WATSONVILLE — On Wednesday, December 18, 2019, the PV Water Board of Directors voted unanimously to expand the service area of its water supply facilities into an area impacted by seawater intrusion.
The F-Pipeline Project (Project) will construct pipelines and appurtances to provide supplemental* water service to approximately 700 acres of coastal farmland on the seaward side of San Andreas Road.
Work is to be completed in 2020. The purpose of the Project is to further reduce groundwater pumping to halt seawater intrusion and groundwater overdraft while keeping agriculture viable in the Pajaro Valley.
Research published by Stanford University shows that the use of the Agency’s supplemental water supplies as an alternative to groundwater pumping has reduced salinity in coastal groundwater.
“With $3 million in grant funds provided by the Department of Water Resources, this Project is a win for the Pajaro Valley,” said Board Chair, Amy Newell. She continued, “PV Water’s staff worked relentlessly to acquire and use the available grant funds for the benefit of the Valley. The Project continues moving PV Water toward its goals of preserving agriculture while achieving sustainable groundwater resources.”
The Project will be partially funded through an Integrated Regional Water Management Drought Emergency Grant from Proposition 84 Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act of 2006 issued through the California Department of Water Resources.
Approximately $3.4 million in grant funds are available for the design and construction of the F-Pipeline Project, from a combined balance of the $3.0 million transfer and the balance remaining from the original PV Water grant allocation.
The Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency (PV Water) is a state-chartered water management district formed to efficiently and economically manage existing and supplemental water supplies in order to prevent further increase in, and to accomplish continuing reduction of, long-term overdraft.
The agency also works to provide and ensure sufficient water supplies for present and future anticipated needs within its boundaries, generally the greater coastal Pajaro Valley.
•••
For more information, visit www.pvwater.org or www.facebook.com/PajaroValleyWater.
* Supplemental water is composed of recycled water, water from managed aquifer recharge and recovery facilities, and blend wells.