Water district ready to deliver amid threats of fire, drought
Perhaps thebest tool insuccessfully building resilience to drought conditions is conservation.
With record-breaking temperatures, an increasing number of wildfires and drought conditions in most parts of the state, the water district’s ability to be ready and resilient is critical.
As Marin County’s largest water provider, it is the Marin Municipal Water Disctrict’s responsibility to provide customers with a safe, reliable supply of water, even under these challenging conditions. Emergency preparedness, a strategically managed water supply and the creation of water conservation programs to help customers use water wisely are all part of that effort.
To address the increasing potential for wildfires, the district has plans and safeguards in place. Our extensive integrated plan for biodiversity, fire and fuels expands vegetation management on the Mount Tamalpais watershed and takes an adaptive approach that benefits from the latest science and research.
That plan includes collaborating with fire officials on prescribed burns to reduce potential fuel for fires, as well as the removal of invasive broomin fuel breaks. It also includes vegetation management that encourages a healthier ecosystem. Protecting the watershed from wildfires is a critical part of preserving our reservoirs and our core water supply.
Wildfire season also means readily adapting to the strain of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s public safety power shutoffs — treatment plants and pump stations rely on electricity to keep your water flowing.
As it did last year, the district has again prepared a fleet of portable generators to deploy to pumping stations and facilities throughout Marin in the event of a power shutoff. It has invested in a large-scale, permanent generator for the San Geronimo treatment plant. As with any emergency, plans are in place to secure the fuel and other supplies needed to provide water service, uninterrupted, during these shutoffs. We are ready.
The pattern of increasingly hot, dry weather is also creating drought conditions for California. The district closely monitors its water supply and is gearing up now for drier periods ahead. The watershed accounts for 75% of our water supply and the remaining 25% comes from neighboring Sonoma Water’s Russian River water system.
As we plan for longer stretches of dry periods, the district has strategically increased the amount of water purchased fromSonomaWater to supplement its watershed supply. Supplementing our supply now will better position us to withstand drought conditions, should reservoir levels drop below our comfort level.
Another byproduct of the warming temperatures may affect the taste and odor of your water. Occasionally, during the warmer months, some customers experience a different taste or odor in their drinking water. This is the result of naturally occurring compounds produced by algae in our lakes during the warm summer months. These slight changes do not affect the safety of your water, and it is important to know that your water meets or exceeds all state and federal requirements. For those who are more sensitive to these changes, chilling the water during these periods will help reduce the temporary change in taste or odor.
Perhaps the best tool in successfully building resilience to drought conditions is conservation. Using water efficiently and wisely preserves our water supply and carries us through these challenging times.
Steps include trading in your thirsty lawn for more waterefficient landscaping; installing and maintaining “smart” irrigation controllers that self- adjust to deliver just the right amount of water your plants need; and greywater systems that reuse water for irrigation are all great options.
Marin Water offers rebates and money- saving incentives for these and other conservation programs, and you can learn more about these programs on the district’s website, at MarinWater.org/rebates.
The challenges we face brought on by our changing climate are substantial.
The best solutions will involve a healthy mix of planning, preparedness and community collaboration to ensure we have an ample water supply to carry us through whatever lies ahead. We are always stronger, together.