Agenda Item No. 7
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council DATE: January 23, 2023 FROM: Matthew Bronson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: David Hale, City Attorney
Rafael Castillo, Acting Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Resolution to Ratify the Community Development Director Request to Consolidate a Coastal Development Permit for the Central Coast Blue Project
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution ratifying the Community Development Director’s request for consolidation of a Coastal Development Permit for development of facilities and infrastructure related to the Central Coast Blue recycled water project.
BACKGROUND
Section 30601.3 of the California Public Resources Code (PRC) allows for a consolidated permitting process for projects for which the Coastal Development Permit (CDP) authority is shared by a local government(s) and the California Coastal Commission. In order for the Coastal Commission to process and act upon a consolidated CDP application, PRC Section 30601.3 requires that the applicant, the appropriate local government(s), and the Coastal Commission consent to the consolidation. The goal of a consolidated CDP is to expedite the review process by allowing a single CDP application to move forward when the project is located within more than one jurisdiction that requires a CDP. Absent a consolidated CDP application, every local agency must conduct its own public hearing for the portion of the project within its jurisdiction.
The City receives requests for consolidated CDPs relatively infrequently with an average of one every few years. Examples over the last 10 years include Caltrans improvement projects on Highway 101 and State Parks improvements on West Grand Avenue. Most recently, staff has worked with other agencies on developing a self-initiated request for a consolidated CDP for the Central Coast Blue project located partially in the city and in San Luis Obispo County (see Attachment 1). Staff believes that pursuing a consolidated CDP is appropriate for this project since it is a multi-jurisdictional project within the original jurisdiction of the Coastal Commission as well as the jurisdictions of the County and City. Substantial public outreach has been completed to date for this project with numerous public hearings and meetings such that public participation is not expected to be substantially impaired by consolidation of this permit. The consolidated CDP process would accelerate the project permitting process given the need for additional long-term water supply while still ensuring the necessary regulatory review of the project.
Given the timing of submitting a request to the County by the end of 2022, an initial request for a consolidated CDP process was submitted at the staff level by the Community Development Director on December 22, 2022 (see Attachment 2). This request was intended to be an interim action pending ratification by the Council in January. Staff is subsequently recommending adoption of a Resolution shown in Attachment 1 to formally ratify the request submitted by the Staff Report: Request for Consolidated CDP for Central Coast Blue Page 2 January 23, 2023
Community Development Director to consolidate the issuance of a CDP for the Central Coast Blue Project.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to this action.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council has the following alternatives to consider:
1. Adopt a Resolution ratifying the Community Development Director’s request for consolidation of a Coastal Development Permit for development of facilities and infrastructure related to the Central Coast Blue recycled water project; or
2. Do not adopt Resolution; or
3. Provide alternative direction to staff.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.
Attachments
1. Resolution to Ratify the Central Coast Blue Consolidated CDP Request
2. Central Coast Blue Consolidated CDP Request
Attachment 1
RESOLUTION NO. 23-__
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GROVER
BEACH, CALIFORNIA RATIFYING A REQUEST FOR A
CONSOLIDATED PERMITTING PROCESS FOR COASTAL
DEVELOPMENT PERMITS FOR INFRASTRUCTURE AND WELLS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE CENTRAL COAST BLUE PROJECT
WHEREAS, Section 30601.3 of the California Public Resources Code allows for a consolidated permitting process for projects for which the Coastal Development Permit (CDP) authority is shared by a local government and the California Coastal Commission (Commission), which would result in the Commission issuing a CDP for the entire project within its and the local government’s CDP authority; and
WHEREAS, in order for the Commission to process and act upon a consolidated CDP application, Section 30601.3 of the Public Resources Code requires that the applicant, the local government, and the Commission consent to the consolidation, provided that public participation is not substantially impaired by the consolidation; and
WHEREAS, Central Coast Blue includes underground infrastructure and wells located under the CDP authority of the City of Grover Beach, the County of San Luis Obispo, and the Commission and would otherwise require a CDP from all three agencies for the portions located within each jurisdiction; and
WHEREAS, public participation will not be substantially impaired as the Commission will hold a public hearing on the project, allowing interested parties to submit timely comments to the Commission and/or attend said hearing, and which consolidated permit process will allow for the underground infrastructure and wells to be evaluated in their entirety; and WHEREAS, given the timing of submitting a request to the Coastal Commission by the end of 2022, an initial request for a consolidated CDP was submitted by the Community Development Director in consultation with the City Manager on December 22, 2022; and WHEREAS, the request was intended to be an interim action pending ratification by the Council at the next regular meeting on January 23, 2023.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Grover Beach hereby ratifies the Community Development Director’s request to consolidate the Coastal Development Permit process for the underground infrastructure and wells in the Coastal Zone for Central Coast Blue.
