley Aqueduct

Source: DWR web pageSource: DWR web page

1. Los Angeles Aqueduct

2. Federal Central Valley Project

The evolution The evolution of of

California’s California’s Major Water Major Water

ProjectsProjects

Central Valley Project (CVP)Central Valley Project (CVP)• Multi-purpose Project: Multi-purpose Project:

– Irrigation Irrigation – Municipal, and Industrial WaterMunicipal, and Industrial Water– Recreation and Fish and Wildlife Recreation and Fish and Wildlife – Hydroelectric Power Hydroelectric Power – Flood Control Flood Control – Water Quality Water Quality

• Integrated Federal scheme of reservoirs, Integrated Federal scheme of reservoirs, dams, canals, power plants, etc.dams, canals, power plants, etc.

• Started in 1937Started in 1937

Shasta DamShasta Dam

Source: DWR web pageSource: DWR web page

1. Los Angeles Aqueduct

3. Colorado River Aqueduct

2. Federal Central Valley Project

The evolution The evolution of of

California’s California’s Major Water Major Water

ProjectsProjects

Colorado River Colorado River AqueductAqueduct

Colorado River BasinColorado River Basin

Area: 242,900 sq mi Area: 242,900 sq mi

(629,100 km²)(629,100 km²)

Grand CanyonGrand Canyon

Colorado River AqueductColorado River Aqueduct• Completed in 1941Completed in 1941• Municipal & Industrial use for MWD service Municipal & Industrial use for MWD service

areas (other cities than LA in So. Cal.)areas (other cities than LA in So. Cal.)• Length: 240 miles (386 km)Length: 240 miles (386 km)• Capacity: 1.3 MAF/yearCapacity: 1.3 MAF/year

Campaign toCampaign toraise fundsraise funds

Source: DWR web pageSource: DWR web page

1. Los Angeles Aqueduct

3. Colorado River Aqueduct

4. State Water Project

2. Federal Central Valley Project

The evolution The evolution of of

California’s California’s Major Water Major Water

ProjectsProjects

State Water Project (SWP)State Water Project (SWP)

• The SWP is the nation's largest state-built water The SWP is the nation's largest state-built water and power development and conveyance system and power development and conveyance system

• Operated by the California DWROperated by the California DWR• Supplies water for 23 million Californians and Supplies water for 23 million Californians and

755,000 acres of irrigated farmland 755,000 acres of irrigated farmland

Source: DWR web pageSource: DWR web page

1. Los Angeles Aqueduct

3. Colorado River Aqueduct

4. State Water Project

2. Federal Central Valley Project

5. SF & EB Supply Projects

The evolution The evolution of of

California’s California’s Major Water Major Water

ProjectsProjects

San Francisco SupplySan Francisco Supply

• Provides water to 2.4 million Provides water to 2.4 million people in San Francisco, people in San Francisco, Santa Clara, Alameda and Santa Clara, Alameda and San Mateo countiesSan Mateo counties

• Completed in 1934 Completed in 1934

Hetch Hetchy Hetch Hetchy ReservoirReservoir

San Francisco SupplySan Francisco Supply

Tuolomne RiverTuolomne River

East Bay Municipal Utility DistrictEast Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) (EBMUD)• Network of reservoirs, aqueducts, treatment plants, and distribution Network of reservoirs, aqueducts, treatment plants, and distribution

facilities facilities • Extends from its principal water source, the Mokelumne River Basin in Extends from its principal water source, the Mokelumne River Basin in

the Sierra Nevada range, 90 miles to the East of the Bay Area the Sierra Nevada range, 90 miles to the East of the Bay Area

Main Water Treatment Facility & Main Water Treatment Facility & Cogeneration PlantCogeneration Plant

OutlineOutline

• The PastThe Past• The PresentThe Present• The FutureThe Future• A Summary A Summary

Sources and Supply Sources and Supply (in hm(in hm33/yr and percentage)/yr and percentage)

