Candidates and the Drought: Meeting Water Needs

The Question: We queried the candidates in the Nov. 5 Ventura City Council election about three key issues facing the city. Today’s responses are to the first of those and address the water shortage.

The candidates were asked: What must be done to meet Ventura’s long-term water needs? Should water rationing continue? Should the city pursue state water or desalination? List specific measures you would take as a council member.

STEVE BENNETT

Ventura needs more water. The critical questions are: What is our best long-term source? And how will we control the growth that more water will make possible?

Venturans quickly need the facts on state water and desalination and then deserve to vote on our options. While the cost of desal is somewhat higher, voters appreciate its reliability and the local control it provides.

Most importantly, the council must resist pressure that comes with new water supplies and can lead to inadequate water reserves during droughts.

ALAN BERK

Water rationing should continue until the drought is over. The city should pursue state water and look into desalination.

Specific measures: Retrofit existing buildings with low-flush toilets and low-flow shower heads. Require drought-resistant/less water-intensive landscaping at city-owned properties. Work with the county to allow the city to use reclaimed and other gray water sources.

As part of the current water ordinance, there should be a bonus incentive of 10% discount of a water user’s bill if they use less than their allotment.

Draft/implement a citywide comprehensive water policy.

DON BOYD

We must secure additional water sources. Rationing, as we know it here, should continue, although I would have preferred a voluntary program initially. The city should now sort through the facts available regarding desalination versus state water, and follow the best course, looking at short-term needs compared against long-term needs. I would put the highest priority on making that decision.

TOM BUFORD

We need more water in Ventura. We need to move ahead now to either obtain state water, build a desalination facility in cooperation with other local governments or both.

These are long-term projects, however. Our current conservation and reclamation efforts must continue, and rationing will be needed until we receive sufficient rain.

At the same time we see new water supplies, we need to make sure we respond to the development pressure which will come with new water supplies. I support the Comprehensive Plan, which establishes guidelines for future growth.

KEITH BURNS

Safe, plentiful and inexpensive water is a vital concern of all the people of Ventura. The drought is not over and long-range forecasts are not very encouraging. Whatever the short-term solutions, the future source of water in Ventura is desalination. For those who contend that desal water is more polluting, let them consider the plight of our agricultural industry, faced with serious pollution problems with state water due to dissolved mineral salts damaging valuable farmlands. Desalinated water is cleaner--salts and dissolved minerals are removed during processing. Yes, desal is expensive but not as expensive as no water.

GREG CARSON

Ventura needs a quality water source that is both environmentally and economically sound. My short-term approach is to import state water. My long-term approach is desalination. The public should become educated about desalination so we can all participate in the solution.

We need water for the quality of life of people who live here now! I am not in favor of bringing in water for growth.

LOUIS J. CUNNINGHAM

Having served on the WIIDRIN water committee and now serving on the Citizen Water Advisory Committee, I do not believe there’s a solution to this problem. Water rationing should continue, state water and desalination should be put on line ASAP. We must learn to better manage the water we have and will receive in the future. We should not use water as part of the growth issue, but as a life issue. It matters not how many nor how few live in Ventura, we still must have water for a quality life.

ANDREW M. HICKS

Ventura should build a desalination plant. Water rationing should continue, and those who use less water should be charged lower rates. I would research other methods for obtaining water. For example, in Peru fine mesh nets are placed upright on hills to capture moisture from the air from low clouds and fog. Thousands of gallons of water a day are obtained by this method.

MARCUM PATRICK

Short term: A reservoir will facilitate additional water resources while contributing to the availability of recreational activities. Extreme conservation measures threaten our quality of life. Increasing water supplies will allow us to ease up on restrictions. However, increased allocations does not warrant increased waste. Moderate conservation is for the duration.

Medium term: With the water that the state has overcommitted (by 200%), we might spend more than $100 million just to have water dribble down the line. With state water comes state controls.

Long term: I believe in desalination! We can eliminate desal’s excessive power usage with solar energy.

BRIAN LEE RENCHER

Since 1964 we have paid $8 million-plus just maintaining our state water rights and should get what we’ve paid for! Increased aquifer use will cause permanent saltwater intrusion damage. Continued pipeline postponement will make the inevitable more expensive.

As technologies develop, desalination may become more cost effective and its environmental consequences known.

I would meter individual users’ outlets to monitor use, build a pipeline for state water, build a series of low-height dams on the lower four miles of Sespe, build diversion projects to fill aquifers, build reservoirs, reasonably and effectively manage water resources, including rationing when necessary.

