Grand Jury reports say closure of SDC’s water system may have been a mistake

When the state shut down the Sonoma Developmental Center an unintended consequence was putting the Sonoma Valley in danger of not having enough water during an emergency, recent Grand Jury reports concluded.

“It was really foolish to shut down the most sustainable large resource of water for the Valley,” said Matt Fullner, interim general manager for Valley of the Moon Water District (VOMWD), of the closure of the SDC’s water system.

The Sonoma County Civil Grand Jury wrote two related reports – “Water for a Changing Future” and “Emergency Water Shortages in Sonoma Valley” -- that were released earlier this month.

In Water for a Changing Future, the report said: “The changes at the Sonoma Developmental Center made sense in isolation for the Sonoma Developmental Center, but the wider effect of these changes on water through the Valley was not considered. The impacts of the Sonoma Developmental Center closure illustrate the need for an improved understanding of the interdependence of all water entities in the region.”

Colleen Ferguson, public works director of the City of Sonoma, said the reports “describe the situation for water in Sonoma Valley pretty well.”

Chris Petlock, administration and finance manager at VOMWD, said that he, too, is concerned about having water for fire emergencies as well as having drinking water. The one area that some people might not think about when planning for emergencies is having enough water for sanitation, Petlock said.

“My personal concern isn’t related to drinking water,” he said. “You can’t store enough water for sanitation” in a household. There are four people living in his Sonoma home where he has eight rain barrels that he once used for irrigation, but now holds on to them for sanitation, he said.

“How many days can a household go without flushing a toilet? It’s not a pretty scene,” he said.

The county’s water agency, Sonoma Water, operates the pump stations that bring water to Sonoma Valley. If those stations are compromised and unable to operate, Sonoma Valley has no back-up system in place now that SDC’s water system is offline.

The Grand Jury reports, which look at the future supply of water to the Valley as well as water necessary during emergencies, recommends that VOMWD work with Sonoma Water, the City of Sonoma, and the California Department of General Services to develop a regional collaboration for wastewater collection and re-treatment, recycled water use, spreading basins for groundwater recharge and fire suppression.

In its recommendations the Grand Jury wants the various agencies to take “an active role in the SDC” specific plan process by Sept. 30, and by Dec. 31 to initiate a plan to share existing water resources. By Oct. 31 it is recommended that VOMWD and the City of Sonoma meet to discuss a regional 2020 Urban Water Management Plan.

Fullner and Ferguson said that their respective agencies are actively working together to prepare a response to the Grand Jury by the deadlines set, and get a multi-agency cooperative plan in place.

VOMWD is also asked to establish specific emergency water use restrictions and communicate them to its customers by Sept. 30, and to accelerate its program for expanding well capacity and well storage by Dec. 31.

Contact Anne at anne.ernst@sonomanews.com.