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Consultants outline scope for a city water‑supply feasibility study to boost reliability
Summary
Consultants from CDM Smith described a proposed 12‑month water‑supply feasibility study to identify and rank options—groundwater, surface rights, aquifer storage, reuse and desalination—that would help Victoria secure reliable water for existing customers and future growth.
City staff introduced a proposed water‑supply feasibility study and consultants from CDM Smith described a scope to identify and screen potential water‑supply options and develop a phased strategy to improve supply reliability.
Consultant Jason Maldonado (CDM Smith) said the study is intended to support future growth and industrial development by producing a short‑, medium‑ and long‑term strategy for reliable supply. The team described a five‑step scope: conduct a gap and vulnerability analysis using an operations model; characterize all supply options and screen them; evaluate and score promising options on multiple criteria; develop a portfolio or sequencing plan of recommended actions and produce a final report and presentations for council.
CDM Smith’s technical lead, Ginny Bywater, said the study would consider options including making better and more frequent use of existing groundwater, new groundwater wells, additional surface‑water rights or wholesale contracts, off‑channel storage optimization, aquifer storage and recovery, reuse strategies and desalination of brackish groundwater or saline sources where applicable. The consultants plan an initial high‑level cost and implementation assessment for each option to identify candidates for more detailed study.
The consultants proposed a roughly 12‑month study period from kickoff, with a draft strategy aimed for the end of the calendar year and a finalized report early the following year. They emphasized the need for an adaptable plan because permitting, growth patterns and hydrology can change over long time horizons.
City staff and consultants also reviewed operational context: the city now relies primarily on surface water with off‑channel reservoirs and maintains eight emergency groundwater wells for exchange, an aquifer storage and recovery well in cycle testing, and river‑flow constraints that limit diversion rates in dry months. Staff said typical daily demand is about 8–10 million gallons per day (mgd) in winter and around 18 mgd at peak summer demand. Consultants noted that river‑flow availability and existing permits influence how and when additional supply can be pumped.
Staff said they expect to present a contract on the city agenda for approval in April and to begin the study if council awards the work. No council vote occurred at the briefing; consultants answered council questions about schedule, Groundwater Conservation District considerations and next steps.
Speakers included CDM Smith consultants Jason Maldonado and Ginny Bywater, Urban Engineering and Enterra team members, and city staff; staff said they would return to council with a contract for possible award in April.
