Water Banking Fundamentals

Groundwater banking provides considerable opportunities to balance local and regional water demands with available supplies, while avoiding many of the prohibitory challenges of surface storage projects. However, groundwater banking projects must overcome many of their own unique challenges, including substantial permitting requirements and legal uncertainties. This OnDemand Webinar will provide insight on means to navigate these obstacles to develop a successful project.

Authors

Agenda

Introduction

• Terminology
• Why Bank Water - Planning Ahead to Meet Future Demand, Firming and Speculation
• Geohydrology of Underground Water Storage and Banking - Injection Wells, Infiltration or Recharge and Ponds, and Natural Stream Channels

Components of a Water Banking System

• Source of Water to Be Stored
• Recharge Methods - Recharge Versus Groundwater Savings Programs (i.e., In-Lieu Replenishment)
• Management Approach
• Recovery Methods
• End Use of Recovered Water

Other Considerations

• Environmental Issues - Compliance With the Safe Drinking Water Act and Aquifer Protection Requirements
• Land Use Issues

The Arizona Experience

• Overview of Arizona's Water Banking and Recovery Statutes - Arizona Revised Statutes Sections 45-801.01, et seq.

- Statutes, Regulations and Management Plans

- Central Arizona Project Water Versus Other Types of Water

- Short-Term Versus Long-Term Banking

• Recharging Central Arizona Project Water - Central Arizona Irrigation and Drainage District v. Lujan
• Use of Natural Channels for Water Storage Facilities - South West Sand and Gravel v. Central Arizona Water Conservation District
• Interstate Water Banking

The California Experience

• Permitting

- State Water Resources Control Board - Diversion Permitting and the Underground Storage Supplement

- Regional Water Quality Control Board - Water Quality Permitting

- Department of Public Health - Drinking Water Permitting

- Environmental - Endangered Species, CEQA, etc.

• Legal Uncertainty and Water Rights Conflicts

- Rights to Store Water - Los Angeles v. San Fernando

- Competitive Priority to Store and Rights to 'Re-Store' (The Central and West Basin Saga)

- Public Rights to Store - Niles Sand and Gravel Co. v. Alameda County Water Dist.

- Landowner Claims (Access and 'Trespass')

- 'Locals Only' - The Madera Ranch Example

- SWRCB and the Subterranean Stream Test

• Legal Institutions and Arrangements

- Groundwater Basin Adjudications

- The Local Agency Model

- The Landowner Model

Additional Formats