This information is provided by the candidate
I am committed to protecting our groundwater supply for the long term future. I consider every decision that comes before me with that long term protection in mind.
1. My top priority is protecting our water supply for future generations. With our groundwater at risk for saltwater intrusion, we must consider every possible method to achieve sustainable water use, including maximizing conservation, enhanced recharge, water recycling, and water supply projects such as desalination. Continuing goals are to:
- Preserve our water supply, keeping any new development from increasing water use by continuing the Water Demand-Offset program (WDO). New developments must provide older buildings with water-saving fixtures to offset the amount of water to be consumed by the new project.
- Continue to improve our water conservation programs. We have implemented innovative water conservation measures which have actually reduced water consumption for the first time in the district's history
- Reduce saltwater intrusion risk by reversing 20 years of over-pumping.
- Continue to evaluate the possible supplemental water supply options that we have identified and have begun arduous testing of each option's viability.
- Any project will have a rigorous environmental impact assessment with full public participation. To minimize the environmental impact, a project would need to be energy efficient, carbon neutral, and have a renewable energy source.
2. Maintaining excellent water quality while protecting our watershed. Ensure that our water quality is excellent by continued diligence. We have:
- constructed a treatment facility to remove arsenic at a bargain cost.
- improved water quality by blending-down Chromium6.
3. Maintain our efforts to keep costs for our customers reasonable and fair. We have:
- Saved $1.25 million by refinancing bonds.
- Found and won millions of dollars in government grants for the District.
- Created a charge so new development pays its full share of any new water supply, thereby ensuring that existing customers do not subsidize new development.
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