Project Needs
During drought years, the City of Benicia’s water supply cannot reliably meet the demands of its customers over the long run. In a normal non-drought year the City’s average annual water demand is approximately 10,000 acre-feet (AF), or 3.3 billion gallons, which is supplied primarily (75% to 85%) by the State Water Project (SWP), supplemented (15% to 25%) by the Federal Solano Project from Lake Berryessa.
Approximately half the demand is from residential customers (indoor and outdoor uses), municipal uses, and local businesses; the remaining half is from the Valero Refinery (Refinery). The City supplies the Refinery with untreated raw water for various industrial processes, including cooling tower make-up water.
Due to statewide water shortages, in early 2014, the City’s SWP allocation was reduced to 5%, resulting in a SWP water supply of only 860 AF compared to a normal year SWP supply of 7,500 to 8,500 AF. When the SWP water delivery falls below 35% of its contractual allocation, the City needs to impose water conservation measures and draw on reserves of banked water.
If low allocations occur for a sustained period of years, the City could be unable to supply the resident’s minimum water needs and the Refinery’s industrial water needs.
In 2014, to meet the water needs of its customers, the City purchased water from Vacaville at a cost of $900,000, which had to be passed along to ratepayers in the form of a drought surcharge.
Approximately half the demand is from residential customers (indoor and outdoor uses), municipal uses, and local businesses; the remaining half is from the Valero Refinery (Refinery). The City supplies the Refinery with untreated raw water for various industrial processes, including cooling tower make-up water.
Due to statewide water shortages, in early 2014, the City’s SWP allocation was reduced to 5%, resulting in a SWP water supply of only 860 AF compared to a normal year SWP supply of 7,500 to 8,500 AF. When the SWP water delivery falls below 35% of its contractual allocation, the City needs to impose water conservation measures and draw on reserves of banked water.
If low allocations occur for a sustained period of years, the City could be unable to supply the resident’s minimum water needs and the Refinery’s industrial water needs.
In 2014, to meet the water needs of its customers, the City purchased water from Vacaville at a cost of $900,000, which had to be passed along to ratepayers in the form of a drought surcharge.