JAMIE STEWART-BENTLEY

Ventura needs to plan for drought after drought because of the scrub-forest, semiarid region in which we live. Water is essential to our people, and I would see that their continuing needs would be met by:

1. State water hookup. We’ve been paying for the privilege, so let’s use it! 2. Desalination--expensive but necessary. A fail-safe backup for the state system, which cannot be relied upon to always meet our needs. 3. Upgrading and repairing our current system of water storage and delivery pipelines to maximize efficient utilization and conservation. 4. Continuing reclamation and conservation.

JOHN SUDAK

I’m looking in the direction of state water. Pyramid Lake via Lake Piru seems to be the most rational proposal. The price seems to be realistic in light of other proposals for our community.

This candidate believes that some of the rigid fines and restrictions imposed on us today should be slackened, while continuing water conservation efforts. Us citizens have taken notice of and implemented such efforts of conserving water, and I believe we will continue to do so without the threat of being fined or penalized.

I will urge other council members to adopt this sensible approach.

JACK TINGSTROM

We must plan to preserve water supplies as if there is going to be a drought every few years. I believe we must pursue state water along with expanded use of reclaimed water. Desalination should be used as an alternate.

I favor voluntary water rationing, not only during a drought. As a council member, I would direct staff in accordance with the above statement. We need water to maintain the quality of life for the population that is already living here. We must make the hard choices so we can have water for our agriculture industry, we must maintain agricultural land.

BOB VAN DER VALK

The State Water Project allocation which we have been paying for--and as yet, have not received one drop--could bring in enough supply to cover our current shortfall.

The long-term solution would be to either bring our own desalination plant on stream or arrange a supply exchange with the Santa Barbara plant when it reaches its full capacity.

My specific recommendation would be to pursue both avenues of supply with the one that makes the most economic sense to be pushed forward to a successful conclusion.

DONALD A. VILLENEUVE

On Oct. 22, 1990, the City Council authorized a three-part comprehensive study designed to 1. analyze local water sources, 2. increase use of reclaimed water and use water more efficiently, and 3. evaluate alternative sources, including importation of state water and desalination.

The results of this study will be completed in mid-1992. These studies will be the basis for drafting a Water Master Plan which will guide Ventura’s planning decisions into the 21st Century. As chairman of the water committee, I helped draft this program.

CARROLL DEAN WILLIAMS

Water! Water! Washes upon our shore and we die of thirst. Solve Ventura’s long-term water needs. March 30, 1990, L.A. Times published an article, “Officials Told to Stay Silent on Water Crisis.” I say break the silence. Oct. 2, 1990, Ventura City Council “Votes 3-3 Against Calling for State Water.” Villeneuve said city water records show that state water is not needed anyway. Desalination costs vary from $2.7 million to $275 million. Our city’s right to state water for 1990 was $650,992. I believe “the water issue” must be presented to the voters of Ventura. A ballot box decision.

STAN R. WYATT

Ventura’s long-term water needs are essential. Immediate steps should be taken to install a pipeline to import state water. I would also advocate construction of a dam at the lower end of the Sespe to provide for both additional water storage and public recreation. There are sufficient resources of water in the state to meet the needs of residents, business and agriculture. The water in Lake Casitas alone can support a population base of 1.1 million. I would encourage continued conservation (not rationing), careful management of existing water and prompt development of additional long-term sources as described above.

The Contenders for City Council Steve Bennett (write-in candidate) Age: 41 Occupation: high school teacher Alan Berk Age: 40 Occupation: sales representative Don Boyd Age: 53 Occupation: maintenance machinist Tom Buford Age: 43 Occupation: attorney Keith Burns Age: 45 Occupation: author/publisher Greg Carson Age: 33 Occupation: nursery owner Louis J. Cunningham Age: 47 Occupation: school district operations manager Andrew M. Hicks Age: 29 Occupation: journeyman food clerk Marcum Patrick Age: 30 Occupation: mortgage banker Brian Lee Rencher Age: 31 Occupation: business administration student Jamie Stewart-Bentley Age: 64 Occupation: psychologist John Sudak Age: 30 Occupation: children’s advocate Jack Tingstrom Age: 56 Occupation: personnel consultant Bob Van der Valk Age: 50 Occupation: business owner/real estate Donald A. Villeneuve Age: 60 Occupation: college professor Carroll Dean Williams Age: 49 Occupation: manufacturing engineer/instructor Stan R. Wyatt Age: 60 Occupation: general engineering contractor (Note: Candidate Kenneth Vernie Jordan did not reply to requests for information about his candidacy.)