About the Project

The Regional Water Project (RWP) is an open forum for discussion of Monterey County’s water supply issues. RWP is a coalition of people who represent water agencies; citizen organizations; non-profit organizations; state, federal, and local governmental agencies; private firms; and citizens of Monterey County.

Mission

The RWP mission is to identify economic, technical, and political solutions that achieve a reliable, affordable, and sustainable water supply in Monterey County.

Goals and Objectives

• To collaborate with interested parties to achieve a cost-effective and sustainable water supply in Monterey County
• To promote timely, incrementally developed water sources for communities
• To produce a regional management plan that reflects community needs

Methods to Accomplish Goals

• Use our position as an authoritative and recognized coalition to further the project as it is implemented
• Incorporate into our process a diverse set of perspectives that is respectful of compromise
• Lead a dialogue to inform and involve community members and provide a forum for soliciting input and influencing decision makers
• Seek multiple regional benefits from the proposed solutions

History

In January 2007, the Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) embarked on an effort to find alternatives to the proposed Coastal Water Project that would reduce water costs to ratepayers and benefit the north Monterey County region as a whole.

Participants in the RWP's monthly dialogue group considered information about water supply needs and the various projects proposed by individual water agencies designed to meet those needs. A collaborative solution was in the making by mid summer.

In July 2007, city governments, Monterey County Water Resources Agency, and water districts jointly funded a study that became the basis for the regional water supply solution alternative.

Early in 2008, RWP representatives began presenting the plan to city councils and civic organizations. RWP received updates on the planning work being performed to prepare the regional alternative for consideration by the CPUC in the Coastal Water Project’s Environmental Impact Report.

In May 2008, the regional water supply solution was named Regonal Water Project.  By June, the technical information had been submitted to the CPUC to be evaluated as a viable option to meet the regulatory requirements for Cal-Am.

"It is about time that somebody has finally come up with a practical, environmentally sound, lower cost proposal to solve Monterey County's water supply problem.

"The Regional Water Project proposal is environmentaly sound in that it does not suck ocean creatures into the system. Nor does it discharge highly concentrated brine back into the ocean. Using brackish water from intrusion will use less energy to desalinate and discharge water into the ocean at about the salinity of existing seawater and it will serve to stop further intrusion into our on shore aquifers. It will therefore require less desalinating equipment and significantly lower the capital and operating cost thereby saving the taxpayers a significant amount of money.

"Using methane gas from the garbage dump will further lower operating costs and reduce the carbon emissions that using other energy sources would require.

"All in all, a great win-win situation for everybody."

— Ron Pasquinelli, President,Monterey Peninsula Taxpayers Association