Sweetwater Authority

The proposed Property Operations and Maintenance Plan aims to streamline permitting processes through a programmatic approach, covering various operational activities and selected projects. Key focus areas include the maintenance of defensible space, field facilities, roads, trails, recreation facilities, water transfers, and lake and dam infrastructure, alongside new projects such as dam and dike improvements, reservoir capacity recovery, and the installation of new water distribution and monitoring facilities. This plan seeks to obtain programmatic permits by 2028, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring long-term regulatory compliance.

The meeting, designated as Meeting #14, served as a Continued PFAS Education Workshop. Key discussion points included an overview of the Sweetwater Authority's operations and water sources, a detailed explanation of what PFAS are and where they are found, and a review of current and upcoming Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations regarding PFAS in drinking water, including response and notification levels. The agenda also covered recent PFAS testing results from January 2025 for specific compounds like PFOA and PFHxS, potential long-term solutions requiring infrastructure investment, and community outreach efforts, including future workshop schedules.

Key discussions focused on increasing outreach for water conservation rebates, including feedback on the distribution map, suggestions for enhancing it with director division layers and color-coding for targeted marketing. Further discussion involved flow monitors, including installation methods and potential future rebates to minimize device costs, tankless water heaters (new vs. retrofit systems), and graywater systems (configurations and installation cost reduction suggestions). Updates were provided on the Floating Solar Project, noting the addition of preliminary photo simulations to the webpage. Additionally, the Authority is considering an addendum to the Environmental Impact Report for the Sweetwater Reservoir Recreational Facilities Master Plan, specifically concerning the conversion of a maintenance road into a shared maintenance road and trail. Other topics included questions about a well siting study in National City, a suggestion comparing floating versus ground-mounted solar, discussion of additional water resources like desalination and potable reuse, and a suggestion to extend Loveland Reservoir Recreation Program hours.

The meeting of the Community Advisory Work Group focused primarily on the Reynolds Desalination Facility's Floating Solar Project at Sweetwater Reservoir. Key discussion points included a presentation on the project scope, which involves a rectangular floating photovoltaic array, anchoring systems, and supporting land facilities, totaling approximately 10 acres. An alternative based on Noria's Aquaphi technology will also be analyzed. An environmental process update indicated that technical assessments (biological, aquatic resources, water quality, aesthetics) are commencing to inform a CEQA-compliant Initial Study, which will determine whether a Mitigated Negative Declaration or an Environmental Impact Report is necessary. Discussion and Q&A revealed community concerns regarding panel aesthetics, requests for project renderings, comparison of floating vs. land solar benefits, questions about panel materials (HDPE longevity and off-gassing), panel cleaning procedures, potential impacts on water quality (including mitigation of algae blooms), and requests for project cost information.

The meeting focused primarily on providing general information about the Community Advisory Work Group (CAWG) and a detailed discussion regarding the process and recommendations for connecting water service to proposed Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). Key technical discussions included pressure reducing valve (PRV) requirements, determining appropriate pipe sizing for ADUs based on plumbing code, clarification that sewer service is handled by respective cities or agencies, and inquiries regarding submetering and the criteria required for selling ADUs (including utility metering). Additionally, attendees discussed an electric vehicles report, recommending the installation of a vehicle charging station at the Perdue Water Treatment Facility, and raised questions about the Loveland Reservoir Recreation Program hours.