CAMROSA : Undrinkable Water to Go to Farmers

Well water high in nitrates and unfit for drinking will be used by farmers in the Camrosa Water District for irrigating crops under a new system unveiled Friday.

Called the Dual Water System, the plan will tap water from three wells in the Santa Rosa basin to serve the district’s 200 agricultural users, while maintaining the district’s current system, which supplies potable state water to domestic customers.

Camrosa General Manager Gina Manchester said the opening of the second system would increase overall water capacity by 15%, replacing precious drinking water previously used for farming.

“It will serve agriculture and help provide a reasonable, beneficial use of ground water,” Manchester told a small gathering of customers and district staff members. “It’s our responsibility to do everything in our power to assist (the customers).”

The well water will account for nearly 30% of the 6,000 acre-feet of water supplied by the district to agriculture annually. It is estimated that an acre-foot is enough to supply one family of five for a year.

A 50% cut in the district’s water allocation, made by the Metropolitan Water District over the summer, was the catalyst for the $3-million system, which will be paid for by farmers over a 20-year period. Despite the cost, agricultural water will remain about 12% less expensive than domestic water.

The system comes on line in the wake of November’s election, which unseated two of the five board members and recalled the remaining three. The recall movement was spurred by customers upset over a 38% water rate increase passed by the board in July. The new board will be sworn in on Monday.

The district serves about 8,600 customers.