Water Education Foundation
This is just one post in the Groundwater Category
Click here to view all posts

Monday’s top of the scroll: Water officials fear California Aqueduct could sink

Posted by: Maven on July 6, 2009 at 6:51 am

From the San Jose Mercury News:

Fearing the main canal carrying drinking water to millions of Southern Californians is sinking again, water officials are monitoring the effects of incessant agricultural pumping from the aquifer that runs under the aqueduct.

Their concern is that the canal, which has sunk six feet in places during California dry spells, will buckle enough to slow delivery of water to parched points south and force costly repairs. “We have spotty data saying it’s active again,” said engineering geologist Al Steele, of the state Department of Water Resources.

On June 1, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and other users of state water signed a $255,000, two-year contract with the U.S. Geological Survey to monitor by satellite the California Aqueduct along a vulnerable 70-mile stretch west of here, between Los Banos and Kettleman City.

“It doesn’t mean that all-of-the sudden you’re out of water, but you do have to spend a ton of money to fix it,” said Roger Patterson, assistant general manager of the MWD, which delivers 1.7 billion gallons a day to 19 million people.

Read more from the San Jose Mercury News by clicking here.

July 6, 2009 · Filed Under Groundwater

Comments

One Response to “Monday’s top of the scroll: Water officials fear California Aqueduct could sink”

  1. Wes on July 6th, 2009 12:40 pm

    Next, the Westlands Water District will be arguing that we have to give them more surface water to save the California Aqueduct and their hired gun, Devin Nunes, will be introducing a bill in Congress to make it happen.

Leave a Reply