Water Conservation

Some people receive their water from surface water sources, such as rivers, lakes, or streams, and are more vulnerable to drought conditions due to the lack of rain and run-off, as well as, other conditions. Other agencies, like the Los Alamos Community Services District (Los Alamos CSD), receive their water supply from groundwater sources. The Los Alamos CSD's groundwater source is called the San Antonio Ground Water Basin and is the only existing source of water supply for Los Alamos CSD. The Los Alamos CSD is not on State Water and does not receive any other allocations from other agencies. Although groundwater supplies are not as vulnerable to drought conditions as surface water supplies, rain is still very much needed to recharge our water basin.

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Some people receive their water from surface water sources, such as rivers, lakes, or streams, and are more vulnerable to drought conditions due to the lack of rain and run-off, as well as, other conditions. Other agencies like the Los Alamos Community Services District (Los Alamos CSD) receive their water supply from groundwater sources. The Los Alamos CSD's groundwater source is called the San Antonio Groundwater Basin and is the only existing source of water supply for Los Alamos CSD. The Los Alamos CSD is not on State Water and does not receive any other allocations from other agencies. Although groundwater supplies are not as vulnerable to drought conditions as surface water supplies, rain is still very much needed to recharge our water basin.

 

The San Antonio Groundwater Basin underlies the entire district and yields water to the district wells. The 110 square mile basin is a narrow wedge-shaped trough (the Los Alamos syncline) that collects runoff from the Solomon-Casmalia Hills to the north, the Purisima Hills to the south, the Burton Mesa Hills to the west, and the westernmost flank of the San Rafael Mountains to the east. Water quality within the basin is very good and requires very little treatment. The average annual rainfall within the basin ranges from 15 to 19 inches. In the past few years, rainfall totals have been well below our yearly average resulting in lower water tables. The groundwater resource tributary area available to Los Alamos CSD comprises about 50 sq. miles of the watershed.

 

The Los Alamos CSD owns and operates three water wells, all of which are metered. Two of our water wells are 500 feet deep and the third is 1000 feet deep. Currently, the average pump setting for all three wells is 265 feet. Our current well pumping soundings are averaging 200- feet between the three wells. This means that there is about a 60-foot difference between where our pumping levels are and the bottom of the pump. The District has the ability to lower our pump settings at all three wells if the water table drops to that level.

 

For the past 20 years, the Los Alamos CSD has kept daily water production records and conducts regular well soundings, as well as, takes regular water quality samples from our wells as required by the Department of Public Health. The district prides itself on trying to operate as effectively and efficiently as possible and to be good stewards of our groundwater basin. We operate through a SCADA system (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition). One feature of our SCADA system is that it provides continuous information on static and pumping depths within our wells. We also have VFDs (Variable Frequency Drives) at all of our sites that allow us to control our pumping rate at the wells and adjust accordingly to the town's water needs. In addition, in 2006 the District went to a tiered water rate structure to encourage water conservation, which has resulted in roughly 12,000,000 gallons less being pumped out of the San Antonio Groundwater Basin by the District annually.

 

About 80% of the water taken out of the basin is used for agriculture, 19% is used for other domestic needs within the Los Alamos Valley and the Los Alamos Community Services District uses roughly 1% of the overall water taken out of the San Antonio Groundwater Basin.

 

The Los Alamos CSD provides valuable water and sewer service to over 1800 people who rely on our services. This includes residential, commercial, and mixed-use within the district's boundary, as well as, park services and bulk water sales. We also provide water from our wells for fire protection that is used not just in town but throughout the Los Alamos Valley if needed. We have a great responsibility to provide safe, healthy, and reliable water to all.

 

As you might be aware, last year’s rainy season was one of the driest years on record and we are on pace to beat that this year. On January 17, 2014, Governor Jerry Brown declared an official drought state of emergency for California bringing the issue of water conservation and water awareness back to the forefront of the news. It has been on everyone’s mind and we have had numerous questions and concerns from our residents and customers about our groundwater supply and the potential for that resource to be depleted. We want to ensure you that the Los Alamos Community Services District takes those concerns very seriously and monitors the basin levels frequently.

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Due to the Los Alamos CSD's water well soundings concerning our current pump setting, the Los Alamos Community Services District's water supply is in fair condition and has not seen water shortages to the extent that other agencies have. However, the State Water Board has implemented mandatory requirements for all California Water Users and has required the District to implement our own mandatory restrictions on water use within our District Boundaries. (Please see the new requirements below) The District has given notice to every customer within our District Boundaries to start following the new requirements. Failure to do so could result in a fine of up to $500 per occurrence. 

 

Customers need to conserve water and evaluate their habits, as it relates to their daily water use. This is something that everyone should do whether or not we are in a drought. Simple things like periodically checking your irrigation system or fixing leaky sinks and toilets can save a lot of water and reduce your monthly water bill. Depending on how much rain we get during the next rainy season (Sept. to Oct.), the district may have to lower our pumps or implement further water restrictions. For more information about our water supply please contact our General Manager, Juan Ramon Gomez, at (805) 344-4195. Please see the links below for more water conservation information and helpful tips.

Drought conditions throughout the State of California vary for each County, City, or Local Agency and are not representative as a whole for the entire State of California.