News of the Arroyo
Title: | New Groundwater Storage Reservoir Designed |
Subtitle: | |
Date: | 2006-11-06 |
Summary: | November 6, 2006 - A groundwater storage programs has been designed to improve the use of the Raymond Basin that underlies Pasadena. |
Author: | News Reelase |
Publication: | Pasadena In Focus |
Content: | Pasadena Water and Power recently took a big step in creating a groundwater storage reservoir that will hold nearly 25 billion gallons of water to be used during future droughts and emergencies. PWP was responsible for the preliminary engineering design and environmental documentation for the project; costs were reimbursed by Metropolitan Water District. The agreement is part of the ongoing Raymond Basin Conjunctive Use Program, created by MWD, the city of Pasadena, Foothill Municipal Water District and Raymond Basin Management Board to boost our local water supply. Raymond Basin is a 40-square-mile natural underground aquifer that runs from La Caņada to Santa Anita Canyon and from the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains to the Raymond fault near the Pasadena/South Pasadena border. The basin is normally fed by mountain runoff from the Arroyo Seco, Eaton Canyon and other streams, collecting about 30,000 acre-feet each year. PWP diverts water from the Arroyo Seco to spreading ponds east of the Devil\'s Gate Reservoir. Sixteen utilities, including PWP, have rights to pump water from the basin, which is managed by the Raymond Basin Management Board. MWD is making the most of the aquifer\'s unused capacity by asking PWP to reduce its groundwater pumping and inject water into the Raymond Basin, taking more MWD-imported Northern California and Colorado River water during non-drought years. During drought years, PWP will pump the stored water, reducing the need to take water from MWD. The new reservoir will store up to 75,000 acre-feet of water, giving Pasadena and Southern California more protection against water shortages, a more reliable water supply and more flexibility. While MWD will fund construction, the facilities will be built, owned and operated by PWP and FMWD. PWP will need to install three new groundwater wells and restore to service wells affected by perchlorate contamination. The preliminary design and environmental documentation is expected to be completed by the end of 2007. |
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