Upon motion by Council Member , second by Council Member , and on the following roll call vote:
AYES: Council Members
NOES: Council Members
ABSENT: Council Members
ABSTAIN: Council Members
the foregoing Resolution was PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED at the Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Grover Beach, California this 23rd day of January 2023.
KAREN BRIGHT, MAYOR
Attest:
WENDI SIMS, CITY CLERK
**DRAFT**
December 22, 2022
Sarah MacGregor, Coastal Program Analyst
California Coastal Commission
725 Front Street, Suite 300
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Subject: Consolidated Coastal Development Permit for Central Coast Blue Project Dear Ms. MacGregor:
The Central Coast Blue project is a regional advanced purified water project intended to enhance supply reliability located and operated within both the jurisdictions of unincorporated San Luis Obispo County and the City of Grover Beach. Based on discussions with the project partners the City of Grover Beach agrees to a consolidated permit process for the Central Coast Blue project and requests that a consolidated Coastal Development Permit (CDP) be processed by the Coastal Commission pursuant to California Public Resources Code Section 30601.3 (the California Coastal Act)1
.
The Central Coast Blue project is a regional advanced purified water project intended to enhance supply reliability by reducing the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin’s vulnerability to drought and seawater intrusion. The project would involve injection of advanced purified water into the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin via a series of injection wells, installed at various locations in the city of Grover Beach and the unincorporated community of Oceano, to develop a seawater intrusion barrier. The injection well network would be accompanied by a network of monitoring wells for regulatory compliance. Water for the project would be sourced from the Pismo Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant and the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District Wastewater Treatment Plant. Prior to injection to the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin, water would be treated to an advanced level of purification at a proposed Advanced Treatment Facility complex (located on Assessor’s Parcel Number 060-543-016 in Grover Beach), which would include an Advanced Treatment Facility, equalization basin, advanced purified water storage tank, and pump station.
One new production well would also be constructed at this complex to optimize the groundwater production system.
The proposed Advanced Treatment Facility would treat a combination of flows from both wastewater treatment plants for injection into the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin. In support of this process, a series of water distribution pipelines would be installed to accomplish four 1 The City of Grover Beach is one of the appropriate Governmental Agencies defined within Public Resources Code Section 30601.3 since the city has a Local Coastal Program and would be issuing a Coastal Development Permit for this project if no consolidated permit is issued.
Attachment 2
City of Grover Beach - Central Coast Blue Consolidated CDP
purposes: 1) convey secondary treated effluent from the Pismo Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant from the existing discharge pipeline to the proposed Advanced Treatment Facility; 2) convey secondary treated effluent from the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District Wastewater Treatment Plant to the proposed Advanced Treatment Facility; 3) convey advanced purified water from the proposed Advanced Treatment Facility to the injection wells; and 4) convey concentrate from the proposed Advanced Treatment Facility to the existing discharge pipeline. The project does not propose changes to the groundwater pumping limitations of the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin Adjudication Agreement and would not result in physical modifications to the oceanside portion of the existing ocean outfall pipeline. Activities within the County of San Luis Obispo’s coastal development permitting jurisdiction involve construction and operation of one injection well and several pipeline segments. Activities within the unincorporated portion of San Luis Obispo County that are within the original jurisdiction of the Commission involve construction and operation of up to three injection wells, two monitoring wells, and additional pipeline segments. See Attachment 1 for a map of project facilities in comparison to coastal development permitting jurisdictions and Attachment 2 for a detailed project description.
