Report Says Pasadena’s Groundwater Water Needs to be “Stabilized”; City Seeks Assurance of Continued MWD Supply

Pasadena Water and Power will be reporting about the City’s Water Supply and Projected Water Use for the years 2025 through 2040 when they appear Tuesday at a meeting of the City Council’s Municipal Services Committee.

A preliminary PWP report showed the presentation on Tuesday will focus on residential demand and regulatory drivers for water efficiency in new and existing residential projects.

The report, from PWP Interim General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger, said the City continues to draw 30 to 40 percent of its water supply out of local groundwater from the Raymond Basin. The remainder of the water requirement is imported from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD).

As to the reliability of the local groundwater supply, PWP said groundwater levels have been consistently dropping, and that actions are needed to stabilize the supply.

These actions, the report said, include reduced pumping , surface water diversion to enhance recharge, the implementation of the Arroyo Seco Canyon Project and the Arroyo Seco Pump Back Project, watershed restoration, and groundwater storage programs. They also include a cyclic agreement with MWD where excess water in wet years will be used to replenish groundwater, a partnership with Pasadena Public Works, a stormwater Master Plan, and offering incentives for rainwater harvesting, greywater systems, and parcel level water infiltration.

The PWP report will also include seeking an assurance from MWD that their water supply will be reliable through multiple dry years and that MWD manages a statewide integrated conveyance system which includes the State Water Project, the Colorado River Supply, a Regional Storage Portfolio, and incentives for local water agencies to practice water conservation, recycled water, groundwater recovery, and desalination programs.

PWP will also explain the relevance of recent legislation, such as AB 1668 and SB 606, on water use standards, both indoor and outdoor.

Indoor water use will be limited to 55 gallons per person per day, measured in gallons per capita daily, or GPCD, until January 2025. From January 2025 through January 2030, it will be limited to 52.5 GPCD, and starting January 2030, indoor water use will be limited to 50 GPCD.

By June this year, the  State Water Resources Control Board will adopt outdoor water use standards, which will be based on land cover, climate, and other factors determined by the Department of Water Resources, PWP said in the report.

The Municipal Services Committee meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Members of the public can access the video conference via

http://pasadena.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=9 and www.pasadenamedia.org.

Public comments may be submitted through www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/public-comment or by emailing vflores@cityofpasadena.net.