A column written from SSWD General Manager Dan York on important issues and updates regarding various District matters.

January 2024 GM Corner

1.04.2024

This past September, the State of California gave a major endorsement to the Sacramento Region’s plans to make the water supplies more resilient.

The California Natural Resources Agency and the Department of Water Resources (DWR) are committing $55 million to several water agencies in the Sacramento region to help advance 21 projects that will improve local water supply reliability and protect the Lower American River during a drought.

Sacramento Suburban Water District (SSWD) will receive $18.8 million to use in the construction of four new groundwater wells and pump stations in the North Service Area, which will help to enhance water supply reliability. Three of the wells will be located at one site and when operational are anticipated to be able to produce approximately 4,500 gallons per minute (GPM).

The fourth groundwater well and pump station is anticipated to be able to produce approximately 3,000 GPM. This new facility will also be able to pump treated water down into the aquifer. This type of groundwater well is known as an Aquifer and Storage Recovery well and is an innovative way of recharging the aquifer.

SSWD has traditionally relied upon in lieu recharge to help the groundwater aquifer return to sustainable levels. In lieu recharge occurs when a water provider uses surface water supplies instead of groundwater supplies. For example, last year SSWD utilized a mix of 63 percent surface water and 37 percent groundwater through the end of November. This allowed SSWD to bank over 6 billion gallons of water in the aquifer.

Last year, SSWD also utilized a grant from the DWR Proposition 1 to do a system-wide leak survey of the water system and repair the problems that were identified. The repairs will help save over 50 million gallons of water a year.

SSWD is committed to not only being a good steward of the environment, but also committed to operating in a financially responsible manner through the use of grant funding to help keep costs down for our customers.