The City of Grover Beach believes that pursuing a consolidated CDP would be appropriate for this project since it is a multi-jurisdictional project that lies within the original jurisdiction of the California Coastal Commission as well as the jurisdictions of the County of San Luis Obispo and City of Grover Beach. Substantial public outreach has been completed to date for this project such that public participation is not expected to be substantially impaired by consolidation of this permit (see Attachment 3). California Coastal Commission staff have indicated support for this approach (see Attachment 4). Thank you for your consideration and if you would like to discuss this item further, please contact Rafael Castillo, Senior Planner, at 805-473-4528 or [email protected].
Sincerely,
Bruce Buckingham
Community Development Director
Attachments
Attachment 1 Project Location Map
Attachment 2 Project Description
Attachment 3 Summary of Public Outreach Completed to Date Attachment 4 Letter of Support from Coastal Staff
c: Schani Siong, San Luis Obispo County
Project Description
1 Project Description
1.1 Background and Project Overview
The cities of Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, and Arroyo Grande obtain water from a combination of three sources: the California State Water Project, Lopez Reservoir, and local groundwater. Each of these sources is highly variable, with supply fluctuations on the order of thousands of acre-feet per year over the past decade (City of Pismo Beach 2021). The primary source of groundwater for these agencies is the Northern Cities Management Area (NCMA) of the Santa Maria Groundwater Basin (SMGB). The cities of Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, and Arroyo Grande and Oceano Community Services District (OCSD) (collectively referred to as the NCMA agencies) manage groundwater extraction in their portion of the basin to protect long-term sustainable use and to prevent seawater intrusion.
Historically, elevated freshwater levels along the coastline and natural outflow to the ocean have prevented seawater from intruding into the groundwater basin. However, groundwater elevations along the coastline have dropped due to changing climatic conditions, including more frequent periods of extended drought resulting in reduced inflow into the groundwater basin and increased demands on groundwater supplies resulting in a higher rate of groundwater extraction. These lower levels reduce the flow of freshwater out toward the ocean, which reduces the effectiveness of groundwater as a barrier to seawater, and in 2009, elevated concentrations of water quality constituents consistent with incipient seawater intrusion (i.e., total dissolved solids, sodium, chloride) were detected in the NCMA monitoring wells. If conditions worsen, seawater will draw toward the freshwater zone of the aquifer, contaminating it with elevated salt.
The proposed Central Coast Blue project ( p ) is a
regional advanced purified water project intended to enhance supply reliability by reducing the NCMA usion. The project is a multi-agency collaboration between the cities of Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, and Arroyo Grande and the South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District (SSLOCSD). As the water supply beneficiaries, these three cities have formed a joint powers authority the Central Coast Blue Regional Recycled Water Authority to facilitate implementation of the project. SSLOCSD has been and will continue to be part of the planning, design, construction, and operation phases of the project.
The proposed project would prevent seawater intrusion and augment groundwater supplies by recycling water currently discharged to the ocean and injecting it into the groundwater basin. Water eatment facilities - the Pismo
Beach Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and the SSLOCSD WWTP. Treated secondary effluent would be piped to a new advanced water purification facility (AWPF) complex in Grover Beach where it would undergo a full advanced treatment process to purify it beyond drinking water standards. The purified water would then be distributed through pipelines to a series of injection wells and injected into the groundwater basin. Monitoring wells would be constructed to monitor project benefits and ensure the protection of the water quality of the groundwater basin. The three cities would be able to extract this additional water supply source via their existing groundwater production wells in accordance with the existing SMGB Adjudication Agreement (i.e., the 2 2005 Stipulation and 2008 final order). One new production well would be constructed as part of the project to replace an existing well. The project would be implemented in two phases, with Phase I receiving and treating flows from the Pismo Beach WWTP and Phase II receiving and treating additional flows from the SSLOCSD WWTP. The Coastal Development Permit application is for both phases.
