SCV Water is asking customers to limit their outdoor water use next week, Feb. 2-9, in preparation for annual maintenance on facilities at Castaic Lake.

During the shutdown, SCV Water will also upgrade its connection to the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s Foothill Feeder. This facility is part of the system that delivers water from Castaic Lake to SCV Water for treatment and distribution for urban use.

SCV Water is taking the necessary steps to prepare, and asking all water users to refrain from irrigating next week to help get through the repair period without any major issues, so that all customers can continue to receive reliable water service.

“We scheduled the maintenance and upgrades during the winter months when temperatures are mild, days are shorter and the need for outdoor irrigation is minimal,” said Matt Stone, SCV Water general manager. “Outdoor water use is the single largest use of residential water, so turning off the irrigation is an easy way to help achieve essential water savings.”

The SCV will rely exclusively on local groundwater sources and treated imported water stored at reservoirs throughout the Valley. Ahead of the shutdown, SCV Water will fill all of its storage facilities to capacity, with more than 92 million gallons of water.

“About half of the SCV’s water supply is local groundwater, while the other half is imported from the State Water Project and other sources,” said Gary Haggin, SCV Water operations and maintenance superintendent. “With the scheduled shutdown of facilities, the water from Castaic Lake will be unavailable for use. The water will be in the lake; we just won’t be able to receive it while the facility is undergoing upgrades and annual maintenance.”

Haggin also noted that this one-week conservation initiative is not a reflection of SCV Water’s overall water supply. It’s merely a response to the temporary disruption of water delivery while key infrastructure is taken out of service for repairs, maintenance and upgrades. Once the work is complete, water from Castaic Lake will be available again.

SCV Water’s Foothill Feeder Connection

During the shutdown, SCV Water will upgrade its connection to MWDSC’s Foothill Feeder. The project will provide additional capacity and more reliability to meet customers’ demands and is necessary for any future expansions of the agency’s Rio Vista Water Treatment Plant.

Additionally, the previous connection will remain as a backup, in case of any emergency.

“The current connection to the Foothill Feeder provides 60 million gallons per day (MGD) capacity at the Rio Vista Water Treatment Plant” said Jim Leserman, SCV Water senior engineer and project manager. “The upgraded connection will increase current water delivery capability to 66 MGD, and allow for future additional capacity of up to 90 MGD, when coupled with future treatment plant capacity, to meet the projected water needs of the SCV Water service area.”

“Considering that municipal water systems are operated continuously, the maintenance and upgrading of key infrastructure is of vital importance,” said SCV Water Chief Operating Officer Keith Abercrombie. “With this upgraded connection, we’re maximizing the life of the infrastructure and increasing performance, all while ensuring a reliable supply and reducing future operations and maintenance costs.”