WATER

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Our water problems are significant. Water is discolored and expensive. And we’re running out. 

Our aging water infrastructure brings increased risk of frequent leaks and pipe bursts, higher maintenance and repair costs, potential water supply contamination, and reduced water delivery efficiency. The St. Helena Water and Wastewater plant, a large-scale operation, is under a Cease-and-Desist Order from the Regional Water Quality Control Board. The order requires phased improvements over a number of years to ensure compliance with updated wastewater treatment standards. 

In addition to these challenges, St. Helena’s groundwater supply is under increasing strain due to prolonged droughts and overuse. Groundwater recharge is insufficient to meet the city's growing demands, leading to a depletion of aquifers. The lack of consistent rainfall has exacerbated the issue, putting further pressure on both the city’s groundwater resources and its surface water supply. Without urgent investment in sustainable water management practices, such as groundwater recharge projects or better stormwater capture, St. Helena’s long-term water security remains at risk. 

Finally, water rates are an issue. The cost of water in St. Helena are a huge burden on middle and lower-income persons and families . Escalation is built into the current rate structure, meaning it is only going to get costlier. 

We are in a bit of a Catch-22 situation. We need to have enough usage of our water enterprise to keep rates reasonable and keep our local economy afloat. And at the same time, we are facing water shortages that prevent us from doing so.  While city staff has worked hard to prioritize water with significant investments in capital improvement projects, our problems run deeper. I am strongly in favor of establishing a citizen-led Water and Wastewater Commission with advisory and oversight responsibility not only for the necessary accountability to manage our existing enterprise, but also to aid in the exploration of necessary solutions to ensure our long-term water supply and affordability for residents in the future. 

All ideas should be on the table.  A couple of key strategies to aggressively explore are:

• Accessing state and federal funding to execute strategies such as removing build-up silt to increase reservoir storage capacity, harvesting rainwater, solar shading to minimize evaporation, and connecting to other water sources.
• Collaboration with neighboring cities and regional agencies to help develop shared water management solutions and reduce costs.

For those looking a nice set of resources and links to data on our city's water system, the Water Advocates of St. Helena (WASH) provides a fairly comprehensive information on water quality, infrastructure, conservation, and drought management.  This includes links to reports, city documents, and tools that help residents stay informed and engaged with the city’s water challenges.