NCSD releases draft Urban Water Management Plan But directors skeptical of figures used for growth (Times Press)

Friday April 25, 2003

By April Charlton / Staff Writer NIPOMO

-- Mike Winn still doesn't believe the county's projected 2.3 percent growth increase is realistic. The Community Services District president this week reiterated that belief, which he initially made in February when NCSD released its first-ever Urban Water Management Plan in draft form. On Wednesday, the board again reviewed the draft document that will now be circulated to at least 15 other agencies in the county to help in the development of the plan. "We have to come up with a more nuanced way to calculate growth," Winn said during the meeting. "We have a lot of consumption ahead in the district. (That 2.3 percent growth cap) is being violated in every way that (the county) can without going to jail." The county has projected Nipomo's population will reach almost 20,000 people by 2020. NCSD General Manager Doug Jones told the board figures in the document relating to projected water use and demand where based on the number of connections, not population. Presently, the district serves more than 90 percent of the buildable parcels within its boundaries and has between 400 and 500 will-serve letters that have been approved by the district. The average consumption for NCSD's customers in 2000 was 2,150 acre-feet, with a projection of 2,360 acre-feet by 2020. An acre-foot of water equals 326,000 gallons and serves about two and a half households for a year. But Winn contended the district shouldn't rely on the county's growth figures and cap to calculate future growth and water demand for the district. "Looking at this in terms of connections is missing the point," he said. "It's not the number of meters but the amount of water being pulled out of the ground." Judith Wirsing, NCSD vice president, also felt the document contained possibly erroneous information. "I feel this whole document is underestimated and not realistic," Wirsing said. "I'm really concerned that this isn't the real picture."

NCSD customer Ed Eby said he found it ironic the district used data from the state Department of Water Resources in the draft Urban Water Management Plan. "It's hardly a source of assurity (to say) that you have enough water when you debunk the report that it came from," Eby said about the DWR report released earlier this year. Members of the board agreed with Eby and added the caveat that the district "doesn't put much faith in the DWR" for the draft document.

The seven-page document outlines the NCSD supply service area; water sources; water supply sources; reliability planning; transfers or exchange opportunities; water use provisions, including current and projected water use and number of connections by customer type; water demand management measures; a water shortage contingency plan; recycled water; and supplemental water supply.

A final version of the Urban Water Management Plan is expected to be adopted sometime this summer Copies of the draft plan are available at the NCSD office, 148 S. Wilson St. For more information about obtaining a copy, call 929-1133. Staff writer April Charlton can be reached at 489-4206, Ext. 5016, or by e-mail at acharlton@pulitzer.net. April 25, 2003 Δ