PCWA asks for extended water conservation

The Placer County Water Agency is asking customers for prolonged conservation into the winter months after reports that PG&E will have additional work at Spaulding Reservoir. A significant share of PCWA's water is delivered under contract from PG&E's Spaulding Reservoir and hydroelectric facilities. This water is delivered via a system of canals and waterways, including storage in Rollins Reservoir, which supplies PCWA and the Nevada Irrigation District (NID). PG&E experienced multiple infrastructure failures at Spaulding 1 Powerhouse which cut off that water supply starting in March. A partial restoration of releases from Lake Spaulding to its Drum Canal resumed in late July, with a portion of that water supply being diverted to PG&E's South Yuba Canal. The work on the South Yuba Pipe, which PCWA reports is crucial for resuming water deliveries to NID's Scotts Flat Reservoir, was anticipated to be repaired by mid-September. PG&E recently reported that during start-up testing at its Spaulding 2 Powerhouse, the generator sustained mechanical damage that PG&E reports will require additional repairs, delaying the return-to-service date for the South Yuba Pipe. According to a PG&E press release, the agency has communicated the generator damage to PCWA and NID and "is coordinating the repair plans and schedules to minimize the impacts to water deliveries." According to PG&E spokesperson Paul Moreno, there has been no timeline set for the repairs yet as PG&E is still in the planning stages. Due to the Spaulding 2 Powerhouse delays, PCWA reported that full, system-wide water deliveries from Spaulding may not be restored until summer 2025 at the earliest. "PCWA has avoided water shortages this summer by tapping into other supplies. Also, the efforts of our customers to conserve water have been extremely helpful," PCWA stated in a press release this week. Rollins Reservoir levels were taken down during the initial repair work, which shut down Spaulding 1 Powerhouse through late July. PCWA reports the reservoir should refill in the winter through natural runoff, but that is not guaranteed so PCWA is asking for continued mindful use of water for its customers. "We're very grateful to our customers for helping us through this challenging summer," said PCWA General Manager Andy Fecko. "Although the problems are not of our making, our own customers have made the difference through wise water use. We're working closely with NID to balance the supply and demand of our water resources. We anticipate PG&E will restore full water deliveries as soon as possible." To date, PCWA reports its customers have helped by reducing landscape irrigation, fixing leaks and taking advantage of PCWA appliance rebates. "Canal water customers have made a big difference by living with restricted deliveries, and we're aware this has presented challenges for some," PCWA stated in its press release. "Unfortunately, all these conservation efforts must continue into next year." Additionally, until PG&E's repairs are completed and full flows are restored into Rollins Reservoir, PCWA will not be able to approve any new canal water delivery requests. PCWA asked any customers experiencing hardships as a result of adjusted canal deliveries contact PCWA at 530-823-4850 or visit pcwa.net.