2021
The City of Soledad is fortunate among California communities in that it enjoys a relatively stable water supply that supports its plans for development growth. The City engaged Harris to update its 2020 Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) and confirm the adequacy of its long-term water supply under a variety of conditions. Harris gathered, analyzed, and synthesized water-related information from diverse sources into a plan that incorporates local, regional, and statewide considerations.
The 2020 UWMP provides a framework for long-term water planning and informs the public of the City’s plans to ensure adequate water supplies for existing and future generations. Harris analyzed water demand and supply over a 25-year planning period, including the impacts of a normal year, a single dry year, and multiple dry years. Harris also helped the City develop a new Water Shortage Contingency Plan and a related ordinance to meet new California Water Code legislation.
Core Elements
In addition to estimates for the City’s population growth and projections of supply/demand under the three scenarios, Harris provided water conservation reporting as required under Senate Bill X7-7; reviewed energy use and intensity for its water system; provided a water supply characterization of the Forebay Acquifer Subbasin; and clarified projected recycled water use in the City’s parks.
Beyond the Blueprints
The water demand model developed for the City found that with reasonable management and conservation, Soledad’s water supply will meet the needs of a growing rate base throughout the 25-year planning period.
