C ONCLUSIONES

Conservation of water resources is a vital component of the health and sustainability of a city. Despite the plentiful water resources of the area, a combination of inadequate treatment facilities, weak or non-existent standards for agricultural runoff, and a lack of conservation standards have contributed to poor water quality in the area. While this topic is covered in depth in the Public Facilities and Services Element, water systems in California are very dynamic, and the two are inextricably linked. This section covers the applicable standards, regional context, existing conditions, needs, and emerging directions of water conservation in the City of San Juan Bautista.

7.4.1 Standards

7. NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION 127 Senate Bill X7-7 (SBX7-7), enacted in November 2009, requires water suppliers to increase water use efficiency. It is divided into two sections, Urban Water Conservation and Agricultural Water Conservation, and has separate requirements for each.

For Urban Water Conservation, the legislation set an overall goal of a 20% reduction in per capita water usage by December 31, 2020, with an interim goal of at least 10% by December 31, 2015. The bill required water suppliers to create urban water management plans by 2011 that included baseline daily per capita water use, a water use target, an interim water use target, and compliance daily per capita water use. It also created a Commercial, Institutional, Industrial (CII) task force to develop and implement urban best management practices. If, by 2016, water suppliers do not meet the water conservation requirements established by this bill, they will not be eligible for state water grants or loans. For San Benito County, the baseline was set at 161 gallons per capita per day (gpcd), with an interim goal of 145 gpcd, and a 2020 target of 129 gpcd. Outdoor landscape irrigation will be a potential target for this additional conservation, as it makes up 50% of residential water use.

The requirements for Agricultural Water Conservation are less specific, but also call for the creation of Agricultural Water Management Plans (AWMP) by December 31, 2012 that will be updated by December 31, 2015 and every five years after that. In addition, by July 31, 2012, suppliers will be required to measure the volume of water delivered to customers, and the Department of Water Resources (DWR) will: adopt regulations that provide for a range of options that agricultural water suppliers can use to comply with the measurement requirement, adopt a pricing structure for water customers based at least in part on quantity delivered, and implement additional efficient management practices. If, by 2013, agricultural water suppliers do not meet the water management planning requirements established by this bill, they will not be eligible for state water grants or loans. The Supplemental Documentation required by the DWR to meet the requirements of SBX7-7 for San Benito County was submitted at the end of 2012, and the full AWMP will be completed in 2014.

7.4.2 Regional Context

The Water Resources Association of San Benito County (WRASBC) provides water conservation services to water customers from the City of San Juan Bautista, the City of Hollister, the Sunny-slope County Water District, and the San Benito County Water District, and is governed by representatives from each of those agencies. WRASBC provides incentives for water conservation and does outreach activities around the county, including: school presentations, field trips for students to water treatment and reclamation plants, classes and workshops, maintaining a demonstration garden in downtown Hollister that shows water efficient irrigation and landscaping practices, bill inserts, and Water Awareness Month activities in May. In addition, the WRASBC is a

7. NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION 128 member of the California Urban Water Conservation Council, which requires prospective members to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in which they pledge to develop and implement fourteen comprehensive conservation Best Management Practices (BMPs). This organization works closely with the Bureau of Reclamation and the California Department of Water Resources to:

“develop, implement, and promote innovative water conservation and efficiency strategies, assist the Council’s membership to achieve water conservation and efficiency goals, develop partnerships with key institutions and organizations that can effectively promote and/or require conservation, support and expand public awareness, education, and technical assistance, and build and sustain the Council’s ability to fulfill its long-term mission and objectives”. (California urban water, 2011, p.9)