Source: California Water Plan, 1998 Source: California Water Plan, 1998

Demand and UsesDemand and Uses

• Urban: 15.4%Urban: 15.4%

• Agriculture: 50.1%Agriculture: 50.1%

• Environmental: 31.1%Environmental: 31.1%

• Other 2.8%Other 2.8%

Robust Matrix: Robust Matrix: Meeting the NeedsMeeting the Needs

Source: California Water Plan (2005 Update)Source: California Water Plan (2005 Update)

California Water California Water Supply/Demand Supply/Demand

ImbalanceImbalance

20 million Californians 20 million Californians have the right to vote to have the right to vote to

move the water from North move the water from North to Southto South

70% of water 70% of water suppliessupplies

75% of water 75% of water demanddemand

California Water Plan (2005 Update)California Water Plan (2005 Update)

““Over the past 50 years, we have been able to meet our Over the past 50 years, we have been able to meet our water demands primarily through an extensive network of water demands primarily through an extensive network of

water storage and conveyance facilities, groundwater water storage and conveyance facilities, groundwater development, and, more recently, by improving water use development, and, more recently, by improving water use

efficiency”efficiency”

Groundwater Groundwater ManagementManagement

Groundwater Groundwater Basins MapBasins Map

Current Current SystemSystem

Groundwater Groundwater ManagementManagement

Status of GroundwaterStatus of Groundwater

ManagementManagement

Current Current SystemSystem

Sustainable Groundwater Sustainable Groundwater ManagementManagement

• ““Sustainable yield” conceptSustainable yield” concept

• Reduce and eliminate overdraftReduce and eliminate overdraft

• Monitoring quantity (well and basin metering) and Monitoring quantity (well and basin metering) and quality (quality (protect aquifers from contamination)protect aquifers from contamination)

• Explore new treatment technologies for remediationExplore new treatment technologies for remediation

Conjunctive UseConjunctive Use

Current SystemCurrent System

• Operation of a groundwater basin in coordination with a Operation of a groundwater basin in coordination with a surface water system to increase total water supply surface water system to increase total water supply availability, improving the overall reliability of suppliesavailability, improving the overall reliability of supplies

- Recharge in years of above-average precipitation - Recharge in years of above-average precipitation

- Groundwater extraction in years of below-average - Groundwater extraction in years of below-average precipitation when surface water supplies are below normalprecipitation when surface water supplies are below normal

Pioneering Water Use Efficiency: Pioneering Water Use Efficiency: Water pricing in CaliforniaWater pricing in California

• Urban prices: City of Los Angeles, $3.30 per Urban prices: City of Los Angeles, $3.30 per 1000 gallons = 1000 gallons =

0.91¢/m0.91¢/m33

• Agricultural prices: MWD of Southern California, Agricultural prices: MWD of Southern California, $241 per acre-foot =$241 per acre-foot =

0.21¢/m0.21¢/m33

Pioneering Water Efficiency: Pioneering Water Efficiency: Urban use in City of LAUrban use in City of LA

• 1970 to present: 35% increase in population – 7% 1970 to present: 35% increase in population – 7% increase in water useincrease in water use

• Rebates for low water use clothes washers & toiletsRebates for low water use clothes washers & toilets• 1.5 million bathroom retrofit kits distributed1.5 million bathroom retrofit kits distributed• Teacher water conservation workshopsTeacher water conservation workshops• Xeriscape water saving landscapesXeriscape water saving landscapes

OutlineOutline

• The Past & Present The Past & Present • The FutureThe Future• A Summary A Summary

OutlineOutline

• The Future:The Future:– ChallengesChallenges– Integrated Water Management Integrated Water Management – Water conservationWater conservation– Drought-ProofingDrought-Proofing

Challenges are more Challenges are more complexcomplex

• Population increases Population increases • Demand patterns shiftDemand patterns shift• Environmental needs are better understood Environmental needs are better understood • Climate change effects become more evidentClimate change effects become more evident

““It is not the strongest of the species that It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”

Charles DarwinCharles Darwin(1809-1882)(1809-1882)

