Securing Saint Helena's Water Future
Since 2010, our water future has been hotly debated within the city and its residents. It's vital that we understand and respect the past to better inform our water future. First, let's level set on some basic facts of our current water reality.
For decades, the city of St. Helena has faced ongoing challenges in securing a reliable and safe water supply. St. Helena depends on a combination of surface water, groundwater, and purchased water sources. Over the years, population growth, increased agricultural activity, climate change, and periodic droughts have heightened concerns about water availability and quality. The city has had to balance the demands of its residents and industries, such as vineyards, while addressing issues like sediment from wildfires, contaminants from human activities, and the aging infrastructure of its water system. St. Helena’s journey toward water security reflects a broader struggle faced by many small California communities, as they work to ensure that their water remains safe, sufficient, and resilient in the face of environmental and regulatory pressures.
Our Challenges:
Water Supply Sources:
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Bell Canyon Reservoir: Provides about 50% of the city's water supply; dependent on annual rainfall.
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Contract with the City of Napa: Provides approximately 30% of the water supply; the contract may not be renewed in 2035 depending on Napa's water needs.
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Groundwater: Supplies 20% of the water; St. Helena is the only municipality in Napa County using groundwater, despite recommendations to reserve groundwater for agriculture.
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Climate Change: Increasing variability of rainfall, contributing to uncertainties about future water supply.
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State-Mandated General Plan: Requires the city to demonstrate adequate water for any planned growth.
Clearly, many challenges. Now let's focus on solutions--the good news is we have local experts and non-profits that have spent countless hours/year's looking into every facet of our water supply--the city should partner with these resources going forward. As a member of the council, I will be an advocate for exploring and implementing the two solutions listed. Some of these solutions will take time to develop and will require close partnership with local advocacy groups, our neighboring cities, and Napa County. Other solutions are within our reach---such as replacing aging infrastructure--that need focus and accountability of our city government.
Short-Term: Replace Existing Infrastructure
St. Helena passed "Measure H" on February 22, 2022. This measure authorized the City to issue 19.5 million in bonds to address our aging infrastructure and other water/stormwater improvements. We currently lose an estimated 22% (city Sept. 24 estimate) of our water due to old pipes--that's roughly 500 acres per square feet of water that we could reclaim by redirecting priority from Measure H funds to address our aging pipe infrastructure.
Short-Term: Form a PMI based Program to Address Root Causes of Existing Water Loss
Establishing modern program management and bundling Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs) related to leaking pipes and aging infrastructure in St. Helena can significantly reduce water loss and improve overall system efficiency. By adopting a cohesive management approach, the city can streamline project planning, prioritize urgent repairs, and allocate resources more effectively. Bundling these infrastructure projects allows for economies of scale, reducing costs and timelines while ensuring that critical CIPs are completed on schedule. This approach not only addresses immediate water loss issues but also strengthens long-term water resilience and sustainability for the community.
Long-Term: Pursue a Napa County Water Agency/District
In 2020, LAFCO (The local Agency Formation Commission) proposed the formation of a county-wide water agency or district to consolidate the operations of 14 different water agencies in Napa County.
Current Situation in Napa County
Challenges Faced by Small Districts:
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Many small water districts in Napa County are struggling to maintain their water and wastewater systems.
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Example: St. Helena recently spent over $19 million to overhaul its wastewater plant.
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Other Issues: Smaller districts are facing significant financial strain, such as Calistoga, which is dealing with issues like discolored and odorous water.
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Efficiency Concerns: LAFCO has suggested that the work currently handled by the five existing County water treatment plants could likely be managed by just two plants, indicating potential inefficiencies in the current setup.
Call to Action
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Relevance to St. Helena: The article suggests that residents of St. Helena should seriously consider the idea of a consolidated county-wide water district, as managing water resources independently may not be sustainable in the long run.
Implications
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Potential Benefits: The formation of a unified water agency could lead to reduced costs, improved efficiency, and better management of water and wastewater systems across Napa County.
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Consideration: The idea of 14 separate water districts operating as one larger entity could make sense from both an operational and financial perspective.
Needs More Study:
Tactical: Dredge Bell Canyon
Dredging is an expensive process that takes sediment out of the reservoir thus expanding the acre foot capacity and increasing our usable water supply. To understand if this is practical, we must first authorize a hydrographic survey to determine the amount of sediment. After the survey, we will better understand the cost/benefits of pursuing this course of action. Local experts are not confident that this will pen out and be worth the cost after all the ancillary factors is considered--land needs to be set aside and qualified to accept the "muck" dredged from the body of water.
Long-Term: Increase the square acreage of Bell Canyon
Local experts have deemed this to be cost prohibitive---the lead up studies, environmental impacts, and time horizon for implementation unfeasible.