Public Tours, Events And A Summer Reading List Mark The Centennial
The City of Santa Cruz Water Department (SCWD) announced 2016 marks 100 years of the department providing safe water to local residents. The centennial will be celebrated with a series of public events through the summer and fall, and a water-themed reading list for both children and adults.
A lot has changed in 100 years. In 1916, SCWD water was treated with just chlorine and the water was delivered through hollowed out redwood “pipes.” Within its first decade of existence, SCWD constructed the Bay Street Reservoir, replacing the Cowell Street Reservoir, which was located at what is now the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum.
Other historic milestones included:
1928 — Built the Lorenzo Pumping Plant on the banks of the San Lorenzo River. The plant provided both chlorination and filtration, increasing the safety and quality of water served to the public.
1960 — Newell Creek Dam was built, creating Loch Lomond Reservoir. The Graham Hill Treatment Plant was constructed at the same time. The projects took two years to complete, but increased water storage by 2.8 billion gallons and allowed SCWD to treat 12 million gallons of drinking water a day.
1967-69 — The City acquired three privately owned water systems, allowing SCWD to expand its service area into Live Oak and providing the City with an additional groundwater source.
1984 — SCWD obtained $11.7 million in funding to upgrade and modernize its infrastructure.
2015 — The Bay Street Reservoir, built in 1924, was replaced with a state-of-the-art tank system. The new tanks improve SCWD’s reliability by providing a back-up supply of safe drinking water.
Explore both the history of the SCWD water system and the opportunities ahead at several events through the summer and fall.
Saturday, July 30 at 10 a.m.
Secchi Dip-In Loch Lomond Recreation Area
An annual event, the Secchi Dip-In is part of a nation-wide celebration of Lakes Awareness Month. This fun, family event measures the clarity of our lake water using a centuries-old method that all ages can participate in. $6 per car entry fee into the Recreation Area.
Thursday, Aug. 4 at 1 p.m.
Beltz 12 Well and Water Treatment Facility
Learn how the Beltz 12 well is being used to prevent seawater intrusion into the groundwater basin and the role that the facility could play in water supply through aquifer storage and recover (ASR).
Wednesday, Aug. 10 at 3:30 p.m.
Bay Reservoir Tanks Site Tour
The original Bay Street Reservoir was built in 1924 as a 35 million-gallon, open-air raw water storage reservoir. Tour its modern-day state-of-the-art replacement tanks and learn about how the Water Department manages its drinking water storage and delivery systems.
Saturday Aug. 27, 10 a.m.
Birds of Loch Lomond • Loch Lomond Recreation Area
Join Loch Lomond rangers for their monthly “Loch Walk” to scout for and discuss the bird species that call Loch Lomond home. $6 per car entry fee into the Recreation Area.
Wednesday, Sept. 14, 10 a.m.
Historic Water System Tour
Join local water historian Melanie Mayer for this popular tour and tales of Santa Cruz’s colorful water history. Space is limited and reservations are required.
Reading Lists
Learn more about water systems and how water is managed in these water-themed books. SCWD staff provided suggestions on their favorite reads, and all are available at a Santa Cruz Public Library branch.
Adults: The Secret Knowledge of Water by Craig Childs • The Big Thirst by Charles Fishman • Cadillac Desert by Marc Reisner • The Great Thirst: Californians and Water by Norris Hundley • Rivers in the Desert: William Mulholland • The Inventing of Los Angeles by Margaret Davis
Kids: The Water Hole by Graeme Base • A Cool Drink of Water by Barbara Kerley • Water in the Park by Emily Jenkins • Water Can Be by Laura Purdie Salas • Water Dance by Thomas Locker
•••
For more information, visit www.cityofsantacruz.com/water.