By the Staff of the Soquel Creek Water District
Our water is 100% groundwater from two local aquifers: the Purisima Formation and the Aromas Red Sands Formation. Both of these aquifers are recharged naturally through rainfall, but recharge is slow, sometimes taking many years to percolate down through the earth to the aquifers below. Heavy rainfall events, such as the ones typically associated with El Niño years, bring a large amount of rainfall in a short period of time.
The accumulation of water in underground aquifers, however, is a long slow process. Like a bank account, more water needs to be put into the aquifers than is taken out in order to maintain a healthy and sustainable balance. When more water is taken out than is naturally replenished, it is referred to as overdrafting. Since 1980, pumpers in the mid county region (including the District, other local water agencies, and private well owners) have been overdrafting our local aquifers, which has resulted in a significant deficit that many years of good rains would not solve.
Locally, we are seeing seawater intrusion occurring near Pleasure Point, Aptos, Seascape, and La Selva Beach. Seawater intrusion is extremely damaging, because once it reaches drinking water wells, they become unusable.
If this occurs, it will impact everyone who relies on our precious groundwater resources, including private well owners and our District customers.
Please visit www.soquelcreekwater.org/planning-our-water-future/back-supplemental-supply-options for more information.
It is important for our customers and the community to know that, while an El Nino winter will help our thirsty community, it is not the panacea for our water shortage problem. We need to spread awareness that an El Niño winter will not cure seawater intrusion.
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As always, we welcome our community input. Please contact Matt Orbach, Public Outreach Specialist, at 831.475.8501×118 or matto@soquelcreekwater.org