Title:
Title
Application for Grant Funding for the WaterSMART Drought Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects for Fiscal Year 2021
End
FileID
File ID: 2020-00816
Location
Location: Citywide
Recommendation:
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution authorizing the City Manager or the City Manager’s designee to: 1) apply for grant funding from the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation; and, if awarded, 2) execute all agreements and documents of compliance related to the grant on behalf of the City; and 3) adjust revenue and expenditures budgets in the Groundwater Well Rehabilitation Program (Z14110100, Fund 6205) for an amount up to $1.5 million.
Contact: Bill Busath, Director, (916) 808-1434; Tony Bertrand, Engineering & Water Resources Division Manager, (916) 808-1461, Michelle Carrey, Supervising Engineer, (916) 808-1438; Kathy Sananikone, Assistant Civil Engineer, (916) 808-1425; Department of Utilities.
Body
Presenter: None
Attachments:
1-Description Analysis
2-Resolution
3-FOA-Grant Funding Opportunity
Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The Department of Utilities (DOU) is requesting authority to apply for the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation WaterSMART Drought Response Program Grant. This grant opportunity would fund the remaining design and construction of the Fairbairn Water Treatment Plant (FWTP) Groundwater Well. The FWTP Groundwater Well construction began in 2016, with the drilling, casing and gravel pack completed. However, due to unanticipated requirements related to the treatment of manganese, the cost of the project went beyond allocated funds at the time and additional construction was stopped and shifted to another well site. The construction of a groundwater well will provide an estimated capacity of 3,000 gallons per minute at the Fairbairn Water Treatment Plant. Grant eligibility is limited to projects that build long-term resilience to drought and the maximum grant award is $1.5 million per project.
Policy Considerations: Council Resolution 2019-0248 requires City Council approval to apply for operating grants for more than $250,000.
Economic Impacts: None.
Environmental Considerations: Application for a Federal grant is an administrative activity that will not have a significant effect on the environment and does not constitute a “project” as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) [CEQA Guidelines Sections 15378(b)(2 and 5) and is therefore, not subject to CEQA [CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3)].
Sustainability: The City is committed to developing an efficient and dependable groundwater supply that will increase the City’s water supply reliability and support a surface water/groundwater conjunctive use program. This recommendation is consistent with the City’s Strategic Plan Goals of achieving sustainability, livability, and expanding economic development throughout the City.
Commission/Committee Action: Not Applicable.
Rationale for Recommendation: The FWTP groundwater well is a high producing well and would provide equivalent capacity to nearly three to four of the City’s existing wells. Potential funding available through this grant would allow DOU to expedite this project, further ensuring the City’s long-term resilience to drought by increasing the reliability of water supplies. Without this additional funding, the project will be delayed awaiting sufficient funds to be available.
Financial Considerations: The WaterSMART Drought Response Program: Drought Resiliency Projects would potentially award the City an amount up to $1.5 million in grant funding. There are sufficient funds in the Well Rehabilitation Program (Z14110100, Fund 6005) for the 50 percent match requirement.
Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable
Background: The City currently maintains groundwater well assets that it relies upon for diversification of its water portfolio. There are currently 92 wells, of which only 45 are active. Of the 45 active wells, 29 are municipal production wells and 16 are irrigation wells. The existing infrastructure is aging and many of the wells are at or near the end of useful life, necessitating new locations to be identified for design and construction. Recommendation for replacing existing groundwater wells had previously been noted in the 2013 Water Master Plan and most recently in the 2017 Groundwater Master Plan.
Based on a prior hydrogeologic report that considered groundwater quality, geologic formations, and potential production, FWTP was identified as a site for a new well. Test hole exploration drilling confirmed that the aquifers of the Laguna Formation exist at the new well site and a production capacity was estimated at approximately 3,000 gallons per minute. On May 23, 2016, construction of the well began. Upon completion of the borehole drilling, further water quality testing resulted in manganese levels above the maximum contaminant level specified in the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations. Preliminary cost estimates required to treat the manganese were beyond the allocated project budget and additional funding was not available. It was decided that the best course of action at the time was to halt further construction and use the funding to construct a well at another site. The Department now has more experience with treating manganese at a well site and, with this grant will have funding to finish the well at the Fairbairn site.
The 2017 Groundwater Master Plan (GMP) presents a plan for managing and expanding groundwater resource use in the context of long-term water supply security and implementation of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act of 2014 (SGMA). The GMP provides recommendations for new groundwater-related infrastructure and potential conjunctive use alternatives to allow the City to reliably meet its long-term water demands. Included in the GMP is a program to replace the City’s existing wells that were found to be at the end or near end of their useful life. New locations are required for most replacement wells.
The revived attention to completing the FWTP well is in response to the 2017 GMP. As a high producing well, the FWTP groundwater well will be an important asset to the City’s water supply reliability.