Integrated Water Management Integrated Water Management in Actionin Action

• Water conservationWater conservation– Retrofitting: low flow showers & toiletsRetrofitting: low flow showers & toilets– Public education Public education – Water use efficiencyWater use efficiency– Leak reductionLeak reduction– Water recyclingWater recycling

• ““Drought-proofing” & “drought preparedness”Drought-proofing” & “drought preparedness”• Off-stream storageOff-stream storage• Urban & Agricultural water pricingUrban & Agricultural water pricing• Metering of urban households & irrigation wellsMetering of urban households & irrigation wells

Source: California Water Plan (Update 2005)Source: California Water Plan (Update 2005)DWR web page: http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/cwpu2005/index.cfmDWR web page: http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/cwpu2005/index.cfm

in Southern Californiain Southern CaliforniaWater RecyclingWater Recycling

• Water Factory 21: Water Factory 21: Water Recycling FacilityWater Recycling Facility

Secondary recycled water is Secondary recycled water is injected into the coastal injected into the coastal aquifer, replenishing the aquifer, replenishing the aquifer and creating a barrier aquifer and creating a barrier for seawater intrusionfor seawater intrusion

Water Factory 21Water Factory 21

• RDI limits vegetative growth RDI limits vegetative growth and enhances water use and enhances water use efficiency for crop productionefficiency for crop production

– Uses no more water than is Uses no more water than is available on a recurring basis available on a recurring basis from rainfall over a catchmentfrom rainfall over a catchment

– Great potential to contribute Great potential to contribute to an increasingly water-to an increasingly water-efficient horticultureefficient horticulture

– Validated on both fruit crops Validated on both fruit crops and wine grapes (quality and wine grapes (quality improvement)improvement)

– Pioneered in AustraliaPioneered in Australia

Sustainable IrrigationSustainable Irrigation Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI)Regulated Deficit Irrigation (RDI)

““Off-line” StorageOff-line” StorageDiamond Valley Reservoir (MWD)Diamond Valley Reservoir (MWD)

Water ConservationWater Conservation 60% of “new” water sources60% of “new” water sources

California Water Plan (2005 Update), DWRCalifornia Water Plan (2005 Update), DWR

Water Conservation Water Conservation EBMUD ProgramEBMUD Program

• Clothes washer, toilet and landscape rebates Clothes washer, toilet and landscape rebates • Water usage studies and surveysWater usage studies and surveys• Leak repairsLeak repairs• Recycled water projectsRecycled water projects• Public education, workshops and marketingPublic education, workshops and marketing

East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Fiscal Year 2005 Annual ReportEast Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Fiscal Year 2005 Annual Report

East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Fiscal Year 2005 Annual ReportEast Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Fiscal Year 2005 Annual Report

Water Conservation Water Conservation EBMUD Program: “Decoupling” DemandEBMUD Program: “Decoupling” Demand

OutlineOutline

• The Present The Present • The FutureThe Future• Conclusions Conclusions

ConclusionsConclusions

• California water system is highly California water system is highly dependent on large scale water dependent on large scale water transfers/reservoirs and conjunctive usetransfers/reservoirs and conjunctive use

• Under future climate conditions, flexible Under future climate conditions, flexible systems “allow management systems “allow management adjustments or midcourse corrections adjustments or midcourse corrections without causing major economic and without causing major economic and social disruptions” social disruptions”

ConclusionsConclusions

• Aggressive water conservation and Aggressive water conservation and recycling methods are effective in recycling methods are effective in reducing water demandsreducing water demands

• Water conservation incorporates Water conservation incorporates flexibility and adaptability into our flexibility and adaptability into our system system

ConclusionsConclusions

• Even though CA has been promoting Even though CA has been promoting aggressive water conservation aggressive water conservation programs, a great part of the programs, a great part of the additional future water will come additional future water will come from this sourcefrom this source

THANK YOUTHANK YOU

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

dracup@ce.berkeley.edudracup@ce.berkeley.edu