Water bill could help Lodi with groundwater cleanup

The city of Lodi will be eligible for money to clean up its contaminated downtown sewer lines, and local water agencies may acquire grants to replenish San Joaquin County's groundwater basin if the Senate approves a bill allocating $125 million for water projects.

The House approved the Healthy Communities Water Supply Act of 2007 on Thursday by a 368-59 vote. It now goes to the Senate.

The legislation allows public and private water agencies and nonprofit organizations to apply for up to $3 million to develop new ways for local communities. The applicant must supply 50 percent matching funds.

Lodi can apply for money to help clean up the hazardous materials TCE and PCE, which contaminate the city's groundwater and underwater soil, Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton, said in a conference call with reporters Thursday afternoon.

And San Joaquin County, its cities and local water districts can apply for up to $3 million for projects that use surface, or river, water to replenish the parched groundwater basin, the congressman said.

"If we find ways to use surface water to recharge groundwater supplies, it's a good use of this money," McNerney added.

Reaction was mixed among local water agencies. Ed Steffani, manager of the North San Joaquin Water Conservation District, said the $125 million the bill would provide may only trickle down to about $25,000 for San Joaquin County if allocations are based on population.

But Kevin Kauffman, general manager of the Stockton East Water District, which serves Morada and nearby rural areas along with parts of Stockton, said he thinks the county can get a lot more than $25,000.

The only areas of the United States with a water shortage, Kauffman said, are California, the Southwest and Florida.

"It would benefit maybe a half-dozen states," he said.

McNerney pledged to work with local water agencies to maximize their chances of acquiring the $3 million grants, which would be administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"This bill authorizes funds to develop alternative sources of clean drinking water, as well as water for agricultural and industrial purposes," McNerney said in a prepared statement. "That's an important consideration this winter in California with lower-than-normal rainfall totals and a Sierra snowpack just 65 percent of its normal size — sources that are essential to the state's water supply."

If the Senate passes the bill and President Bush signs it, the EPA won't have access to the $125 million unless the House Appropriations Committee chooses to release the funds, said McNerney spokesman Andy Stone.

House Resolution 700 is the first bill to be authored by McNerney, who ousted Republican Richard Pombo in the November election. It is also only the second bill authored by a freshman member of Congress to be heard by the House this year, McNerney said.

The water supply act is co-authored by Rep. Ellen Tauscher, D-Alamo.

Contact reporter Ross Farrow at rossf@lodinews.com.

First published: Friday, March 9, 2007