1.2 Project Objectives
The objectives for the proposed Central Coast Blue project are as follows:
Produce advanced purified water of a quality that can safely be used to augment NCMA groundwater supply while maintaining or improving existing groundwater quality Create a sustainable, drought-resistant, local water supply and improve water supply reliability for southern San Luis Obispo County
Provide a new source of recharge to the NCMA to protect the basin from degradation via seawater intrusion
Reduce wastewater discharges to the ocean and maximize utilization of local water supplies Facilitate continued water resources collaboration in the NCMA
1.3 Project Location
The project area is in the city of Grover Beach and portions of unincorporated San Luis Obispo County, including the community of Oceano. Table 1 describes the approximate locations of project components. Due to ongoing siting and design efforts, several alternative pipeline alignments and well locations are included. Figure 1 presents a map of project components as well as the existing Pismo Beach and SSLOCSD WWTPs, the City of outfall pipeline, and NCMA production wells. Figure 2 presents a magnified view of project components.
Figure 3 and Figure 4 present the General Plan and zoning designations, respectively, for project components and indicate which components are in the Coastal Zone. Figure 5 delineates which coastal development permit authority (i.e., City of Grover Beach, County of San Luis Obispo, or California Coastal Commission) has approval jurisdiction over project components in the Coastal Zone.
Project Description
3 Table 1 Project Components
Project
Component Address/Description Existing Use
AWPF Complex,
PB-23 and MW3C/3D
980 Huber Street (between Huber Street and Barca Street approximately 120 feet north of Calvin Court), Grover
Beach1
An approximately 1.5-acre parcel
that contains several unpaved
storage yards that are used for
storage. A portion of the parcel is
currently occupied by Kautz
Towing.
Concentrate
Pipelines
955 South 4th Street, Grover Beach Unpaved storage yard South 4th Street Paved roadway
East of intersection of State Route (SR) 1 and Coolidge Drive, Oceano
Coastal Dunes RV Park and
Campground and Union Pacific
Railroad track
IW-1 City of Grover Beach parking lot east of railroad tracks at western terminus of Rockaway Avenue Parking lot
IW-2A, IW-2B 550 Farroll Road, Grover Beach Undeveloped land IW-2A Alternative,
IW-2B Alternative
Farroll Road right-of-way between South 6th Street and
South 7th Street, Grover Beach Paved roadway
IW-3 Monroe Drive right-of-way between Norswing Drive and SR 1, Oceano Undeveloped land
IW-4 Norswing Drive right-of-way between Mendel Drive and Pershing Drive, Oceano Grass parkway
IW-5A, IW-5B,
MW-5A/5B/5C 1600 Aloha Place, Oceano SSLOCSD WWTP
MW-1A/1B South 3rd Street right-of-way north of Longbranch Avenue, Grover Beach Paved roadway
MW-1A/1B
Alternative
South 3rd Street right-of-way between West Grand Avenue and Rockaway Avenue, Grover Beach Paved roadway
MW-1C/1D South 6th Street right-of-way between Rockaway Avenue and Longbranch Avenue, Grover Beach Undeveloped land
MW-1C/1D
Alternative
South 7th Street right-of-way between West Grand Avenue and Rockaway Avenue, Grover Beach Paved roadway
MW-2A/2B/2C Barca Street right-of-way south of Farroll Road, Grover Beach Paved roadway
MW-2A/2B/2C
Alternative
Farroll Road right-of-way between South 6th Street and
South 7th Street, Grover Beach Paved roadway
MW-2D/2E/2F Barca Street right-of-way north of AWPF site, Grover Beach Paved roadway MW-4A/4B
Alternative
Dewey Drive right-of-way between Pershing Drive and
Mendel Drive, Oceano Grass parkway
MW-4C/4D West of the western terminus of The Pike, Grover Beach Stormwater detention basin MW-5D/5E/5F 1650 Front Street, Oceano Oceano Depot
MW-NCMA North
A/B/C Produce Place and 26th Street, Oceano Unpaved roadway MW-NCMA South
A/B/C 35.0834, -120.6066, Oceano Unpaved roadway
4 Project
Component Address/Description Existing Use
Secondary Effluent
Pipelines
SR 1, Coolidge Drive, Norswing Drive, Mendel Drive, Lakeside Avenue, Aloha Place, Railroad Street, Ocean Street, and Delta Lane in Oceano and Grover Beach
Paved roadways
955 South 4th Street, Grover Beach Unpaved storage yard East of intersection of SR 1 and Coolidge Drive, Oceano Coastal Dunes RV Park and
Campground and Union Pacific
Railroad track
494 Air Park Drive, Oceano Oceano Campground
561 Air Park Drive, Oceano Oceano County Airport
1600 Aloha Place, Oceano SSLOCSD WWTP
Purified Water
Distribution
Pipelines
Barca Street, South 4th Street, Farroll Road, South 5th Street, Rockaway Avenue, SR 1, Coolidge Drive, Norswing Drive,
Monroe Drive, Truman Drive, Mendel Drive, Lakeside
Avenue, Aloha Place, Railroad Street, Ocean Street, and Delta Lane in Oceano and Grover Beach
Paved roadways
955 South 4th Street, Grover Beach Unpaved storage yard East of intersection of SR 1 and Coolidge Drive, Oceano Coastal Dunes RV Park and
Campground and Union Pacific
Railroad track
494 Air Park Drive, Oceano Oceano Campground
561 Air Park Drive, Oceano Oceano County Airport
1600 Aloha Place, Oceano SSLOCSD WWTP
AWPF = advanced water purification facility; IW = injection well; MW = monitoring well; PB = Pismo Beach production well; SSLOCSD = South San Luis Obispo County Sanitation District; WWTP = wastewater treatment plant Project Description
5 Figure 1 Project Components Full Extent
6 Figure 2 Project Components Focused Extent
Project Description
7 Figure 3 General Plan Land Use Designations of Project 8 Figure 4 Zoning Designations of Project Components
Project Description
9 Figure 5 Coastal Development Permit Authority
10 1.4 Description of Project
The proposed project consists of the following: an AWPF complex; purified water distribution, secondary effluent, concentrate, and sewer pipelines; injection and monitoring wells; a pump station; and a new production well. The water produced by the project and injected into the groundwater basin would be extracted via existing production wells for the Cities of Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, and Arroyo Grande, resulting in increased groundwater pumping from existing production wells within the limits of the existing SMGB Adjudication Agreement. Each of these project components is described below.
Advanced Water Purification Facility Complex
The AWPF complex would include an AWPF building, an equalization tank, a pump house, outdoor chemical storage, and a new production well, all of which would all be constructed on the same parcel in Grover Beach at the southern ends of Huber Street and Barca Street. A conceptual site layout for the AWPF is shown in Figure 6 and the components are described in the following sections.
Figure 6 AWPF Conceptual Site Layout
Project Description
11 Advanced Water Purification Facility
The AWPF would treat flows from the Pismo Beach WWTP and the SSLOCSD WWTP. The proportion of the AWPF source water that each of these flows comprises would be determined based on the operational needs of the project and the need for supplemental water for the participating agencies, among other factors. The AWPF would be designed with an initial influent and treatment capacity of up to 1.3 million gallons per day (mgd) and a final influent and treatment capacity of 5.4 mgd. During Phase I, the AWPF would receive and treat secondary treated effluent flows from the Pismo Beach WWTP, and during Phase II, the AWPF would receive and treat secondary treated effluent flows from both the Pismo Beach and SSLOCSD WWTPs. The AWPF could initially produce up to 1.0 mgd of advanced purified water with a final production capacity of 4.0 mgd.1 Advanced treatment would add several additional treatment steps to further purify water from the Pismo Beach WWTP and SSLOCSD WWTP. Additional treatment steps include microfiltration (MF), reverse osmosis (RO), and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection with advanced oxidation. The first step in the advanced treatment process is MF, which filters the wastewater that has already undergone secondary treatment through a physical membrane barrier with very small pores to remove turbidity, particles, and microorganisms. These pores range in size depending on the level of filtration; MF typically has a pore diameter of 0.1 micrometer ( 00th the diameter of a human hair, and the smallest size of bacteria is ap 00th the diameter of a human hair. MF removes very small particles and prepares the water for the next step of RO. The MF membranes are permeable and retain suspended particulates, including bacteria, protozoa, and some organics and viruses, thereby removing these constituents from the water. The MF membranes are designed to adapt to water quality conditions and flow with automatic adjustments to the filter system, which saves energy, chemical use, and manpower. Figure 7 provides an illustrated example of the MF process.
From the MF component, the water travels downstream to the RO component. RO removes dissolved solids, organic contaminants, sugars, salts, and sub-micron particles and pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and protozoa, from the water. It also uses a physical membrane barrier with pore sizes that range from 0.02 Figure 8 provides an illustrated
example of the RO process. Unlike MF, RO produces a clean water stream (permeate) and a wastewater stream (concentrate). This means that not all the water is recovered from this process as permeate water. A percentage of the water becomes concentrate (typically about 10 to 30 percent), which contains a higher concentration of the dissolved particles than were in the source water flow.
This concentrate will ultimately be discharged to the ocean through the existing ocean outfall that currently receives all flows from the Pismo Beach and SSLOCSD WWTPs. While the concentrate stream is more concentrated than typical drinking water, it is still much less salty than ocean water or concentrate from ocean desalination facilities.
After the dissolved solids have been removed, the water that passed through the RO membranes is of very high quality and is ready for the UV disinfection/advanced oxidation treatment process. The UV disinfection component provides additional treatment by oxidizing trace chemical pollutants that may have passed through the MF/UF and RO stages. Advanced oxidation uses UV light and oxidation chemicals to initiate a series of chemical reactions that break down compounds in the water that cannot be broken down by biological treatment or removed using the membranes. Figure 9 provides 1 The difference between influent and production flows from the AWPF are a result of the water losses that occur over the course of several steps of treatment processes, which are described in detail below. 12 an illustrated example of the UV/advanced oxidation treatment process. A conceptual drawing of the overall treatment process is shown in Figure 10.
In addition to the advanced treatment components, the AWPF building would include staff support facilities including office space, locker rooms, restrooms, file storage, a break room and kitchen, and meeting areas.
Equalization Tank, Chemical Storage Area, and Pump House The project would involve construction of an aboveground equalization tank as part of the AWPF complex, providing greater capacity and operational flexibility to the AWPF. The 0.4 million gallons of storage is required to store secondary treated effluent from the Pismo Beach and SSLOCSD WWTPs prior to advanced purification in the AWPF, allowing operations staff to address fluctuations in flow from the WWTPs without impacting the flow rate to the AWPF. Pumps would provide the energy required to convey the secondary treated effluent through the advanced treatment processes. The pumps to move water from the equalization tank through the MF filters would be housed in a standalone building next to the equalization tank in a rectangular, cast-in-place concrete building to limit noise and corrosion due to weather.
The advanced treatment process would require the use of multiple different chemicals. These chemicals would be stored in bulk tanks with secondary containment along the south of the AWPF site. The tanks would be designed to allow for full deliveries from chemical suppliers, and the chemicals would be piped to various parts of the treatment process.
Purified Water, Secondary Effluent, Concentrate, and Sewer Pipelines and Pump Station
Pipelines would be installed along the alignments shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2. These pipelines would accomplish five purposes: 1) convey secondary treated effluent from the Pismo Beach WWTP from the existing Pismo Beach outfall pipeline to the proposed AWPF; 2) convey secondary treated effluent from the SSLOCSD WWTP to the proposed AWPF; 3) convey purified water from the proposed AWPF to the injection wells; 4) convey concentrate from the proposed AWPF to the existing WWTP discharge pipeline; and 5) convey wastewater from the AWPF and backwash water from injection wells to the sanitary sewer system. The pipelines would range in size from approximately 6 to 24 inches. In addition, a new pump station would be constructed at the SSLOCSD WWTP to pump secondary treated effluent to the AWPF.
Groundwater Injection and Monitoring Wells
Seven injection wells would be installed at five locations throughout the project area, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2. Two alternative injection well locations are shown on these figures due to ongoing siting and design efforts; however, only five of the locations would be utilized. The injection wells would each require up to approximately 4,000 square feet of land. Equipment associated with injection wells would be primarily aboveground for those on private property and primarily belowground for those on public property. Each injection well would be approximately 12 inches in diameter and would be constructed of 316L stainless steel casing. Each injection well would be capable of injecting approximately 500 acre-feet per year (AFY). The advanced purified water would be injected at a depth of approximately 160 to 680 feet below ground surface. Injection wells would include piping and infrastructure such as electrical panels, control panels, storage facilities, and water storage tanks.
Project Description
13 Figure 7 Conceptual Microfiltration Process Detail
Source: Water Systems Consulting
14 Figure 8 Conceptual Reverse Osmosis Process Detail
Source: Water Systems Consulting
Project Description
15 Figure 9 Conceptual Ultraviolet/Advanced Oxidation Process Detail Source: Water Systems Consulting
16 Figure 10 Conceptual Advanced Treatment Process
Project Description
17 The injection well network would be accompanied by a network of nested monitoring wells at eleven locations throughout the project area, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2. Four alternative monitoring well locations are shown on these figures due to ongoing siting and design efforts; however, only 11 of the locations would be utilized. Nested monitoring wells would each include two to three well casings constructed of polyvinyl chloride that would extend to varying depths up to 675 feet. Each monitoring well would have a surface footprint of approximately 25 square feet and would be equipped to measure and monitor water level and water quality. Monitoring wells would be flushmounted or encased in a protective casing that extends several feet above ground. Under Phase I, a total of up to 900 AFY of advanced purified water would be injected into the groundwater basin, and under Phase II, a total of up to 3,500 AFY of advanced purified water would be injected into the groundwater basin.
Monitoring well MW-3A/3B and a test injection well were constructed in 2021 in the southern portion of the County of as part of a preliminary hydrogeological investigation of the physical and technological constraints and opportunities in the project area. MW3A/3B would continue to operate as a monitoring well under the proposed project. The test injection well has the potential to be converted to an operational injection well and serve as part of the to land use permitting constraints, conversion of the
test injection well to an operational injection well is not proposed at this time.
Production Wells
Existing production wells for the Cities of Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, and Arroyo Grande would be able to extract the injected advanced purified water. The project would involve increased pumping at these wells, but would not involve modification of these existing production wells or any associated ground disturbance. Figure 1 shows the existing production wells that are anticipated to be used.
Between 2013 and 2021, NCMA agencies pumped between approximately 613 and 1,423 AFY, which is approximately 15 to 33 percent of their total allocation for urban groundwater uses of 4,330 AFY (NCMA 2019). Under Phase I, the NCMA agencies would potentially increase groundwater pumping up to approximately 2,500 AFY. Under Phase II of the proposed project, the NCMA agencies would potentially increase groundwater pumping up to their full allocation for urban uses of 4,330 AFY.
While the project would lead to increased groundwater pumping over recent rates, groundwater pumping will still be below historical (i.e., 2009) levels and would continue to be subject to the SMGB Adjudication Agreement. For the past two decades, NCMA agencies have implemented monitoring and adaptive management strategies to evaluate groundwater supplies and respond to varying yearto-year climatic and groundwater conditions. To some extent, the project would alleviate climatic pressures on the NCMA by providing a reliable source of groundwater recharge. Nevertheless, this ongoing adaptive management program would continue to occur under the proposed project and may include, but would not be limited to, modifying the quantities of water injected at each injection well, modifying or reducing the quantity of water extracted from NCMA production wells, and modifying which NCMA production wells are extracting water in response to varying year-to-year climatic and groundwater conditions.
