Round about now, I would be writing an article about recycled water and when
Banning would be getting it. I'd ask things like why are the folks at Sun
Lakes forced to spend nearly $800,000 per year to water golf course with
drinking water?
I would ask how much money from the sale of $37 million in bonds issued on
the assets of the water/wastewater treatment plant actually went to putting
in, at the very least, a line that has already been designed to Sun Lakes?
When the north part of Sun Lakes was built, a fee of $700 per house was
levied to go towards the ultimate recycled water line.
Some folks say that with these contributions from the Sun Lakes residents
and modest contributions from the City of Banning, there's a pot of about
$2.6 million that should be going toward reclaimed water. With the departure
of longtime Banning employee Paul Toor the water/wastewater division, at
least for the time being will fall on the shoulders of Electric Director Jim
Earhart. I will give him some time to get oriented before I go on my
favorite rant about “When will we get recycled water in Banning?”
I find it incredulous that the assets of the water plant did not include
allocating enough money to bring in an alternate source of water; in this
case, recycled water. The infrastructure may cost more but the water
delivered to Sun Lakes doesn't! If you don't believe me, check the
ordinance. We have all kinds of uses of this reclaimed water including golf
course (yes, someday others will want to build golf courses in Banning), the
freeway plantings and city parks, to name a few.
Too many people in this city have put too many eggs in the state water
project basket. From all indications, state water allocations are being cut
by about 37%; meaning adjudicated water rights will also be cut. Forwarding
thinking people will make certain to acquire every kind of water possible.
That's enough of that subject . . . at least for the moment.
I had a very interesting
tour the other day provided by Chuck Butcher, longtime General Manager of
the Beaumont/Cherry Valley Water District. Mr. Butcher is a veteran of many
water wars. In the words of Mark Twain, “Whiskey is for drinking. Water is
for fighting over.” As we continue through drought conditions and
development, these words can only become more prophetic.
Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District owns about
80 acres of property on Beaumont Avenue and Cherry Valley Boulevard. Down
the road, when all the spreading ponds are built and functioning, this
operation will be able to recharge 22,000 acre feet of water annually. That
is enough to service 44,000 homes.
Right now, Butcher is busy readying about 23 acres
worth of spreading ponds, demonstration gardens and about 3 miles of trails
for people to walk. It's pretty logical to understand why horses are not
allowed on the trails. Right?
There will be three pair of monitoring wells (one
at 500 feet, the other at 1,000 feet) that work on a 15 minute schedule of
monitoring. Right now Butcher will be recharging state water and ultimately
recycled water will be added.
All of the equipment will be solar powered. The
whole area will be a demonstration garden so that people can and do become
more acquainted with different and better kinds of irrigation systems and
what plants are more drought tolerant. I then proudly told Mr. Butcher about
my front lawn which is made up of rosemary as groundcover, succulents as
well as other native plants. I told him I estimate I save about 30% on not
having to water a grass lawn. He told me I was right on target!
Butcher said that when this catches on more (using
about 30% less water), the district could save about 4,000 acre feet per
year. He also mentioned that the facility will add 15 more cherry orchards.
He is hoping to have the orchards tended to by service clubs and clubs from
the high school.
While horses will not be allowed on the trails
near the spreading ponds, there are equestrian trails that extend from Noble
Creek to Bogart Park and they are all on water district property.
While others flounder, Butcher is planning for the
future. He noted that in 2014, the temporary surplus rights end. Beaumont is
preparing with state water and building credits and reserves. Right now, the
district has more demand for irrigation water than demand for recycled water
but like everything else, one must plan for the future.
Butcher mentioned that rough grading will be
starting soon which will be to dig the massive holes for the ponds. This
will be done as a trade off; as in the folks who are digging the holes get
the dirt and sand and the water district gets the holes they need. The
barter system is alive and well and functioning!
As we meandered down the paths, the cash register
that runs in my head kept going ka-chingŠ ka-ching.
As if reading my mind, Butcher said, “All of this is being paid for by
developer fees. Kazam! DIF (Developer Impact
Fees) are music to the ears of local officials who wonder how infrastructure
will be paid for.
Because life is tenuous and I don't know how long
I have left on this earth and I REALLY want to
see recycled water in Banning before I die, I boldly asked Mr. Butcher, “is
there any chance you could share your recycled water with the City of
Banning?” He didn't say “yes” and he didn't say “no.” However, he did point
out that there is a 24” pipe 2600 feet west of Highland Springs Avenue.
What a concept! another
idea in which to think regionally. Banning and Beaumont already share some
wells (and related costs). I don't know if this is
engineeringly possible, but if the City of Banning is thinking about
creating spreading ponds; is it necessary? If it is, then I say do it. If
there are other options, they should be explored for cost effectiveness to
just simple logic. Because one city does something, doesn't mean another
city has to do the exact same thing.
Former Banning Director of Water and Wastewater
Paul Toor made a statement in front of God, the City Council and the viewing
audience about a year ago. He said that Banning would have recycled water by
October 2008. That answer was in response to a question I asked.
It was a silly answer since it was patently and
obviously untrue for too many reasons Š including, but not limited to, no
state permits, no bids, no engineering and eh Š no money.
I asked Chuck Butcher when he anticipated recycled
water would come to the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Water District. He was
hopeful that this could be accomplished by the end of 2008.
Mr. Earthart . . .
meet Mr. Butcher.
(IN THE REAL WORD is written for the Record
Gazette by Gail Paparian, a Banning resident for nearly six years, has
served on Banning (and Riverside County) commissions and committees. She
currently serves on these boards: Community Blood Bank, San Gorgonio Pass
Rotary, San Gorgonio Pass Boys and Girls Club and a member of the Banning
Economic Development Committee.
)
