Ashland will study expected water loss

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ASHLAND — Facing a predicted drop in snowpack of as much as 50 percent, the city plans to launch a two-year study on potential new sources of drinking and irrigation water for its residents.

The study would also identify water needs for the next 50 years and suggest ways to conserve water, city officials said. The City Council is scheduled to award a contract for the Water Conservation and Reuse Study and a Comprehensive Water System Master Plan on Dec. 1.

Ashland gets almost all of its water from Reeder Reservoir on Ashland Creek, with some supplemental water coming from the Talent Irrigation District during the summer.

"Our reservoir is not that large," said city engineer Jim Olson. "If we don't have a good flow from Ashland Creek, it can't keep up with the demand."

Among new sources to be studied, said Councilman David Chapman, are increasing water rights from TID, using the city's wastewater effluent for irrigation and joining the Talent-Ashland-Phoenix Intertie Pipeline, which serves Medford, Phoenix and Talent.

"We need to increase capacity and find a (second) source," Chapman said. "If we don't do anything, it's inevitable we'll have to join the TAP."

Ashland residents use up to 2.5 million gallons a day on average, but this balloons up to 7 million gallons in summer, said Public Works Director Mike Faught.

Using the theme "the right water for the right use," Faught said, the study will examine the use of TID water or treated effluent from the wastewater treatment plant for lawns, parks and gardens, via a secondary, or "purple pipe," system.

Effluent is presently dumped in Bear Creek. The city is facing environmental requirements that it lower the temperature of the effluent for stream health.

"If we find irrigation water from a different source than Reeder," said Chapman, "the pressure on it (Reeder reservoir) would drop and we may not have to connect to TAP or it could be much later."

The water master plan for the first time will study the "hydrological benefits and challenges" of climate change, stemming from a predicted drop in snowpack (the source of summer water) by as much as 50 percent, said Faught.

"There'll be warmer winters and summers with more rain and less snow," said Olson.

City water conservation analyst Robbin Pearce said "before we discuss additional sources, Ashland needs to look at how sufficient is the water we use now. There is technology that allows us to be far more efficient."

Seven consultants from Western states, including several from Oregon, have submitted proposals for the study, which will be done in a year-and-a-half to two years, with much public and stakeholder input and consideration by the City Council, said project engineer Pieter Smeenk, who will oversee the study.

To assist in the study, the city has received a $111,000 Water Conservation and Reuse Grant from the Oregon Water Resource Department.

John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at jdarling@jeffnet.org.

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