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Board explores long‑term water options; staff says San Simeon collaboration could yield ~80 acre‑feet
Summary
Staff described regional water research and attendance at advisory meetings; they identified a potential collaboration with San Simeon to treat and PERC‑pond effluent and re‑inject roughly 80 acre‑feet into local aquifers as a new supply source, and directed updates to the water master plan and feasibility work.
District staff told the workshop the strategic plan must address long‑term water supply and storage. Utility staff reported active participation in regional water meetings and studies evaluating desalination, pipeline options and local reuse. McElhinney said staff are investigating both local reuse and larger source options but cautioned conveyance and allocation costs can make distant sources costly.
On a specific example, McElhinney described conversations with San Simeon officials and counsel that could allow treated wastewater to be routed to Cambria’s PERC ponds and re‑injected into the aquifer. He said that flow could be on the order of "about 80 acre feet of water" if an agreement and feasibility checks proceed. The board directed that the water master plan be updated to include new source research and that staff continue engaging regional partners and outside counsel to clarify legal and technical constraints before any policy changes.
