Tuesday,
June 5, 2007
Rep. Calvert Water Supply
Legislation Passes House
Source: US Representative Ken Calvert
“The Western Municipal Water District provides water service to western Riverside County and serves a population of more than six hundred thousand people,” stated Rep. Calvert on the floor of the House. “The purpose of the Riverside-Corona Feeder water supply project is to capture and store water in wet years in order to increase Western’s firm water supplies, provide a cost-effective water supply, and improve water quality.”
H.R. 1139 authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation with the Western Municipal Water District, Riverside County, California, to participate in the planning, design, and construction of the Riverside-Corona Feeder water supply project, which includes 20 groundwater wells, groundwater treatment facilities, water storage and pumping facilities, and 28 miles of pipeline in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
“At a time when water demand continues to grow due to the West’s increasing population, traditional water sources have been confronted by a prolonged drought and other environmental challenges,” said Rep. Calvert “It is imperative that Southern California continue to reduce its dependence on imported water from the Delta and Colorado River through innovations such as the Riverside-Corona Feeder.”
Mr. Speaker:
The Riverside-Corona Feeder Water Supply Act represents an important
investment in the water infrastructure in western Riverside County,
California – one of the fastest growing regions in the country.
At a time when water demand continues to grow due to the West’s
increasing population, traditional water sources have been confronted by a
prolonged drought and other environmental challenges. In fact, just last
week California water officials turned off the huge pumps that send water
to Southern California from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to protect a
tiny imperiled fish. While the shutdown is only scheduled to last a week
or two, it is a stark reminder that Southern California must continue to
reduce its dependence on imported water from the Delta and Colorado River.
The Western Municipal Water District provides water service to western Riverside County and serves a population of more than six hundred thousand people. The purpose of the Riverside-Corona Feeder water supply project is to capture and store water in wet years in order to increase Western’s firm water supplies, provide a cost-effective water supply, and improve water quality.
New wet year water will come from local runoff, including regulated releases from Seven Oaks Dam and the State Water Project, and stored in San Bernardino Valley groundwater basins. To deliver the stored water to consumers in Western’s service area, the project will provide for new groundwater pumping and pipeline capacity. As an additional benefit, the Riverside-Corona Feeder will provide the means to control water tables, thereby reducing liquefaction dangers in the Colton and San Bernardino communities. Additionally, the project improves local water quality as perchlorate and other contaminants would be removed from the basin when water is extracted from the well heads via the Riverside-Corona Feeder.
I applaud Western and our local
elected officials in Western Riverside County for taking bold, proactive
steps in meeting our region’s current and future water demand. In
particular, I’d like to acknowledge the leadership of Western’s
General Manager John Rossi as well as Western Board Members Charles Field,
Tom Evans, Brenda Dennstedt, Don Galleano, and Al Lopez.
I also want to thank my good friend Grace Napolitano, the Chairwoman of
the Water and Power Subcommittee, for her leadership and support of my
legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I think it is crucial that we recognize and assist communities that are working to reduce their reliance on imported water and I urge all of colleagues to support the Riverside-Corona Feeder Water Supply Act.