Conference Presentation, Panel
2015 CA Summit - Water: Protecting California’s Lifeline
- California metros, led by San Jose and San Francisco, are projected to occupy two of the top six spots among the top 25 best-performing cities in the annual index.
- Ongoing climate change cycles are expected to necessitate readiness for increased water demand and reduced supply, likely resulting in an extended emergency drought declaration for most of the state this year.
- Specific water management strategies, including a diversified approach involving wastewater recycling, stormwater capture, conservation, irrigation efficiency, market incentives, storage, and desalination, are expected to sustain innovation and economic growth despite hydrological challenges.
- Governor-led emergency responses are anticipated to include flood declarations in parts of the South State due to El Niño, while the Delta pumping system will continue to face challenges regarding fish, water quality, and saltwater intrusion.
- Proposition 1 funds are expected to facilitate private investment in storage projects by paying for public benefits, with regulations for applicant requirements and evaluation criteria slated for drafting to include surface, groundwater, and other storage types.
- The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power is expected to increase infrastructure replacement to prevent leaks, with projects designed for multiple purposes such as street paving to reduce flooding and capture runoff.
- Energy infrastructure is expected to become less efficient due to higher temperatures, potentially forcing a shift from hydropower to natural gas, while transitioning to dry cooling may result in efficiency and carbon penalties.
- Desalination projects, such as the Carlsbad plant, are expected to expand with membranes replaced every five to seven years, driven by new technologies like membranes, nanotechnology, and graphene to reduce energy use.
- Direct potable reuse is expected to increase as regulations rapidly change to allow highly treated wastewater to exceed drinking water standards, with local plumbing expected to be integrated within the next decade.
- California's water future is expected to rely on local and regional self-reliance through storage facilities, with new resources in Southern California sourcing from the west and south rather than the north.
- Agricultural operations are expected to see a reduced footprint and increased crop-per-drop efficiency due to new groundwater laws that restrict pumping, potentially revisiting flood irrigation for groundwater recharge.
- International comparisons are expected to inform state policy, with Israel's national security-driven water model and Australia's market transfer and cistern approaches considered applicable frameworks.
- Challenges are expected to persist in moving funds from high-speed rail to storage, while the California Water Fix proposal involving tunnels under the Delta will likely be the focus of attention over the next nine to 12 months.
- The state will face confounding challenges from increased frequency of both droughts and flooding, requiring business and labor engagement to make decisions that restore reliability to the water system.
- Behavioral changes in water usage are expected to be triggered by market structures and price increases, though desalination alone is not expected to be the full solution, necessitating a fundamental system change and a portfolio prioritizing conservation and reuse.