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Manteca, Tracy, Lathrop SSJID water use up 46%
SSJID WATER TREATMENT PLANT4 5-19-17 copy
This 2017 photo shows SSJID Water Treatment Plant Operations Supervisor Justin Ashworth looks over the initial treatment process were solids are removed from the water. The plan now supplies Manteca with roughly half of its water needs. - photo by HIME ROMERO/The Bulletin

South San Joaquin Irrigation District is on track to see a 46 percent increase in treated water sales since 2021.

It reflects the fact the SSJID provides treated water to three of the five fastest growing cities in California — Manteca, Tracy, and Lathrop.

That is on top of selling 1,800 acre feet in emergency water supplies to Mountain House which, if it were a city, would also be among the top five growing cities in the state.

Almost all of the increased revenue reflects increased water use by the three cities.

In the past two years the three cities have added over 3,200 housing units built between them.

Mountain House —  a planned community — of 28,000 some 12 miles northwest of Tracy, had to scramble for water after the State Water Project cut off water deliveries to its supplier, Bethany Irrigation District.

The SSJID saw treated water sales go from $9.3 million in 2021 to $12.6 million this year.

Sales are excepted to hit $13.6 million next year.

The information is included in the proposed budget for 2023 the SSJID board will consider when they meet Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the district office, 11001 East Highway..

SSJID operates the water treatment plant on behalf of the three cities. The increase almost all went to cover operating costs due to increased volume as well as the price of chemicals rising.

The district’s bottom line is only increased by additional raw water sales that the cities need for their treated water demand.

That is expected to come to $150,000 out of the $4.2 million increase in revenue the treatment plant water sales are expected to generate next year.

Tracy relies on three water sources — the SSJID, groundwater, and the Central Valley Project. Tracy’s allotment from the federal government has been reduced significantly due to the drought. That has prompted a greater reliance on SSJID water.

Manteca and Lathrop both rely on a combination of groundwater and SSJID water. The only difference is Manteca usually reduces its winter use of treated water from SSJID to next to nothing during the rainy season while Lathrop’s demand is constant year around.

 

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com