CFS Level and Water Tanks Running at Capacity

Question – What level of CFS doesn't provide for the water tanks being full or being able to run at capacity?

Answer – We don’t have an exact number since we don’t have readings with the intake exposed and the curtailment is not just related to the flow of the river. A water curtailment is a short-term program intended to reduce water consumption as a result of an emergency, catastrophic event, or serious water shortage. We are in the fourth consecutive year of drought, river flows continue to slowly drop, our intake is visible in the water, therefore, we are asking the community to conserve water. Other things like equipment malfunction, fuel spill upstream of the intake, worsening water conditions, a sudden algae bloom, or even a mandatory curtailment imposed by the State can cause or add to an existing water curtailment. Last winter the daily average water use was about 827,000 gallons per day. Yesterday’s total was 1,141,200. Compared to winter time the community could be using 314,200 gallons per day less than it currently is using. This is important because we only have 3,000,000 gallons stored. If the river level drops and exposes the intake, there is an equipment malfunction at the plant, or other problem, at the current consumption rate the community would be out of water in 2.5 days. If the community drops to 827,000 gallons per day then the community will have enough water for 3.5 days and that extra day may be just enough time to get through an emergency repair or other incident.

Sincerely,

Gerald Fisher, P.E.

Public Works Director