CVWD Ensures Fire Suppression Readiness Amid Wildfire Concerns – CVN Article, January 24, 2025
Written by: Robert McDonald, General Manager of Carpinteria Valley Water District
The Carpinteria Valley Water District (CVWD) is addressing community inquiries regarding the adequacy of its fire hydrants and water supply in preparation for potential wildfires in the region. With a robust infrastructure in place, CVWD is well-equipped to manage emergency water needs.
The district boasts an impressive local water storage capacity of 27.5 million gallons, supported by a high-capacity water transmission pipeline that can deliver 10 million gallons daily into Carpinteria. Additionally, CVWD’s groundwater wells have a production capacity of 2 million gallons per day. The distribution system is strategically designed to channel large volumes of water to various areas, ensuring that resources are readily available during emergencies.
CVWD maintains over 400 fire hydrants throughout the valley, with nearly all tested and repaired within the past year to ensure optimal functionality. To further enhance water delivery, the district operates three pump stations that supply neighborhoods in Gobernador Canyon, Shepard Mesa, and parts of Toro Canyon. These stations are crucial for filling local water tanks, particularly during high-demand situations such as wildfires.
Recent wildfires, including the Thomas and Palisades fires, highlighted the challenges posed by power outages that often accompany such events. In response, CVWD has equipped each pump station with generator backup or the capacity to connect to portable generators. This proactive measure proved vital during the Thomas fire, enabling firefighters to maintain a steady water supply for structures threatened by flames.
However, high water demand can strain the system. Reports from the Palisades fire indicated that demand surged to four times the normal rate, leading to challenges in maintaining adequate water levels. CVWD’s available storage can provide three hours of water at a demand rate of 10 million gallons per day during a wildfire. The majority of this storage is housed in buried tanks and reservoirs, designed to protect against wildfire damage.
While CVWD’s water system is largely resilient, a vulnerability identified in a recent assessment is its reliance on a single pipeline, the South Coast Conduit (SCC), for water supply from Lake Cachuma. This reliance poses a risk, especially in the event of multiple disasters. To mitigate this risk, CVWD is collaborating with Casitas Water District to establish a large-capacity intertie pipeline, which will facilitate water transfers between systems should the SCC be compromised. As the community prepares for the possibility of wildfires, CVWD remains committed to ensuring that its fire suppression infrastructure is robust and ready to respond effectively to emergencies.