New Water Sources, Reliability and Grants Drive Cost Savings for Customers
Santa Ana’s Water Resources Division accomplished a great deal during 2021. While the pandemic continued to pose challenges, it also taught our leadership and staff to be more flexible, resilient and prepared for unforeseen circumstances.
That knowledge has steered the focus of our operations for the last year. We are adding to our local water supply, increasing system reliability, and pursuing grants to fund critical projects and maintain the lowest possible water rates for our customers.
To ensure sustainable local water sources, the City partnered with its wholesaler, Orange County Water District (OCWD), on its major water reuse project. Their Groundwater Replenishment System allows treated wastewater to be processed to near-distilled-quality before it is added back into the groundwater basin for later use. A plant expansion is underway to provide an even greater supply.
To further minimize our dependence on imported water, we are preparing to drill the first new well in the City in 15 years. I am proud to report that a significant portion of the $6 million Washington Avenue Well project cost will be covered by a federal grant.
To better predict water main breaks, we implemented several state-of-the-art technology upgrades, including GIS mapping and the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) control system, which you will read more about in this report. These and other upgrades are garnering awards and positioning our Water Resources Division as a technology-driven utility powerhouse.
The success of the Water Resources Division also depends on you, our customers.
None of this would be possible without the diverse, highly skilled staff and technicians who work in our Division. Whether designing, building, operating or maintaining our city’s water infrastructure, staff members are front-line problem-solvers who invest additional time and effort to keep themselves current with the latest training, licensing and certification.
The success of the Water Resources Division also depends on you, our customers. I would like to thank you for your efforts to conserve water during previous droughts and urge you to support the Governor’s call for further reductions. Let’s make conservation a way of life in Santa Ana and protect our precious local resources!
Rest assured, our team will continue safeguarding our award-winning water resources and ensuring a clean, safe supply. The results of our frequent water quality testing are included in this Water Quality Report and show that your drinking water meets or exceeds all state and federal regulations. I encourage you to read this report and contact our Division should you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Cesar E. Barrera P.E.
Deputy Public Works Director/Water Resources Manager