BOARD OF DIRECTORS Glen Acosta, President Jim Haselton, Vice President Matt Disston, Director Mike Safranski, Director Ed Mandich, Director GENERAL MANAGER Don Chadd

ON TAP

TCWD's Water Sources: Part Two

Last month’s ON TAP was the first in a series of ON TAPs which discuss the source of water from Trabuco Canyon Water District. In it we discussed that water is provided to all residences and businesses either from city water departments or special districts like Trabuco Canyon Water District. We also discussed the very large Metropolitan Water District (MET) which is responsible for planning and delivering water to the greater Southern California area, either from the snow melt from northern California by way of the California Aqueduct, or from the Colorado River.

MET is a very large agency. It employs many engineers, analysts, and field staff to plan for future water delivery needs of its southern California service area. In reality, it is so large that it is not equipped to deal with every city or special district. So, there is another agency that is involved with the delivery of water: Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC). MWDOC has a seven-member board of directors, each elected by geographical district. TCWD is within MWDOC’s District Three. MWDOC has two primary functions. It provides representation on the MET Board of Directors (a 27 member board) and on behalf of MET, it bills each retail agency for the water it uses from the MET water delivery system.

While this tells us the process of getting water can be involved and complex, it still doesn’t tell us where TCWD gets its water. So, what is the answer?

It depends on the time of year and sometimes the weather. Almost all south county water agencies receive their water from Lake Matthews in Riverside County. This lake is supplied with water primarily from the Colorado River. Sometimes, when there is abundant snow pack melt from the Sierra Nevadas, water will be supplied to Lake Matthews from this northern source. Water is then taken from Lake Matthews and sent to the Diemer Water Treatment Plant in Orange County. Water is treated at this facility and delivered to the south county water retail agencies through the Allen McColloch Pipeline (AMP).

TCWD is relatively unique among south county water agencies in that we have a water treatment plant in the City of Lake Forest. We operate our own treatment facility to control costs in water delivery. Because we have our own water treatment facility, we do not need to take water that is treated at the Diemer Water Treatment Facility. So, a majority of our water supply is water that is delivered from Lake Matthews to the water treatment facility owned by TCWD.

TCWD also owns capacity in the AMP which, as noted above, is water treated at the Diemer Water Treatment Facility. The District will use this water when demand is high. The District attempts to avoid using this water when possible because the cost per acre foot can be greater due to treatment and pumping costs.

California Friendly Re-Landscaping Project

TCWD is pleased to announce that we have begun our California Friendly Re-Landscaping Project at our District Administrative Facility. Please pardon our mess as we re-landscape this facility with California friendly plants that are water efficient and will grow well in this climate.

The District’s front parking lot will be used as a staging area much of the time, so we ask that you be cautious in and around the facility.

We will provide more details in the future about this project. TCWD’s Board and staff invite you to drop by to see our work in progress.

The Regular Board Meeting is held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the District Office located at 32003 Dove Canyon Drive, Trabuco Canyon. The public is encouraged to attend.

Board Highlights

• September 20, 2006 – Approved the Memorandum of Understanding regarding Tract no. 12365 (Zadeh Development).
• Took actions regarding the California Friendly Landscape Project, authorizing District staff to act as the general contractor.
• Adopted a Resolution fixing the employer’s contribution under the Public Employees’ Medical and Hospital Care Act.
• Authorized conference attendance for Directors and staff members.
• Approved a Memorandum of Understanding with Sanyo Foods Corp. of America regarding the Dry Season Water Recovery Project.
• Approved an Agreement for Services for the Design Engineering for the Robinson Ranch Recycled Waterline and Zone 4 Dry Season Water Recovery Line.
• Conducted three Closed Sessions.