Displaying all news

On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, Carpinteria Valley Water District’s Distribution Crew will be performing a scheduled shutdown in the area of Cameo Rd. This activity will require the water to be shut off in the area between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Door tags will be hung at the residences of affected customers in the area of Cameo Rd on Monday, March 24, 2025 advising of the scheduled water interruption. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you. If you have any questions regarding this work, please feel free to contact the District at (805) 684-2816. View a map of the affected area by clicking here.

Written by: Robert McDonald, General Manager of Carpinteria Valley Water District As California faces increasingly severe droughts, local water resources are under greater strain than ever before. The Carpinteria Advanced Purification Project (CAPP) is a bold step forward in securing a reliable water supply for the community, despite the initial financial investment required. A Critical Investment in Water Security CAPP will produce 1,000 acre-feet (AF) of water per year, supplying approximately 25% of the Carpinteria Valley Water District’s (CVWD) total demand. Given that Carpinteria’s water supply relies primarily on surface water, which is particularly vulnerable to prolonged droughts, this project is essential for the region’s long-term water security. The Cost of Reliability The project requires a significant upfront investment of $68 million, with an annual operating cost of $2 million. The project has already been awarded $26 million in grant funding and the remaining $42 million upfront costs will be financed through a 1.7%-interest loan. CVWD has aggressively pursued federal and state grant for the past five years. We believe it will be challenging to replicate our recent success in securing grants due to potential future federal and state budget constraints. To fund both the project and its ongoing operations, CVWD has implemented gradual rate increases, raising water rates by 7.5% per year in 2025 and 2026, with similar adjustments planned for 2027 and 2028. Managing Costs for the Future While these rate increases will impact customers in the near term, the financial burden is expected to stabilize by 2028 and begin to decline in 2035. This decline is driven by the scheduled retirement of significant debts, including obligations related to the State Water Project, which will ease financial pressure starting in 2036. Though rates will be higher for the next decade, the benefits of CAPP will extend far beyond, securing reliable water access for the next 50 years. A Sustainable Choice for Generations to Come Water security is one of the most pressing issues facing Carpinteria, and investing in CAPP is an investment in the community’s future. While short-term costs are unavoidable, the long-term benefits of a stable and sustainable water supply far outweigh the initial financial impact. By acting now, Carpinteria is ensuring that residents and businesses have the water they need to thrive for generations to come. Residents are encouraged to stay informed and engaged as CVWD moves forward with this essential project. The increased cost is temporary, but the benefits will last a lifetime.  

Written by: Robert McDonald, General Manager of Carpinteria Valley Water District As climate change intensifies and water supply challenges become more unpredictable, communities across California, including Carpinteria, are taking proactive steps to secure their water future. The Carpinteria Advanced Purification Project (CAPP) is one such critical investment—a project designed to increase drought resilience, ensure local control of water resources, and provide a sustainable, environmentally responsible water supply for generations to come. A Project Driven by Necessity The need for CAPP is grounded in the realities of the region's current and projected water supply situation. Carpinteria is highly dependent on surface water from the State Water Project and the Cachuma Project—sources that are becoming increasingly unreliable due to climate change, prolonged droughts, and regulatory constraints. During the recent drought, Carpinteria received a zero water allocation from Lake Cachuma in 2016 for the first time ever while State Water Project allocation was 5% in 2014 (and 2021 and 2022), highlighting the vulnerability of these imported water supplies. From 2013 to 2020, lack of surface water availability and local rainfall caused increased groundwater use locally, reducing groundwater in storage below Carpinteria to the lowest on record. As climate projections suggest that State Water Project deliveries could be reduced by as much as 23% in the next 20 years, the urgency of securing alternative, more reliable sources of water is evident. Building Drought Resilience and Local Control CAPP aims to recharge the local groundwater basin with purified recycled water for potable reuse, offering a sustainable, locally controlled water source. By doing so, the project will enhance the District's drought resilience and reduce dependence on imported water sources that are subject to fluctuating availability. By having a robust local water supplies the District will have greater flexibility in times of crisis, such as earthquakes, mudslides, or infrastructure failure, which could disrupt surface water deliveries. With naturally occurring groundwater recharge taking years and being dependent on sporadic rainfall, having a reliable local supply will be essential in maintaining water security. Risks of Inaction: A Threat to Future Generations CAPP will ensure Carpinteria is prepared for the next drought but will be expensive. Failing to invest in water infrastructure like CAPP poses significant risks to the community. Without a reliable, locally controlled water source, Carpinteria’s future water supply could be severely jeopardized, leading to severe water rationing during extended droughts potentially costing the local economy millions of dollars. The consequences of relying on increasingly unreliable imported water are clear: greater vulnerability to water shortages, greater risk of economic loss to our community and diminished capacity to support our local community.  CAPP: The Most Cost-Effective and Environmentally Responsible Option Now While alternatives to CAPP, such as seawater desalination, have been explored, CAPP stands out as the most cost-effective and environmentally friendly solution. Seawater desalination plants are costly to build, operate, and maintain, with high energy consumption and environmental impacts such as brine disposal. In contrast, CAPP leverages existing infrastructure and uses well-established advanced water treatment technologies to purify recycled water—a more affordable and sustainable approach that reduces the impact on the environment and local communities. CAPP has received $27 million in federal and state grants and a low interest construction loan (1.7% APR) that would be lost if the project is not built now. A Model for the Future CAPP is part of a larger trend, where more than 40 agencies in California believe potable water reuse is the solution to the water supply crisis. Projects like CAPP are currently in the planning and design stages across the region. Our district is positioned to build on similar projects in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Monterey, that demonstrate the reliability, safety, and value of local water control and sustainable water projects. Check out this map of similar projects across the world: water360.com.au/map/ Conclusion: The Time for Action is Now The Carpinteria Advanced Purification Project is more than just a water purification facility, it is a step toward ensuring a reliable, affordable, and environmentally sustainable water supply for the Carpinteria Valley. With grant funding, community support, and proven technologies behind it, CAPP will safeguard the district’s water future and protect the region from the unpredictable challenges posed by climate change. For more information about CAPP, please visit cvwd.net/capp. Follow CVWD on X @CarpWater or Carpinteria Valley Water District on Facebook and Nextdoor.