Geysers Geothermal Association gets updates on Anderson Springs wastewater project, Geysers pipeline
- VORIS BRUMFIELD
She reported on the Anderson Springs wastewater project. The Lake County Board of Supervisors signed a contract for construction of the collection system earlier this month.
The contract to actually build the facilities for each individual property including the grinder pump and holding tanks for the first 100 properties will go out to bid in the spring of 2018.
The Anderson Springs Community Alliance will host a community meeting on Jan. 27 at 1 p.m. the Middletown Community Center for updates on the wastewater collection system, warning sirens, emergency exit and other issues of community concern.
The focus of Coppinger’s presentation explained how Lake County’s recycled water pipeline to The Geysers has benefited Lake County users and replenished and stabilized the steam decline of the world’s single-largest geothermal resource developed for electric generation.
The recycled water is treated wastewater (secondary treatment standard) from four wastewater treatment plants which serve 10 communities and conveys 85 percent of Lake County wastewater for stem production.
All of the effluent from the following plants is captured and conveyed to The Geysers:
– Northwest Regional wastewater treatment plant, population 8,903;
– Southeast Regional wastewater treatment plant, population 13,008;
– Clearlake Oaks wastewater treatment plant, population 2,500;
– Middletown wastewater treatment plant, population 869.
Lake County provides an average of 5,000 gallons of treated effluent per minute to Northern California Power Agency and Calpine’s operations at The Geysers.
The city of Santa Rosa Geysers Recharge Project from Sonoma County contributes 12,000 gallons per minute.
The contract Lake County Special Districts has to supply effluent to The Geysers guarantees a consistent amount of flow with the projected 20 years expected population growth initially allowing “make up water” to be drawn from Clear Lake.
However, with the housing collapse of 2008 and the fires of 2015 and 2016, draws from Clear Lake have remained high except for periods of California’s drought which caused reductions in water from Clear Lake.
During the heavy rains and flooding in January and February, the Lake County Sanitation District maximized flows of recycled water to The Geysers to avoid spilling from the treatment reservoirs that were overloaded due to the flooding.
Voris Brumfield is president of the Anderson Springs Community Alliance.
