A water system that can actually help move Greater Sacramento through this dry water year – fairly painlessly – is often overlooked. Water utilities said most people think of Folsom Lake or the American River, the water sources that can be seen visibly. However, these waters only make up half of our water image. Groundwater also plays an important role and in a dry year like this we need to rely more on it, according to water suppliers. “We actually have a reservoir under our feet twice the size of Folsom,” said Ryan Ojakian, program manager for legislation and regulation for the Sacramento Regional Water Authority. “What we have been able to do in the last 20 years is to really connect the operation of the surface water supply with the operation of our groundwater supply. In this way we have been able to bring more water into the soil in wet years to get more out of the ground in the dry years. “A sophisticated network of hundreds of well stations in the region ensures that the water in the greater Sacramento area flows. Before the last years of coordination, the groundwater and surface water suppliers had to deal with challenging times themselves. The water companies said this has changed dramatically in the past 20 years. Surface water and groundwater suppliers are now working together. “That made them exponentially stronger together than they did as separate entities,” said Ojakian. The water utilities are also looking to the future, indicating which groundwater bank they have created – that they are expansion – could potentially be a resource, not just for our region, but for other farms, cities and game reserves across the state. “It really is our buffer against drought during times like these,” said Ojakian. “So we can survive the dry times, so to speak.” In simple terms, in wet years we will rely more on the surface water supply and store water in the ground for those not-so-rainy days. In dry years What does that mean for you? “The measures we have taken over the past 20 years will allow us not to take such extreme measures when it comes to going back to reducing water use,” Ojakian said. The water utilities are confident that they will be able to meet their water needs this year without major restrictions. However, this could change in our region if the water picture is judged based on this rating in the next year. “It’s this difficult balance. We want everyone to be aware of their water usage even in great years,” said Ojakian. “We still want people to be efficient with water. That way we can recharge our water basin so we can survive these dry times.”
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, California –
A water system that can actually help move Greater Sacramento through this dry water year – fairly painlessly – is often overlooked.
Water utilities said most people think of Folsom Lake or the American River, the water sources that can be seen visibly. However, these waters only make up half of our water image.
Groundwater also plays an important role and in a dry year like this we need to rely more on it, according to water suppliers.
“We actually have a reservoir under our feet twice the size of Folsom,” said Ryan Ojakian, program manager for legislation and regulation for the Sacramento Regional Water Authority. “What we have been able to do in the last 20 years is to really combine the operation of the surface water supply with the operation of our groundwater supply. In this way we were able to bring more water into the soil in wet years. That means what allows us to do so in dry years Years to get more out of the ground. “
A sophisticated network of hundreds of well stations in the area keep the water flowing in the greater Sacramento area. Before the final years of coordination, groundwater and surface water suppliers had to deal with challenging times themselves.
Water utilities said that has changed dramatically in the past 20 years. Surface water and groundwater suppliers are now working together.
“That made them exponentially stronger together than they did as separate entities,” said Ojakian.
Water utilities are also looking to the future, pointing out that the groundwater bank they are creating – which they are expanding – could potentially be a resource not only for our region but for other farms, cities and game reserves across the state.
“It really is our buffer against drought during times like these,” said Ojakian. “So we can survive the dry times, so to speak.”
In simple terms, in wet years we will rely more on surface water supplies and store water in the soil for those not-so-rainy days.
In dry years we have to develop more of these groundwater supplies.
what does that mean to you?
“The measures we have taken over the past 20 years will allow us not to take such extreme measures when it comes to reducing water use,” said Ojakian.
The water utilities are confident that they will be able to meet their water needs this year without major restrictions. However, this could change in our region if the water picture is assessed at this point in the next year.
“It’s this difficult balance. We want everyone to be aware of their water usage even in great years,” said Ojakian. “We still want people to be efficient with water. This allows us to recharge our water basin so that we can survive these dry times.”
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