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Stockton East Water District Ag-Water Report for Spring - Summer 2008
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SEWD Receives PG&E Rebate!
On September 4, 2007, Board President Melvin Panizza was presented with a rebate check from PG&E in the
amount of $160,123.00. This amount represents about 50% of the variable frequency drive equipment cost used as part of the
finished water pumping station enhancement project. The efficient equipment is projected to save over $275,000.00 per
year, and use over 2.5 million kilowatt-hours less electricity with a 328 kilowatt load reduction.
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Adjacent to Surface Water But Don't have a Pump?
With the help of the Corps of Engineers, the district plans to purchase two trailer pumps to help you take advantage
of the surface water adjacent to your property. Whether your irrigation requirement is 500 or 3,000 gallons per minute, we soon
hope to be able to provide you with surface water pumping services to meet your irrigation needs. Our objective is to convert
current groundwater pumpers to surface water irrigators when surface water is available. We recommend that all surface water
users keep their wells operational in the event of a dry year when surface water is scarce. Using surface water in-lieu of groundwater
helps us meet our mission of conjunctively managing all of our water resources to assure a sustainable water supply for the benefit
of all users. If you have been thinking about how you can help the district meet this obejctive, today may be a good time to call the
district and begin the process.
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Hurray! Program Receives Funding in 2008!
Thanks to our elected representatives in Washington, the Farmington Program has received funding for the current year. The
amount that will benefit this Program through the Corps of Engineers' budget is not yet certain, but is expected to be between $500,000.00
and $1.1 million. In addition to buying portable pumping equipment, these funds will complete a 35-acre recharge site at the district's
drinking water treatment plant site, and design a distribution system in the agricultural area of the district that will bring surface water
to more lands currently using groundwater. Stay tuned.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What will be the 2008 water rates? The 2007 groundwater rate was $4.29 per AF, the surface water rate was $20.00 per
AF, the domestic rate was $36.00 per unit (occupied or not); M&I rate was $137.28 per AF ($4.20 for groundwater prodution
assessment and $133.08 for the rate equalization). The 2008 rates will be adopted April 2008 and are likely to increase
by approximately 3%.
When is the bill due? Payment is due upon receipt. Unpaid final bills/domestic assessments become past due
after April 30, 2008. Unpaid progress bills become past due after October 31, 2008.
Why am I assessed for groundwater pumping?The purpose of this assessment is to fund supplemental surface
water to lessen the groundwater overdraft and seek solutions to restore and protect the groundwater basin. This work benefits
all the groundwater users. Every groundwater pumper will benefit from higher aquifer levels
How does the district's efforts benefit my well? Excessive groundwater pumping has caused a critical decline in
groundwater levels and saltwater intrusion from under the delta. Imported supplemental surface water use rechargers
the aquifer and slows these negative impacts. This benefits all groundwater users and ultimely each well.
Why do I have to fill out the Owner's Water Use Statement (OWUS) every year? The district requires all OWUS to be filled
by January 15th of each year. The district uses the OWUS to determine your groundwater assessment/surface water bill. The
prior year information is printed on the form. Please review it for accuracy, make any necessary changes and return the completed
form with your signature, date and telephone number to the district
Why has my domestic groundwater assessment increased? Domestic groundwater assessments are used for
a similar purpose as groundwater assessements. All groundwater pumping has contributed to the critical overdrafted condition of the
aquifer and made it susceptible to further saline intrusion. Costs of addressing this problem have increased significantly over
the past 10 years and therefore this assessment must increase as well
On or before April 15th of each year, at a meeting open to the public, the district examines all water assessments and determines
the rates for that year.
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What is the San Joaquin County & Delta Water
Quality Coalition?
The purpose of the Coalition is to represent enrolled landowners before
the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) in order to ensure
compliance with the State's Conditional Waiver. The Coalition is an
acceptable watershed approach for those landowners who have enrolled to
comply with the monitoring, testing, reporting, and development of best
management practice requirements for irrigation or storm runoff.
Although meeting compliance and understanding the positions of the
RWOCB remains a challenge, the SJC and Coalition steering committee of
water agencies, the Farm Bureau , and other interested parties have had a
successful year. Although organized and having raised funds through
landowners wishing to be represented by the Coalition, much work remains
to be done including raising additional funds to meet the compliance
expectations of the RWQCB. We expect to continue our successes over the
next year.
If you are a landowner and have not enrolled in the Coalition or taken
other action to comply with the Conditional Waiver, you are likely in
violation and subject to enforcement actions of the RWQCB. Questions
regarding the Coalition can be directed to the District or the RCD at
472-7127 x3.
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Owner's Water Use
Statements
The District Act requires the Owner's Water Use Statement (OWUS) be
filed annually. To make it easier for owners, last year's information is
pre-printed on the form. Please review it for accuracy, make any necessary
changes and return the completed form with your signature, date and
telephone number the District can contact you at. The information is
shared with other agencies and provides information for projecting future
water needs.
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