Seize this moment in time

With Davis having a 100 percent dependence upon groundwater and a degradation of those supplies occurring, we now find ourselves in a search for an additional water source. Hexavalent chrome levels are rising, as well as nitrates. State-mandated levels for particulates in our water are becoming tighter and we are getting closer to the point where we will not meet those regulations.

It’s not just a matter of “hard water.” Water softeners will handle that, but Davisites have been softening water and adding salt to the wastewater. That wastewater cannot be added to the delta with the high levels of salts in the treated discharge. We will have to then filter that discharge water and truck the salts out to a toxic waste site. That is going to be a huge expense for the future in upgrades to the wastewater site as well as trucking expenses. Using river water will naturally soften water supply.

So we can either get surface water from the river or hope for the best. If you really look into the future, without a surface water project now, we will be in for a hard road ahead. Would you want to buy a house in a city that did not have a viable water source? There go the property values. As more stringent drinking water regulations as well as more restrictive wastewater discharge regulations will be coming from the state, we have this moment in time to handle this situation permanently. Please vote yes on I.

Kelly Mehlhaff
Davis