HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-10-10 - AGENDA REPORTS - GROUNDWATER SOFTENING (2)CONSENT CALENDAR
DATE:
SUBJECT:
DEPARTMENT:
Agenda Item:
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA
AGENDA REPORT
City Manager Approval:
Item to be presented by:Travis Lange
October 10, 2006
CONSIDERATION OF A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF
VALENCIA WATER COMPANY'S GROUNDWATER
SOFTENING DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
City Manager's Office
RECOMMENDED ACTION
City Council approve and adopt a resolution in support of Valencia Water Company's
Groundwater Softening Demonstration Program and authorize the Mayor to transmit this
resolution to the Public Utilities Commission.
BACKGROUND
The Santa Clara River was designated impaired by excessive levels of chloride by the Regional
Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB). According to a study released by the Los Angeles
County Sanitation Districts in 2002, one of the largest sources of chloride in the Santa Clarita
Valley is residences with automatic water softeners. These softeners generate a salty waste that
is very high in chloride. It has been estimated that residential automatic water softeners account
for one third of the chloride levels in the Santa Clara River.
Automatic softeners are now illegal to install in the Santa Clarita Valley, but approximately
6,500 homes continue to use grandfathered units. The City has supported the Sanitation District's
Automatic Water Softener Rebate Program for residences in the Santa Clarita Valley as an
incentive to remove these softeners. The reason local residents have the water softeners in the
first place is to address hard (high in calcium content) potable water. Santa Clarita Valley
residents' drinking water is generally a mixture of imported water from the State Water Project
and local groundwater.
This program to eliminate automatic water softeners is part of a larger set of tasks to decrease
chloride levels in the river. In addition to the efforts of the City and the Sanitation Districts, the
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Valencia Water Company has initiated a demonstration project to soften, or remove the calcium
from the groundwater in a small residential neighborhood designated as the demonstration
project area. The study will utilize a system that effectively removes calcium from the water.
The objective of the study is to determine whether or not the residents accept the softened water
and feel that the water quality has improved. The study will also allow Valencia Water Company
to optimize the treatment process and determine a basic facility layout. From this study, the
Valencia Water Company will be able to establish cost estimates for the process. If successful,
this project would lay the groundwork for softening water before it reaches residential
households. This could reduce the apparent need for residential salt -based automatic water
softeners and would ultimately lead to a reduction of chloride levels in the Santa Clara River.
ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS
Other action as determined by the Council.
FISCAL IMPACT
None by this action.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution