1. Board of Public Utilities August 17, 2017
PROPOSITION 1 GROUNDWATER PROGRAM GRANT PLANNING PROJECT FOR FREEWAY WELL
Board of Public Utilities
August 17, 2017

2. SUMMARY
The State Water Resources Control Board (SWB) invited Santa Rosa Water to submit a Prop 1 grant application to evaluate the feasibility of addressing groundwater contamination in the vicinity of Freeway Well with the goal of determining whether the well can be returned to production.

3. BACKGROUND
Freeway Well was built in 1957 (817 feet deep) at 1304 Cleveland Ave
Was the City’s most productive well (750+ gpm) for nearly 30 years

4. BACKGROUND
Routine testing revealed volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in 1984
Production halted.
Disconnected from City system in 1994.
Asset has been offline since.

5. Groundwater Contamination Near Freeway Well
The Freeway Well site has no known or suspected releases of contamination on the property. Department of Public Health. While the Regional Water Quality Control Board does not know for certain the source of the Freeway Well contamination, it appears likely to be from nearby sites.
Multiple Cleanup and Abatement Orders have been issued by the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board for the area around the Freeway Well site from the late 1980s to mid 2000s. Although multiple responsible parties were identified, only one is continuing to provide remediation (Union Pacific Railroad). The remaining parties no longer exist or are insolvent.

6. Proposition 1 Groundwater Grant Program
$800 million for projects that prevent or cleanup contamination of groundwater that serves or has served as a source of drinking water
$80m for planning & monitoring
$100k-$1m for per Planning Project
50% match (in-kind and/or cash)
Competitive application process
Could lead to implementation funding
for “… planning and monitoring necessary for the successful design, selection, and implementation of the projects authorized…”.
planning projects that are designed to lead to implementation projects that prevent or clean up contamination of an aquifer
Another $80 million implementation projects for “treatment and remediation activities that prevent or reduce the contamination of groundwater that serves as a source of drinking water”

7. Proposition 1 Groundwater Grant Program
Santa Rosa Water submitted pre- application in July 2016.
SWB invited staff to submit a final application to seek funding to assess potential prevention and cleanup alternatives
Final application is due Aug. 31st
for “… planning and monitoring necessary for the successful design, selection, and implementation of the projects authorized…”.
planning projects that are designed to lead to implementation projects that prevent or clean up contamination of an aquifer
Another $80 million implementation projects for “treatment and remediation activities that prevent or reduce the contamination of groundwater that serves as a source of drinking water”

8. Santa Rosa Water Goals Restore critically needed asset
Establish focused initiative with SWB, RWQCB, and DDW
Determine the feasibility of wellhead treatment
Address known and possibly new sources of groundwater contamination

9. Proposed Prop 1 Planning Project
Evaluate feasibility of restoring Freeway Well to production
Further determine the extent of contamination
Develop alternatives to address contamination
Secure funding to prepare environmental documents and implement clean-up measures

10. Proposed Scope of Work
Site Assessment - records review, data gathering and compellation
Site Characterization - test boring and monitoring well installation, and aquifer test
Feasibility Study - assessing the feasibility of groundwater remediation and treatment
Projected cost: $800,000, with 50 percent match
$50k in kind (staff time & previous eligible expenditures)
$350k cash (existing Groundwater Development Program

11. Questions?