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Annexation of Part of the Airport Larkfield Wikiup Sanitation Zone (ALWSZ) is in the Works!
The Windsor Water District (WWD) has made a giant leap towards achieving our goal of Net-Zero discharge! At the February 7, 2024, Windsor Water District (WWD) Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board approved the first step toward adding part of Sonoma Water’s ALWSZ area (see shaded green area in map above) to the WWD. Sonoma Water’s current wastewater treatment plant is aging and the expense of upgrading their plant would be a significant cost to ratepayers.
By partnering with the WWD, and consolidating a portion of ALWSZ into the WWD, our treatment plant would be able to carry the extra load for proper and efficient wastewater treatment and add an estimated 250 million gallons of recycled water storage. The ability to store extra recycled water also means that the Town will only have to discharge recycled water to Mark West Creek during very wet years, resulting in cost savings and environmental benefits while preserving as much of this valuable water resource as possible for recycled water use.
Recycled water is wastewater that has been treated to a level of use acceptable for urban and residential irrigation, agricultural irrigation (such as at wineries), industrial use, and more! The ability to utilize recycled or “reclaimed” water preserves our drinking or “potable” water resources.
Grant Davis, the General Manager of Sonoma Water, and Brad Sherwood, the Assistant General Manager of Sonoma Water along with Mark Bramfitt, the Executive Director of Sonoma County Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCO) were also present at the February 7 meeting to support the process of transferring ownership to the WWD.
“We’re very motivated to fully explore this possible consolidation, which will benefit Sonoma Water, Windsor Water District, and the communities served by both agencies. We expect this project will increase operational efficiencies and expand recycled water use and serve as an outstanding example of inter-agency collaboration for the greater good.”- Grant Davis, General Manager, Sonoma Water
The next step is for LAFCO to conduct a study evaluating the consolidation. In the meantime, staff are working on an agreement for WWD to begin treating ALWSZ wastewater on a contract basis, which will be brought to the WWD Board of Directors for approval in a few months. As we focus on developing more sustainable resources, the Town looks forward to this potential annexation and the partnership with Sonoma Water. Together it will be a win-win!
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