WATER BANKING CONSIDERED STORAGE COULD SEE CITY THROUGH DRY YEARS.

Byline: Kathleen Sweeney Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Contributing to an underground water bank could help provide water to the area during the next 20 years and support future development, according to a water agency report being discussed tonight.

It's one of four options described in a comprehensive water plan the Castaic Lake Water Agency could use to ensure enough water for new homes, including the 22,000-home Newhall Ranch project.

``It's the big new wave of water management in California,'' said Mary Lou Cotton, the agency's assistant to the general manager. ``It's viewed as incredibly environmentally friendly.''

A public hearing on the Urban Water Management Plan is scheduled for tonight at the agency before it's submitted to the state.

The other options include using recycled water, adding new wells to the Saugus Formation and desalination.

So far, the board hasn't discussed any of the options. If growth continues at a consistent rate, the board would have to implement at least one of the plans within the next 10 years, officials have said.

The one most supported by environmentalists is groundwater banking, which involves storing available state water during wet years in groundwater basins, such as the San Joaquin Valley and the Saugus Formation.

That water could be stored by surface spreading or injection, or indirectly by supplying surface water to farmers instead of groundwater pumping.

The agency could then pay to store water at several ongoing banking programs - including the Kern Water Bank, the Semitropic Water Storage District, the Kern Delta Water District and the North Los Posas Water Bank.

Once it's stored, the water could be pumped out and exported to the California Aqueduct to be used during a drought, officials said.

``It has a lot of benefits,'' Cotton said. ``If you make the investment, it pays off in the long run.''

Environmentalists, who have been vocal against the agency's long-term plan - saying there isn't enough water to supply the Santa Clarita Valley if development continues at a consistent rate - favor storing water.

``It would be an excellent idea,'' said Ed Dunn, a CLWA board member.

The other options, however, have sparked a number of questions.

Recycled water entails treating and disinfecting municipal wastewater for outdoor irrigation, such as golf courses.

Lynne Plambeck, first vice president of the Santa Clarita Organization for Planning the Environment, said the problem with this plan is that the water must be transported in separate pipes than drinking water to irrigation areas.

So far, the only area where recycled water pipes run is to the Robinson Ranch golf course.

The big concern about desalination is the cost.

This option would allow the agency to pump and remove salt from seawater and exchange that water with another water district for some of its state water supply. The CLWA also could buy desalted water and exchange it with an agency for state water.

Of the four options, the most controversial is drilling new wells into the Saugus Formation.

These wells would tap into the groundwater supply, but environmentalists say such a project could potentially cause the Santa Clara River to run dry.

Plambeck said it hasn't been determined whether there is enough groundwater to add new pumps, and the existing wells are already being overpumped.

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. today at the agency, 27234 Bouquet Canyon Road.

MEETING FUTURE NEEDS

Castaic Lake Water Agency proposals for meeting future water needs, according to a 20-year management plan.

--Groundwater banking project: During wet years, state water could be stored. During a dry year, the water could be pumped back to the California Aqueduct and transported to the Santa Clarita Valley.

--Recycled water: Treatment and disinfection of municipal wastewater for nonpotable use. Recycled water is available from two Los Angeles County Sanitation District plants.

--Desalination and water exchange: Desalt ocean water and exchange with an agency already using it for state water.

--New Saugus wells: Drill additional wells into the Saugus Formation to withdraw extra water during dry years.

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Box: Meeting Future Needs (see text)