7.4.3 Existing Conditions

Map 7.2 shows the major creeks and drainage-ways in the Planning Area. Runoff generally flows north in creeks and ditches to the San Benito River. The San Benito River, in turn, flows to the Pajaro River, which flows to Monterey Bay. In the San Juan Valley, most of the creeks have been altered by farming and have been routed into man-made channels. San Juan Creek is the largest of the watercourses, flowing north from San Juan Canyon and through the Mission Vineyard area before passing under Highway 156 and continuing to the northwest. A tributary to San Juan Creek follows the west side of San Juan Canyon Road, crosses vacant land between the two ends of Lang Street, passes under Highway 156 and behind the Alameda Plaza Shopping Center, and joins San Juan Creek just east of the rodeo grounds. Both San Juan Creek and the tributary have flood plains defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

In addition to surface water, a groundwater basin underlies most of the San Juan Valley, providing the main potable water source for San Juan Bautista. Groundwater has been pumped from the San Juan Valley for irrigation since the 1870s, sometimes with adverse consequences. Due to concerns over falling groundwater levels in the late 1970’s, the San Benito County Water District created a benefit assessment district (“Zone 6”) to finance and construct a pipeline delivering water for agricultural irrigation from the Central Valley via San Luis Reservoir. Deliveries of this ‘blue valve’ water began in 1987, and groundwater levels have stabilized since then.

7. NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION 129

Map 7.2 Major Creeks and Drainage-ways U.S. Census TIGER/Line Shape files, 2013

7. NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION 130 Both surface and ground water is prone to water pollution from sources like urban and agricultural runoff and treated effluent. In the San Juan Bautista area, water pollution traditionally comes from “non-point” sources like streets, parking lots, construction sites, quarries, and farmland. Rainwater carries pollutants from these sources to storm drains, ditches, creeks, and ultimately the San Benito River. Since the 1998 General Plan, however, treated wastewater has become the biggest source of water pollution in the City of San Juan Bautista, resulting in a ‘cease and desist’ order from the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board (CCRWQCB) in 2001 and a citation from the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) in 2002. The majority of the pollution comes from the use of residential water softeners and agricultural runoff, which makes its way into the groundwater through inadequately treated wastewater and runoff. A new ‘pellet plant’ has been designed to treat groundwater to higher standards before going to customers, and will eliminate the need for customers to have water softeners in their homes. A search for funding sources for the plant is currently underway. The status of water infrastructure and solutions to water quality issues are covered in depth in the Public Services element.

7.4.4 Identifying Needs

In addition to meeting the water conservation targets put in place by SBX7-7, public outreach will need to be intensified. Improving the quality of groundwater is key to maintaining water security in San Juan Bautista. However, accomplishing this will require a combination of new infrastructure and changes in personal water use habits and technology, which will require rate increases and a high level of public participation.

Effectively conveying to the public the importance of these changes to the future economic and environmental health of San Juan Bautista needs to be an integral component of the policies and objectives of water conservation.

7.4.5 Emerging Directions

Since the last General Plan, several important water resource problems emerged. Over the last decade, however, most of these problems have been identified, quantified, and addressed through either legislation or administrative action. The creation and utilization of the WRASBC for water conservation services has allowed the City to begin moving towards state mandated conservation goals, and capital improvement projects dealing with existing water infrastructure are being created to address water quality issues and needs. Following through with these goals and projects will allow the City to be more responsible stewards of water resources, but will require additional educational, public outreach, and legislative action.

7. NATURAL RESOURCES & CONSERVATION 131 7.4.6 Community Input

Concerns about poor water quality, lack of adequate water infrastructure, high water rates, and the placement of both existing and future water treatment facilities were expressed in the community outreach meetings. Judging by the high number of responses that involved water, it is clear that the general public is familiar with local water issues.

7.4.7 Conclusions

Water quantity and quality are high priority issues in most California communities. San Juan Bautista has ample water resources, but the lack of oversight of both agricultural runoff and water treatment facilities has led to water quality issues that must be addressed. This will require a more intense focus on conservation, education, public outreach, and legislation. These efforts should revolve around changing the way people in the City of San Juan Bautista view, understand, and utilize water resources and infrastructure. Having a safe and secure water supply is a vital component of the City’s present and future economic and environmental health.