The City of San Juan Bautista in October 2016 received a Compliance Order citing a violation of California of Health and Safety Code issued by the State Water Resources Control Board. The order specifically forbids the city from adding new water-service connections to its potable water distribution system until proof of compliance has been met pursuant to the conditions cited in the violation letter.
The State Water Board noted in its “Statement of Facts” that San Juan Bautista’s water system serves a population of approximately 1,700 persons through 693 potable water service connections including a significant tourist population and 15 restaurants.
According to the violation letter: “The Water System currently has to operate both Wells 01 and O2 to meet the maximum day demand of its customers. Well 01 is unable to provide enough water to meet the maximum day demand for extended periods of time when operating as the sole source supplying the water system. Well 02 is susceptible to high nitrates exceeding the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) for Nitrates when operated for a significant period of time.”
The letter referred to a previous compliance order and notice of violation issued to San Juan Bautista in 2014 noting that Well 02 exceeded the Nitrate MCL of 45 milligrams per liter (mg/l) with levels of 83 mg/l and 95 mg/l. Additionally, the State Water Board issued the city another compliance order in 2015 for failing to comply with the 2014 order, directing the city’s water system “to make improvements by July 1, 2017 to ensure a reliable and adequate supply of water at all times that meets all primary drinking water standards.”
The State Water Board recently received two “Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declarations” from the State Clearinghouse regarding proposed development projects in the City of San Juan Bautista; Copperleaf Estates, comprising 45 new, single-family homes and the service station, convenience store and quick-serve restaurant project near Highway 156 and The Alameda. Both projects would add new water-service connections to the water system, increasing system demand.
In its directive to San Juan, the Water Board said, “Effective immediately upon its receipt of this Order, the Water System shall not make any additional service connection to its water system, including any such service connections for which a “will serve” letter was issued at any time by the Water System.”
Further, the State Water Board Directive shall remain in place until the water system has done the following:
• Provide additional source capacity to meet the projected Maximum Day Demand including anticipated development.
• Submit documentation to the Division showing that the water quality of the new source(s) complies with all state and federal maximum contaminant level standards.
• Submit to the Division and receive approval from the Division of Source Capacity Planning Study pursuant to Title 22 standards
• Receive from the Division an amended domestic water supply permit approving the new source(s).
Newly-seated San Juan Bautista City Councilman John Freeman said he is prepared to address these issues and work with the City Manager Roger Grimsley and other agencies to resolve the situation.
“We just had our first meeting last Tuesday. We will be having a water forum on Jan. 14 and we will see how the citizens want to go. I have my priorities. I want to start drilling a new well immediately, anywhere we can; buy the location if needed,” Freeman said. “The city manager was waiting for a certain piece of property to be granted to the city from a proposed development intending to drill a new well there. We probably need a total of two wells to make everything work with backup and redundancy.”
When asked if San Juan Bautista would be interested in partnering with the San Benito County Water District to seek guidance and support for state or federal grants to help small water systems meet water quality standards, Freeman said: “I am going to try and get us back into compliance as soon as possible. In the long term, I am open to anything that will help us.”
Michael Smith is a Hollister resident.
