MOSCOW CITY COUNCIL GROUNDWATER WORKSHOP

1
MOSCOW CITY COUNCILGROUNDWATERWORKSHOP

• November 24, 2003

2
Water Usage HistoryCity of Moscow

• 1993 - 2002

3
January
4
February
5
March
6
April
7
May
8
June
9
July
10
July
16 degrees
2 inches
Weather Impact
11
August
8 degrees
0.7 inches
12
August
8 degrees
Well 9 Offline
0.7 inches
13
September
14
October
15
November
16
December
17
City of Moscow Water Usage HistoryObservations

• Rate of consumption growth increases beginning in
  June
• Anomalies noted
• July 1993 due to temperature and precipitation
• August 1993 due to temperature and precipitation
• August 2002 due to Well 9 repairs
• Rate of consumption growth decreases beginning in
  September and October
• Weather Dependent trends

18
City of Moscow Water Usage History

• Consumption Types
• Residential Domestic
• Residential Irrigation
• Commercial and Industrial Domestic
• Commercial and Industrial Irrigation
• Commercial and Industrial Process
• Wholesale Customers
• Unmetered Uses
• Unaccounted Uses

19
Winters 93-02
20
Winters 94-02
21
Summers 93-02
22
Summers 94-02
23
Annual 93-02
24
Annual 94-02
25
Pullman Consumption
26
City of Moscow Water Usage HistoryObservations

• Winter Consumption Generally Declining
• Summer Consumption Generally Increasing
• Irrigation Component
• 1993 2002 Annual Consumption Generally
  Increasing
• 1994 2002 Annual Consumption Generally
  Decreasing

27
Ground Water Management Area(GWMA)

• Introduction to Groundwater Management Areas
• State Statutes Pertaining to GWMAs
• Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee

28
State Statutes on GWMAs

• Title 42, Chapter 2
• 42-233A Critical Ground Water Area
• 42-233B Ground Water Management Area
• 42-237A Powers of the Director of the
  Department of Water Resources

29
Definition

• Critical Ground Water Management Area
• any ground water basin, or designated part
  thereof, not having sufficient ground water to
  provide a reasonably safe supply for irrigation
  of cultivated lands, or other uses in the basin
  at the then current rates of withdrawal, or rates
  of withdrawal projected by consideration of valid
  and outstanding applications and permits, as may
  be determined and designated, from time to time,
  by the director of the department of water
  resources.
• 42-233A

30
Critical Designation 42-233A

• Public Hearing required for designation
• Public Hearing required for modifications
• If there is insufficient water available director
  may deny new permits
• Director can require reports on withdrawals
• Director can order reduction in withdrawals for
  the following growing season

31
Definitions

• Ground Water Management Area
• any ground water basin or designated part
  thereof which the director of the department of
  water resources has determined may be approaching
  the conditions of a critical ground water area.
• 42-233B

32
Management Area 42-233B

• Publish Notice in newspaper
• May approve a ground water management plan
  which shall manage the effects of ground water
  withdrawals on the aquifer
• May issue permits if sufficient water available
• Director can require reports on withdrawals
• Director can order reduction in withdrawals for
  the following growing season

33
Powers of Director 42-237A

• Can restrict the illegal opening of wells or the
  withdrawal or use of water therefrom if such
  action might result in the depletion of
  groundwater resources of the state contrary to
  public policy
• May restrict the withdrawal of water from a well
  if determined that the water to fulfill the water
  right for that well is not available
• May establish groundwater pumping levels in area
  having a common supply

34
Powers of Director (contd)

• Water availability deemed insufficient if
• Use would effect the present or future use of
  prior water right
• Use would withdraw groundwater at a rate beyond
  the reasonably anticipated average rate of future
  natural recharge

35
Powers of Director (contd)

• Director may allow water mining if it is in the
  public interest and
• Program exists or will exist that will increase
  recharge or decrease withdrawals to provide
  balance
• Holders of senior water rights will not be caused
  to pump water from below the established
  reasonable pumping level

36
Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee(PBAC)

• Formed in 1977 as the Pullman Moscow Water
  Resources Committee
• Focused on research and modeling
• Disbanded due to increased rain years

37
Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee(PBAC)

• Formed in 1977 as the Pullman Moscow Water
  Resources Committee
• Focused on research and modeling
• Disbanded due to increased rain years
• Reformed in 1987 with inclusion of Counties
• State Participation
• 1992 Groundwater Management Plan

38
Palouse Basin Aquifer Committee(PBAC)

• Formed in 1977 as the Pullman Moscow Water
  Resources Committee
• Focused on research and modeling
• Disbanded due to increased rain years
• Reformed in 1987 with inclusion of Counties
• State Participation
• 1992 Groundwater Management Plan
• Name change to address more members
• Current Members City of Moscow, City of Pullman,
  University of Idaho, Washington State University,
  Latah County, Whitman County, City of Colfax

39
State Perspective

• Mr. Karl J. Dreher, P. E.
• Director of the Idaho Department
• of Water Resources (IDWR)

40
Aquifer Issues

• Aquifer Water Levels
• Per Capita Water Consumption
• Unaccounted Water
• Meter Calibration

41
Wells 23 Static
42
Wells 23 Static w/ trends
43
Wells 6,89 Static
44
Wells 6,89 Static w/ trends
45
All Wells
46
Moscow Per Capita
Reuse Expansion
47
Pullman Per Capita
48
Current and Future Projects

• Water Conservation
• Rate Study
• Water Quality Study
• Paradise Creek Water Quality Study
• PBAC Projects
• Aquifer Connection Well
• Monitoring Well Field
• Water Infiltration Study
• Strategic Plan Initiative

49
Summary

• Direction by Council