When power goes out, so does water in some rural areas

Not only did the lights go out for tens of thousands of Californians on Wednesday, but some of them were bracing for the loss of their taps and toilets, too.

Utilities across the state were warning residents that PG&E’s planned power outages could limit their ability to deliver water and carry off sewage, especially if the shutoff were to continue for days.

While most urban areas have enough backup power to cover the huge energy demands of water and sanitation service, some rural communities do not. Many utilities were scrambling to get generators in place as well as stockpile fuel to run their backup power equipment.

“We have so many small systems, there probably will be a few (areas) that will run out of water,” said Edwin Pattison, general manager of the Tuolumne Utilities District, which serves about 40,000 people across a sprawling stretch of Sierra foothills. “It’s a hard message (but) we’re doing what we can.”

Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s power outages began early Wednesday in the northernmost parts of the state and continued across at least 20 counties. The shutoff was the largest to be initiated by the power company in its bid to keep electrical equipment from igniting wildfires as it has done repeatedly over the past two years.

Water and sanitation agencies, like the Sonorabased Tuolumne Utilities District, have taken steps to prepare for the outages. They’ve bought and rented generators, kept water storage tanks full and sewage lines clear while there’s power to do so, and launched public outreach campaigns to warn customers about the need to conserve during shutoffs.

But because the electrical needs of the systems are often so great, the utilities won’t always be able to keep them running.

The Tuolumne district serves many small, farflung communities that rely on pump stations to deliver water. Some have no backup power because utility rates would never cover the cost.

“We’ll try to bring mobiles in, but we don’t have enough mobile generators for all those locations,” Pattison said. “Remember, this is a rural area. We have customers that are very remote and all over the place.”

Some utilities closer to the Bay Area were dealing with similar challenges.

In Santa Cruz County, officials in areas such as the San Lorenzo Valley and Soquel planned to direct their limited backup power supplies to where they’re needed most, should the electricity go out.

“We’ll have to hopscotch to certain sites,” said Taj Dufour, engineering manager for the Soquel Creek Water District, which provides water to about 40,000 residents.

Fortunately, all of the district’s wells feed an integrated water supply, so even if one well can’t be turned on, managers can pump from another well and keep reserves up, Dufour said.

In the San Lorenzo Valley, the concern is moving water up and down the Santa Cruz Mountains. The energyintensive delivery entails the use of 30 pump stations, and not all of them have backup power. Officials at the San Lorenzo Valley Water District, which serves about 23,000 people, were set to deploy portable generators to areas where water was needed most, prioritizing locations with sick and elderly residents.

In the city of Santa Cruz, water managers have plenty of diesel generators, but their issue was fuel.

“If the shutoff is relatively limited, we feel like we’re prepared,” said Chris Coburn, deputy director for operations at the Santa Cruz Water Department. “If we’re in a situation where we have an extended shutdown ... we’re a little less certain.”

Coburn said the city’s water system could run at full capacity for at least a day or two with its current fuel supply. But after that, he said, Santa Cruz would need to conserve its backup power and restock fuel, which he said could be tricky given the increased demand for diesel that might come with a prolonged outage.

PG&E has not given a timeline for the shutoffs. But it has warned that power may not be restored for several days. Crews are to inspect lines in areas where the electricity is shut off before switching it back on.

Larger water and sanitation agencies in the Bay Area weren’t anticipating problems from the outages. The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, East Bay Municipal Utility District, San Jose Water Co. and Sonoma County Water Agency confirmed that they had both stationary and portable backup power ready.

EBMUD tweeted Wednesday night that it was “activating critical backup generators and pumps” and that “water service should not be disrupted,” while the Marin Municipal Water District issued a Nixle alert asking customers to conserve water and stop outdoor irrigation.

But because the scope of the outages was unprecedented, most utilities were still asking customers to limit their water use and keep a few extra gallons on hand.

“You can be without power, but you cannot be without water,” said Pattison, at the Tuolumne Utilities District. “It’s about health and safety . ... You need to be able to flush your toilet and you need water to drink.”