Angela O'Brien

The Water Shortage Contingency Plan for Zone 7 Water Agency serves as a strategic roadmap for managing water supplies during foreseeable and unforeseeable shortage events. It outlines six standard water shortage stages and corresponding response actions, including supply augmentation, demand reduction, communication protocols, and operational adjustments. The plan also details legal authorities, financial consequences, and refinement procedures. The overarching goal is to maintain a highly reliable municipal and industrial water supply system, meet existing and future demands, and proactively prevent catastrophic service disruptions.

This Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) for Zone 7 Water Agency serves as a foundational planning document, addressing historical and projected water demands, supplies, and reliability for approximately 270,000 people. The plan outlines a projected demand increase to 51,000 acre-feet per year by 2050, primarily met by State Water Project imports (90%) and local watershed sources (10%). It emphasizes water conservation through demand management measures, includes a Water Shortage Contingency Plan, and identifies new water supply projects and water banking programs to ensure long-term reliability and manage potential shortages in multiple dry years starting from 2045.

The board meeting agenda focused on various operational and financial items, including the review of the investment policy, adoption of the Urban Water Management Plan, Water Shortage Contingency Plan, and the proposed two-year operating and capital budget. Discussions also covered the Chain of Lakes Chromium-6 removal study, safety program training, equipment removal, and personnel actions. Additionally, the board considered commemorations for departing directors, the recruitment and retention public hearing, authorization for a long-term water transfer agreement, and updates to the wastewater and nutrient management plans.

The committee discussed the status of the recycled water program, specifically regarding supply limitations during peak summer months and infrastructure investments. Additionally, the committee reviewed the state's new long-term water conservation standards, the potential impacts of legislation on indoor water usage, and the requirements for water loss reporting. The meeting concluded with a tour of the recycled water treatment plant and a discussion on future agenda items, including the Tri-Valley Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and efforts to address groundwater PFAS contamination.

The board received a project update on the Regional Groundwater Facilities Improvement Project, Phase II. Key discussion topics included the project workflow, estimated costs for supply wells, pipelines, and facility upgrades, and operations and maintenance plans for Phase III. The board was recommended to authorize the General Manager to negotiate and execute a cooperative agreement with the City of Pleasanton to proceed with the design, construction, and operation of the project phases.