13060 Highway 9
Boulder Creek, CA 95006
831-338-2153

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Our Carbon Footprint
Greenhouse gas emissions

What is a carbon footprint and how is it measured?

A carbon footprint is the total CO2 and other greenhouse gases produced by a home, business or government agency. To measure its carbon footprint, SLVWD joined the California Climate Action Registry (CCAR) in 2007 and the national Climate Action Registry in 2008.

Using CCAR's established protocols, SLVWD inventoried all of its greenhouse gas emissions in 2006 LINK TO 2006 GHG EMISSIONS REPORT and 2007 LINK TO 2007 GHG EMISSIONS REPORT. CCAR certified these results in 2009, recognizing SLVWD as a "Climate Action Leader." SLVWD is now working on its 2008 inventory.

What are SLVWD's sources of greenhouse gas emissions?

As the chart below shows, SLVWD's largest source of greenhouse gas emissions is electricity, which is used mostly to operate our deep-water wells. SLVWD purchases our electricity from PG & E, which includes both fossil-fuel and alternative energy sources in its mix. Clearly, well-pumping is our largest source of greenhouse gas emissions.


How does well-pumping emit greenhouse gases?
Because water is heavy, pumping water to the surface from underground aquifers requires lots of energy.

SLVWD's Southern System, which serves some areas in Scotts Valley, relies completely on wells. In dry years, the level of groundwater drops, so more energy is required to pump the water to the surface.

SLVWD's North System, which serves the northern San Lorenzo Valley, is served by creeks on Ben Lomond Mountain, and by a separate system of wells. Taking water from creeks high in the watershed requires little energy, since gravity does the work. In the dry season, SLVWD stops taking water from the creeks and switches to its North system wells.

The chart above shows that SLVWD's greenhouse gas emissions were lower in 2006 than in 2007. This is because 2006 was a wet year, and 2007 was a very dry year. In 2006, rains continued into May. In 2007, rains stopped in January, and the North System switched to wells early in the year. With more well-pumping, more electricity was needed, and more greenhouse gases were emitted.

How can SLVWD reduce its green house gas emissions?

The SLVWD Board approved a climate change resolution in September 2008 LINK TO CLIMATE CHANGE RESOLUTION that commits the District to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020.

SLVWD cannot control the weather or droughts. But we can and do encourage water conservation as a way of life. The less water we use, the less energy we consume, and the lower our greenhouse gas emissions.

SLVWD has installed solar panels at its wastewater treatment plant and other facilities, and more solar panels are planned.

SLVWD is also working to reduce fuel consumption by its vehicle fleet, phasing out the most fuel intensive vehicles and replacing them with more efficient ones.

How is SLVWD addressing the impacts of climate change?

SLVWD's 2009 Watershed Management Plan LINK TO CHAPTER 7 and 2009 Water Supply Master Plan LINK TO WATER SUPPLY MASTER PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY both discuss how climate change will affect local water supplies. There are likely to be more dry spells, so that water conservation becomes even more important.

SLVWD continues to work collaboratively with other local water agencies to prepare for climate change impacts on local water supplies LINK TO 4/23/08 PRESS RELEASE.

   

 

July 21, 2009