Education Representation Water Resources Land Use
|
Education Representation Water Resources Land Use |
|
SIERRA AND
FOOTHILL CITIZENS ALLIANCE
MEETINGMay
11, 2005
A.
Gary Temple brought the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. B.
OFFICER REPORTS/UPDATE 1.
In 9 months, SAFCA has made good progress.
The new well standard ordinance was passed on April 26, taking effect 90
days from that date. Phil Desatoff,
Ron Taylor, and 8 or 9 other water/well people met for several weeks with
Provost & Pritchard to develop these standards. 2.
The groundwater study has been underway for the last month.
Geomatrix is working to determine what is sustainable up here. 3.
Concurrently, the Water Institute is embarking on a groundwater quality
study. They will take preliminary
data to get funding for water studies. Geomatrix,
Millerton Area Watershed Coalition and the Water Institute will all be working
together to put together the study and preliminary recommendations. 4.
Gary Temple is to attend the Smart Growth convention in the Sierra Nevada
this weekend. 5.
SAFCA received non-profit papers and is officially a 501(c)3.
We will be working on the by-laws now.
Thank you to all who helped SAFCA get to this point – an all volunteer
effort made reasonable progress in a short time. C.
GUEST SPEAKER 1.
Bob Early introduced Ron Taylor, a water well expert and owner of
Builders Supply in Auberry. The
presentation is about how wells work and how it fits into designing a water
system for your home. Ron is a UCSB
graduate and has been dealing with water systems for many, many years – taking
his first call at age 12! 2.
Local Wells & Water Systems: Ron
explained about the hydrologic cycle and aquifers. As precipitation infiltrates into the ground and then into
runoff, recharge happens throughout this cycle. These systems can be depleted during drought and
over-pumping. We live over an
aquifer, a geologic unit that can transmit water to use. The water table occurs because it is open to the atmosphere
– a confined aquifer doesn’t have a water table.
An artesian is any well in which water rises to the fracture zone in
which it penetrates. We live on
fractured aquifer (bedrock). (Alluvium
wells are typical in the valley, with clay and sand layers.) 3.
Water Wells: Generally
drilled in depression and near streams or near springs.
Where to drill is determined by aerial photos, outcroppings and
experience. Economics also play a
part – the closer to power, the less expensive. 4.
Well Yield Factors: Include
permeability, the ease with which water moves through a porous medium.
Worries include the porosity and also how water is tranmitted.
A shallow well may have trouble in a dry season.
Water quality is generally good here, though we have a fair amount of
sand that can clog or damage systems (filtration important).
Bacteria, corrosion and minerals such as iron, calcium and manganese all
can create problems. Contaminants
include coliform, e coli, nitrates, radon, gross alpha, and uranium. 5.
Production Testing: Air lift
– injects air into system and is less accurate.
A pump test shows more accurate gallons per minute (gpm). New pump tests go into effect July 23rd and
account for seasonal factors, a specified total yield in a specified time frame,
and recovery to static water levels. In
the best conditions, well testing can cost around $1,500, average conditions
$5,000 to 6,000, and worst conditions, $10,000 to 12,000. There is no standard procedure yet on property transfers –
thresholds are determined by the buyer and seller. 6.
Factors Affecting Well Productivity:
Climate (in a drought particles can fall into fractures), flushing (too
much rain – particles can then clog a fracture and ruin a well), overdraft
(drawing out more water than the fracture can store – long term overdraft can
mean fracture compression and can ruin a well), earthquake, fracture clogging,
and bio-fouling (bacteria). 7.
Pumps: 4” pumps are
usually used in this area – you don’t want to oversize or undersize or you
can have premature motor failure. Criteria
for determining pump size include well capacity, system demand,
and total dynamic head. There
are two kinds of water system designs – direct pressure and storage systems.
There are pros and cons to both systems, including cost differentials and
whether there is emergency reserve, drought impact, etc.
A 5 gpm well will need a 2,000 gallon storage tank after July 23rd,
set back 20-30’ from property line. 8.
Water Quality Solutions: Sand
– membrane filtration, separator, shroud, and well liner.
Iron algae – membrane filtration, plastic drop pipe, storage tank
entrapment, chemical treatment, certain conditioners. Corrosion – plastic drop pipe, plastic surface piping.
Rust – membrane filtration. 9.
Repair & Maintenance for Homeowner:
Housekeeping (no trees, roads clear to well, uncluttered area), good
record keeping, periodic inspections, maintain easy access to well, free of
weeds, debris, vermin & ants. The
homeowner should know how deep their well is, the yield, the horsepower, the
model & brand, the pump setting, the size & type of pipe, the size of
wire, and how long it has been in. Records
to be kept include driller’s log, pumping test, invoices, and repair reports.
Maintenance on pressure tank systems should be annual.
Don’t forget freeze protection (insulation, heat tape, lamps) but not
over motor! Annual coliform tests
are recommended. Warning signs of
impending problems (and time to start budgeting!) include higher power bills,
surging pressure (i.e. in shower), intermittent pressure, plastic flakes in
faucet screens, sand increase in faucet screens, grinding noise at well.
You should have a water fund – the well owner will sooner or later need
to make repairs. D.
NEXT MEETING:
Wednesday, July 13th, 2005 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Senior
Center. Prepared
by Lauren Insco
|
|
For more information: info@sierrafoothillwater.org To contact the webmaster: webmaster@sierrafoothillwater.org |
