In the last issue we learned about water banks, underground storage areas in Kern County that we use to store water until it’s needed, such as in this time of drought. Another source of water for the Santa Clarita Valley is groundwater. Currently, more than a quarter of our water comes from local, sustainable groundwater sources.
Geology plays an important role in the availability of groundwater. Did you know that an aquifer is not a big underground lake? Instead, permeable and porous materials such as sand, gravel and some sedimentary rocks can hold and transmit water underground, kind of like a gravelly sponge. The water can even move between voids and fractures in rocks.
Our local groundwater is accessed through a series of wells located across SCV. You might not even realize it, but you are probably driving past them as you run errands around town.
Right now, many of our groundwater wells are off-line, meaning they are not providing drinking water to our system. Like many communities throughout the nation, trace amounts of PFAS have been found in our water supply. PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of man-made chemicals that have made their way to water sources through manufacturing and the use of some consumer products. Visit https://yourscvwater.com/pfas/ to learn more. This is one more reason that we need to do everything we can to save water by following efficient water use practices. Find easy steps you can take to save water at Drought Ready SCV
Groundwater is just one of several "buckets" in our water supply portfolio, which also includes banked water, State Water Project water and recycled water. SCV Water is Drought-Ready, thanks to our long-term planning and investment into reliable water supplies, long-term water conservation programs, and efficient water use by our customers.
