Fresh-Water Balancing Act

Orange County need not look to the distant Colorado River for the dulling impact of drought. The increasingly thirsty county also must worry about the massive ground-water basin under its feet that supplies 75% of water consumed by 2 million people between Buena Park and Newport Beach.

Three bone-dry winters and growing demand leave the precious natural resource overdrawn and badly in need of replenishment. Orange County pumps about 375,000 acre-feet of underground water annually, which in recent dry years has left the basin 411,000 acre-feet below its optimal level. (An acre-foot is an acre of water a foot deep, enough for two households for a year.)

The county’s long-term economic health is best served by rebuffing those who would roll the dice, pray for rain and continue pumping as if there were no tomorrow. The Orange County Water District is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a staff recommendation to cut back pumping by more than 10%. It will be painful in the short term (increasing the average residential bill by about $1.50 to $3.00 per month) but best for the environment and coming generations.

Ground-water protection is of growing importance in California, where aquifers satisfy 30% of urban and agricultural demand -- and up to 40% during droughts, according to a draft report recently released by the state Department of Water Resources. It is of particular importance in Orange County, because ocean water encroaches as the supply of fresh water is drawn down by pumping.

County water district rules generally have limited ground-water pumping to 75% of the previous year’s volume. Cities and water agencies must buy more costly Metropolitan Water District supplies to make up the difference. Ground water costs about $177 per acre-foot to pump, treat and distribute. The Metropolitan Water District has been charging about $450 per acre-foot.

Existing rules made sense when the county water district’s 21 member cities and water agencies were drawing just 200,000-acre feet of water per year -- and substantial rainfall helped to replenish the water supply. District staff initially recommended that the allowable percentage be pushed back 66% to speed replenishment. The recommended cutback grew to 62% after the Metropolitan Water District unexpectedly said it won’t be able to ship water that the Orange County district uses in the fall to help replenish the basin.

Reducing demand, though important, is just part of the equation. The district also must replenish the basin to stall salt-water intrusion. Mother Nature could help with a string of wet winters. The district should push forward with a $450-million system that will recycle highly treated waste water into the aquifer. And the Metropolitan Water District must make water available to help replenish the basin.

Government, industry and individual residents can cushion the financial blow through conservation. Fortunately, conserving water promises to pay a dividend by reducing the amount of waste water that is treated and dumped into the ocean.