Ventura Water
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Deliver Clean Drinking Water
Target: Meet 100% health regulations
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | |
| Target | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 |
| Actual | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | ||||||
| Variance | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Target: Meet 100% of non-health based standards
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | |
| Target | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17 |
| Actual | 14 | 14 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 16 | ||||||
| Variance | 82% | 82% | 82% | 94% | 100% | 94% |
Why This Is Important
Clean water is essential for the health of our community and environment.
What Is Being Done
We are continuing to manage our 100% local water supply efficiently to protect the environment. Our treatment processes are continually improved to meet or exceed existing and anticipated standards.
About This Measure
Water quality testing results are reported to the California Department of Public Health and other regulatory agencies. Non-health based standards refer to taste and smells water characteristics. The measure reflects the number of constituents tested in the water each month. This number is not in relation to the quarterly or annual aggregates of these tests, which is how the Department of Public Health evaluates compliance for a number of constituents. Approximately one-third of Ventura’s water supply is groundwater and about 30% of this water can, at times, test above non-health based standards for total dissolved solids (TDS) and sulfate due to the highly mineralized content of this water. While this water is not a health risk, it can taste and smell unpleasant for some consumers.
Contact:
Shana Epstein, General Manager, sepstein@venturawater.net
Mike Oakley, Acting Water Utility Manager, moakley@venturawater.net
Minimize Water Service Disruption To Our Customers
Target: Less than 12 main breaks annually
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | |
| Target | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Actual | 0 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 10 | ||||||
| Variance | -1 | -1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
Target: Less than 5 hours out of drinking water service per month
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | |
| Target | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Actual | 0 | 0 | 12 | 20 | 20 | 0 | ||||||
| Variance | -5 | -5 | 7 | 15 | 15 | -5 |
Why This Is Important
Households, hospitals, schools, and businesses depend on reliable water services.
What Is Being Done
The average age of the water system pipes is over 43 years old and our proactive maintenance program identifies and repairs leaks. We are also adding technology tools to assess the system's overall performance to more effectively plan future capital and rehabilitation projects.
About This Measure
Reliable water service is a core standard of water operations. Minimizing service disruptions due to main breaks is a priority.
Contact:
Shana Epstein, General Manager, sepstein@venturawater.net
Mike Oakley, Acting Water Utility Manager, moakley@venturawater.net
Enhance Our Water Efficiency
Target: Surpass state water efficiency for gallons used per person per day seasonal average
| Aug | Oct | Dec | Feb | Apr | Jun | |
| Target | 167 | 155 | 130 | 119 | 128 | 159 |
| Actual | 161 | 136 | 111 | |||
| Variance | -6 | -19 | -19 |
Target: Maintain water loss to 8% or less
| FY 08/09 | FY 09/10 | FY 10/11 | FY 11/12 | |
| Target | 8.0% | 8.0% | 8.0% | 8.0% |
| Actual | 5.0% | 4.4% | 6.4% | 6.7% |
| Variance | 3.0% | 3.6% | 1.6% | 1.3% |
Why This Is Important
As water stewards, using our natural resources efficiently is important for the future our environment and community.
What Is Being Done
We are developing a comprehensive water efficiency program, which will include extensive public education and outreach. To prevent unnecessary water loss, we are working with customers to identify leaks in their homes and businesses. This effort will be aided by the implementation of a new automated meter reading system.
About This Measure
Our community's gallons per day per person annual target has been set through the 2010 Urban Water Management Plan, based on state requirements. To further promote sustainability, Ventura Water is working to surpass this goal. Reducing unaccounted water loss supports overall efficiency.
Contact:
Shana Epstein, General Manager, sepstein@venturawater.net
Mike Oakley, Acting Water Utility Manager, moakley@venturawater.net
Ensure our Santa Clara River Estuary Water Quality
Target: Meet 100% of reclamation water standards
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | |
| Target | 19 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 |
| Actual | 19 | 24 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | ||||||
| Variance | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% | 95% |
Why This Is Important
Ventura releases reclaimed water into the Santa Clara River Estuary, which increases quality habitat for native fish species. This water management strategy is 40 years old and the centerpiece of lawsuits and an expensive environmental study.
What Is Being Done
We are wrapping up $1.4 million of environmental study of Estuary water quality, installing additional treatment processes to improve reclaimed water quality, and diligently monitoring reclamation plant processes each day all year long.
About This Measure
Strict water quality standards, set by the Regional Water Quality Control Board, must be met before the tertiary treated water is released into the Santa Clara River Estuary. Each constituent is tested on its own schedule, which may be daily, weekly, monthly and semi-annually. The actual values represent whether or not the standard was achieved for each constituent for the entire month, without referencing the number of tests conducted monthly for that constituent. For example, turbidity is tested daily and if it fails one of the 30 tests for the month, then it will be reported as not meeting standards. Dissolved copper exceeded its limit in the month of December, most likely caused by colder temperatures which hinders the ability of biological process to remove dissolved copper from the effluent. Following treatment adjustments, additional sampling shows that this constituent is now within its limits. While considered a violation, no fines are associated until a series of three violations are reported.
Contact:
Shana Epstein, General Manager, sepstein@venturawater.net
Dan Pfeifer, Wastewater Utility Manager, dpfeifer@venturawater.net
Protect Our Beaches and Waterways from Harmful Discharges
Target: Eliminate sewer overflows – 15 annually (consent decree target)
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | |
| Target | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 15 |
| Actual | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 | ||||||
| Variance | 0 | -1 | -1 | 0 | -1 | -1 |
Target: Evaluate four miles (13,400 feet) per month of aging lines repairing or replacing as needed
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | |
| Target | 13,400 | 13,400 | 13,400 | 13,400 | 13,400 | 13,400 | 13,400 | 13,400 | 13,400 | 13,400 | 13,400 | 13,400 |
| Actual | 16,000 | 58,000 | 45,000 | 15,000 | 37,488 | 16,368 | ||||||
| Variance | 2,600 | 44,600 | 31,600 | 1,600 | 24,088 | 2,968 |
Target: Collection system spot repairs – 60 per year
| Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | |
| Target | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 30 | 35 | 40 | 45 | 50 | 55 | 60 |
| Actual | 7 | 10 | 28 | 34 | 35 | 37 | ||||||
| Variance | 2 | 0 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 7 |
Why This Is Important
When sewage overflows onto streets the contamination can reach the ocean and significantly harm our health and environment, and your property. These overflows can be subject to fines and lawsuits with onerous financial implications.
What Is Being Done
We are assessing the condition of the City gravity sewer system in areas we know to be particularly troublesome. Our aggressive maintenance program which includes sewer line cleaning, spot repairs, and manholes inspections, has reduced sewer spills
About This Measure
Minimization of sewer system overflows are a priority benchmark to protect public health and the environment. Sewer main lines are regularly inspected by Closed Circuit TV (CCTV) to identify defects that require spot repair or replacement.
Contact:
Shana Epstein, General Manager, sepstein@venturawater.net
Dan Pfeifer, Wastewater Utility Manager, dpfeifer@venturawater.net
Printable: December 31, 2011 Ventura Water Performance Measures (pdf 380KB)
