City of Folsom talks transfer sale of excess water

City Council held its regular meeting Tuesday night and a resolution to an environmental impact report for Folsom, south of Highway 50, and the transfer of thousands of acre-feet of water were discussed. "In short, the city is looking to sell/transfer up to 5,000 acre-feet of water in 2020. This water is in excess to what the city would need to meet demands in 2020 and would not impact any existing customers north or south of Highway 50. The CEQA documentation is required to evaluate whether or not the transfer of water would have any environmental impacts," shared Christine Brainerd, city of Folsom communications director. Marcus Yasutake, senior engineer and environmental and water resources director for the city of Folsom, gave the power point presentation. Yasutake highlighted several facets of the resolution. Those included Senate Bill X7-7, up to a one-year transfer of 5,000 acre-feet of water to the state water contractors, the city of Folsom's system optimization program, Addendum 1 and 2 and the proposed transfer. "Senate Bill X7-7 or it is also known as the Water Conservation Act of 2009, is a requirement for a 20 percent statewide water reduction by 2020, including the city of Folsom. There were various calculations the city was required to do. One was a baseline target which consisted of a range of years of water use within the city, calculating what they call a Gallons Per Capita Per Day," said Yasutake. The Gallons Per Capita Per Day is calculated by the gross water use within the city limits divided by the number per capita that was using the water. The baseline in 2009-2010 was 440 Gallons Per Capita Per Day. Interim targets were set in 2015, which when calculated were 396. "The 2020 target is 352 GPCPD. For context in where we are now, the actual 2019 calendar year number is 246 GPCPD. We have already met our 2020 target under SBX7-7. The conserved water made available by the city's effort is also subject to California Water Code Section 1011, which does allow for the transfer or sale of that conserved water," said Yasutake. The city retains the rights to the water. Actions that the city of Folsom took to make the conserved water available, Yasutake said, were leak and loss repairs, water metering of residential customers (which was implemented in 2013), an efficient landscape ordinance, implementing California green building code standards, and implementing best management practices of the "California Water Efficiency Partnership." The proposed transfer would happen between July and October, and the proposed sale is $350 per foot. The agenda items were moved and seconded; all council members were present for roll call. No questions were asked by the council.