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Eastern San Joaquin Groundwater Basin Groundwater Management Plan Northeastern San Joaquin County Section 4 Groundwater Banking Authority 86 Groundwater Management Options 4.1.3 Water Reclamation Water reclamation or water reuse is the treatment of water that has been used previously and would otherwise be discharged out of the Basin. Municipal and industrial wastewater reclamation is becoming increasingly prevalent throughout the State as a viable alternative for compliance with regulatory waste discharge requirements. As municipalities and industries move to meet these waste discharge requirements with tertiary treatment, high quality supplies may become available for irrigation or other non-potable uses. Pending further growth of the reclaimed water market, Eastern San Joaquin County could put to beneficial use a substantial non-potable water supply; however, the resulting reduced supply to downstream users would need to be mitigated. 4.1.4 Water Conservation Demand management is a key component for long-term planning and management of water resources. Implementation of best management practices (BMPs) can be more economical than developing new water sources and less damaging to the environment. Urban Water Conservation Active urban water conservation programs throughout the State potentially save 10 to 20 percent of the historical demand. BMPs included in such programs include water metering, tiered water pricing, rebates for water saving appliances and amenities, water-saving household plumbing devices, and education and outreach. Urban water conservation programs are eligible for State and Federal grants. Agricultural Water Conservation Crop science has determined that plants consumptively use a fraction of the total water applied during irrigation. Agricultural water conservation relates mainly to the use of more efficient irrigation technologies that reduce the amount of water applied while still meeting the consumptive needs of the plant. Increasing irrigation efficiency decreases the amount of water that is lost through evaporation during conveyance or application and the discharge of tailwater to surface streams. Growers moving from flood irrigation to drip and sprinkler systems often report irrigation efficiencies upwards of 90 percent. It should be noted that the conversion to drip and sprinkler irrigation is not suited for all crop types and in some cases does not provide its intended benefits. Some crops are sensitive to changes in irrigation methods and may either produce crops of poorer quality or, in some cases, actually increase the consumptive demand of the plant. Excess applied surface water resulting in tailwater drainage is a benefit to the groundwater Basin when allowed to percolate and may be a major source of water for downstream users who depend on return flows. Extensive analysis should be undertaken prior to implementation of agricultural water conservation measures to ensure the intended benefits are realized. Urban Water Conservation $200-$250 New Infrastructure Minimal Potentially effective Minimal Crop Rotation/Land Fallowing ~$50 None Potentially land intensive Potentially effective if mitigated Minimal Source: San Joaquin County Water Management Plan Volume I Farmington Groundwater Recharge and Seasonal Habitat Study