One new production well would be constructed by the City of Pismo Beach at the AWPF site to replace an existing well that is failing. The City of Pismo Beach would own and operate this new production well. The new production well would include aboveground components typical of production wells, including piping, control systems, a sunshade, storage facilities, a pump and motor, and security fencing/walls. The well pump would be submersible and therefore would not generate substantial noise.
18 Construction Activities
Project construction would occur in two main phases. Phase I would include construction of four injection wells (IW-1, IW-2A, IW-3, and IW-5A), eleven monitoring wells, one production well, the pipeline conveying Pismo Beach effluent to the AWPF, the AWPF concentrate pipeline, the purified water distribution pipelines, and the AWPF complex with its initial production capacity (1.0 mgd of produced water) designed to treat flows from the Pismo Beach WWTP. Phase II would include construction of the remaining three injection wells (IW-2B, IW-4, and IW-5B), purified water pipelines to connect the new wells to the existing purified water distribution system, the pipeline conveying SSLOCSD WWTP effluent to the AWPF, and expansion upgrades to the AWPF complex to achieve its final production capacity (4.0 mgd of produced water). Although it would not be utilized in Phase II, the effluent pipeline from the SSLOCSD WWTP to the AWPF could be constructed in Phase I to take advantage of cost efficiencies of installing two pipelines in parallel (with the purified water pipeline from the AWPF to IW-5A) and to minimize local impacts from construction. Construction of the project components is anticipated to last a total of approximately 24 months for Phase I and approximately 15 months for Phase II. During the construction period, portions of the project area would be closed to public access.
Injection, Monitoring, and Production Wells and Pump Station Construction activities would occur from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday except for a three-week period for each well, during which well drilling activities would occur for 24 hours per day, Monday through Sunday. Temporary lighting would be required during 24-hour drilling activities and would consist of several lights adhered to the mast of the drill rigs that would be pointed downward and portable lights that would be placed around the working areas.
Pipelines
Construction methods for the proposed pipelines would predominantly involve open trenching, with augur boring or horizontal directional drilling methods used as needed. Trenches would be excavated to approximately six feet in depth and would be backfilled after pipeline installation.
AWPF Complex
To accommodate the AWPF complex, the area would likely need to be graded to provide a level base for the AWPF and appurtenant structures, to provide site access, and to provide appropriate stormwater drainage.
Site Access
Site access at the AWPF complex would be provided via an entrance gate or gates through the AWPF complex fencing. Construction of the project components, including the pipelines and the injection and monitoring wells, would result in temporary access restrictions along public roadways throughout the project area.
Operation and Maintenance
The proposed project would require approximately 15 employees, including operators, electricians, mechanics, and administrative staff, that would work at the AWPF complex. Operation and maintenance of the injection, monitoring, and production wells would require weekly visits for inspections, monitoring of pressures, cleaning out well casings, removing microbial build-up, and Project Description
19 backflushing. Operation and maintenance of the pipelines would require inspections of pipeline and exercising valves every six months. Chemical deliveries to the AWPF complex would occur approximately eight times per month.
1.5 References
Northern Cities Management Area (NCMA) Technical Group. 2019. Northern Cities Management Area 2018 Annual Monitoring Report. April 24, 2019. https://ncsd.ca.gov/wpcontent/uploads/2020/07/NCMA-2018-Annual-Report_Final_201905071635576846.pdf (accessed December 2022).
Pismo Beach, City of. 2016. 2015 Urban Water Management Plan for the City of Pismo Beach. June 29, 2016. http://www.pismobeach.org/DocumentCenter/View/3785/Urban-Water-MgmtPlan---2015?bidId= (accessed December 2022).