MV ESTF: Water + SQoL

[Mark Gilkey]

Dear Steve, Elizabeth, Marn-Yee, and other water group members,

 

We in the SQoL (Sustainable Quality of Life) are proposing that Mountain View tax groundwater extraction at a tiered rate, with very high rates for withdrawals that are above the sustainable level.  So far, my recommendation is very general and I should make it more specific.  Can any of you give me the answers to any of the following questions?

 

1) What is MV's typical annual water consumption?

 

2) How much of our own groundwater do we pump?  During the water group's presentation, I think SteveB said that we could supply up to 40% of our water needs from groundwater, but when I talked to him later he said (if I remember correctly) that he didn't think we were actually doing that and he didn't know whether that was sustainable (I strongly suspect that's peak capacity, not sustainable capacity). 

 

3) What is the maximum SUSTAINABLE pumping capacity per year?  (Yes, it's fair to say that this will depend upon recharge rates, which in turn depend upon rainfall.  If you have numbers for typical and near-worst-case drought conditions, I'd appreciate them.)

 

4) Does the city own all of the groundwater wells and pumps, or are their private wells and pumps in the city?

 

5) Does the city control water prices, or does it coordinate with other agencies (e.g. SCVWD)?

 

6) Does the city already have a process for raising prices or adding taxes for water?  If so, does that process allow it to increase prices for different usage tiers differently? 

 

I'm sure that I'll have more questions later.  ;-)

 

It's fair to refer me to someone else (e.g. someone in the city's utility department or in the SCVWD) for answers.  ;-)

 

Mark Gilkey

SQoL, Baseline, and WWW (Water Workinggroup Watcher ;-) )

 

[elizabeth s]

Hello Mark,

 

You have some great questions and ideas relating to ground water.  I could answer some but you will be better off getting detail information and additional/useful info. from the people who work in the Ground Water unit of SCVWD.  I will ask around to find out who would be best for you to contact and email you contacts, tomorrow.

 

Best regards,

Elizabeth   

[Elizabeth Sarmiento]

Hello Mark Gilkey and all that are interested,

 

Here is a link of the Integrated Water Resources Planning, 2003.  This reading will give you a very good background about water resources and will answer many of your questions.  I will send you more info. later on about CMV groundwater usage.

 

http://www.valleywater.org/Water/Where_Your_Water_Comes_From/Water%20Supply%20Sustainability%20Planning/_pdf/2005-12-00_TLigon_IWRPStudy2003_Final.pdf

 

Good day,

 

Elizabeth Sarmiento

Water Use Efficiency Unit

5750 Almaden Expwy

San Jose, CA 95118-3686

(408) 265-2607 x 3140

(408) 979-5639

Email: esarm...@valleywater.org

[Elizabeth Sarmiento]

Hello Mark,

 

Attached is a breakdown of CMV groundwater use.  This is internal information, so you would not be able to open the link, include as a source… if you have questions, let me know.   You could also contact Eric Olson by phone at (408) 625-2607 x 2465.

 

Thanks,

 

Elizabeth Sarmiento

Water Use Efficiency Unit

5750 Almaden Expwy

San Jose, CA 95118-3686

(408) 265-2607 x 3140

(408) 979-5639

Email: esarm...@valleywater.org

 

 

 

 

From: mv-sust-task...@googlegroups.com [mailto:mv-sust-task...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Mark Gilkey
Sent: Tuesday, July 01, 2008 9:55 PM
To: mv-sust-task...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [mvestf Water] MV ESTF: Water + SQoL

 

Dear Steve, Elizabeth, Marn-Yee, and other water group members,

[Mark Gilkey]

Elizabeth,

 

I tried to open this file with Microsoft Excel 2003 but could not open it.  Is it an Excel file??

 

--mgilkey