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City of Morgan Hill Comprehensive Water Report
Page D2
Purpose of Report
The City of Morgan Hill, along with the State of California, is entering the fourth year of
drought conditions. 2014 has been recorded as the warmest and driest year on record for
California. The City Council, at its goal-setting retreat in January 2015, adopted a drought
response position that included the following goal and strategy:
Goal
The Morgan Hill Community will continue to be leaders in the state responding to the
drought conditions and will support water rate increases to ensure system reliability.
Strategy
By March 2015, the Council will receive a comprehensive report that identifies short
and long term strategies to address the environmental and financial impacts of
drought conditions which may include new rate structure, Proposition 218 water rate
election, public investment in recycled water, and other measures as necessary.
The purpose of the report will describe:
Water Sources
Water System
Level of Service and Maintenance Standards
Rate Structure
Consumption
Water Conservation
Recycled Water
Drought Response Activities
Expanding, Preserving, and Conserving for Future Water Supplies
Report Conclusions and Next Steps
Introduction
While there is no question that California is currently experiencing a
drought that is causing significant challenges, there is also considerable
concern that California's water system is built on unsustainable
parameters. Historical records indicate that the State experienced a relatively wet period
throughout the 20th Century and built a water system based on rainfall amounts that are
not likely to be consistently experienced in the future. As the State's economy and
population continue to grow, the unsustainability of California's water system will be
exposed with increasing frequency. This new reality will ultimately increase the cost of
producing water.
Morgan Hill's water system is no exception. While the Santa Clara Valley Water District
(District) actively recharges Morgan Hill's aquifers with imported water, their ability to do
so is limited by the amount of imported water made available to the District.
In addition, the water infrastructure serving our State and the community of Morgan Hill
Current
Conditions
California Snow
Pack at 19%
Imported Water
Supplies Severely
Constrained
Groundwater
Levels Falling
Throughout
California
Water District
Unable to Fully
Recharge Morgan
Hill Aquifer