Agenda Item Wording:
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Request for the Council to confirm the City entering in to 3 management zone participation agreements with the Kaweah Water Foundation, contribute the annual fees for participating in the program, and appropriate up to $30,000 from the Waste Water Treatment Plant fund for the first year costs.
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Deadline for Action: 5/2/2022
Submitting Department: Administration
Contact Name and Phone Number: Leslie B. Caviglia, 713-4332
Department Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Visalia City Council confirm the City's participation with the Kaweah Water Foundation through 3 management zone participation agreements and authorize the payment of the annual fees as billed. The first year cost is $27,000. Future costs will vary depending on needs and requirements.
Background Discussion:
The City of Visalia has three permits through the Regional Water Quality Board to discharge nitrates. All three permits, the Waste Water Treatment Facility, the Visalia Biosolids Application Project, and the Visalia Water Recycling Project, are associated with the City's Water Reclamation Facility.
In May, 2018, the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board), adopted plans for several basins to incorporate a Central Valley-Wide Salt and Nitrate Control Program. (CV-SALTS) The Plan amendments were adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board, and the Office of Administrative Law. Some portions of the Plan already are in effect, others are pending approval from the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
The Kaweah Sub-Basin has been identified as one of the six priority basins, and agencies, organizations and businesses with permits to discharge nitrates in this area must now have a program to control and permit nitrate discharges to groundwater. The City has received a notice to comply with the regulations, and can choose to either participate in a comprehensive, organized program, or can develop it...
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