Acre-Foot (AF) – A unit commonly used for measuring the volume of water; equal to the quantity of water required to cover one acre (43,560 square feet) to a depth of one foot and equal to 325,851 gallons. An acre-foot of water is considered enough water to meet the needs of two families of four for one year.

AFY – Acre feet per year.

Advanced Treatment – Additional treatment provided to remove suspended and dissolved substances after conventional secondary treatment. Often this term is used to mean additional treatment after tertiary filtration and disinfection treatment for the purpose of further removing contaminants of public health or other water quality concern. This may include membrane filtration and advanced oxidation.

AMR – Automated Meter Reading.

Backflow – (1) The backing up of water through a conduit or channel in the direction opposite to normal flow. (2) The undesirable flow of water from a plumbing system back into the community potable water supply. (3) A reverse flow condition created by a difference in water pressures that causes water to flow back into the distribution pipes of a drinking water supply from any source other than the intended one. Backflow prevention assemblies prevent contamination and are required by city and state laws.

Beneficial Use (of Water) – A use of water resulting in appreciable gain or benefit to the user, consistent with state law, which varies from one state to another. In California, beneficial uses of waters of the state that may be protected against quality degradation include, but are not necessarily limited to, domestic, municipal, agricultural and industrial supply; power generation; recreation; aesthetic enjoyment; navigation; and preservation and enhancement of fish, wildlife, and other aquatic resources or preserves. (Water Code, Section 13050(f))

Best Management Practices (BMP) – (1) A generally accepted practice for some aspect of natural resources management to protect or achieve the best use of the resources, such as water conservation measures, drainage management measures, or erosion control measures. Typically incorporates conservation criteria. (2) A set of field activities that provide the most effective means for reducing pollution from a nonpoint source.

Biosolids – A nutrient-rich organic material that is a byproduct or waste resulting from the treatment of wastewater. Biosolids contain nitrogen and phosphorus along with other supplementary nutrients in smaller doses, such as potassium, sulfur, magnesium, calcium, copper and zinc. Soil that is lacking in these substances can be reclaimed with biosolids use. The application of biosolids to land improves soil properties and plant productivity, and reduces dependence on inorganic fertilizers. The terms biosolids, Sludge and Sewage Sludge can be used interchangeably.

CEQA – California Environmental Quality Act.

CIP – Capital Improvement Project

Cross-Connection – A physical connection between two water systems, typically between a potable water system and any source or system of water or other substance that is not approved for drinking.

Discharge – (1) The volume of water (or more broadly, the volume of fluid including solid- and dissolved-phase material) that passes a given point in a given period of time. (2) The flow of water from an opening into another body of water, as the release of treated wastewater from a treatment plant into a stream or the ocean. The flow of surface water in a stream or the flow of groundwater from a spring, ditch, or flowing artesian well. (3) (Hydraulics) The rate of flow, especially fluid flow; the volume of fluid passing a point per unit time, commonly expressed as cubic feet per second, million gallons per day, gallons per minute, or cubic meters per second.

Discharge Permit – A permit issued by the state to discharge effluent into waters of the state.

Drinking Water Standards – Drinking water standards established by state agencies and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for drinking water.

Drinking Water Supply – Water provided for use in households. The distribution of water to households is regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974, as amended, as well as State regulations.

Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU) – The…

Effluent – Wastewater or other liquid, treated or in its natural state, flowing from a treatment plant or process.

EIR – Environmental Impact Report.

Freshwater – Water that is obtained from rainwater, surface waters such as lakes and streams, and groundwater.

GPD – Gallons per day, a measure of the rate of flow or the rate of water withdrawal from a well.

GVWWTP – Grass Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Graywater – Wastewater from a household or small commercial establishment that does not include water from a toilet, kitchen sink, dishwasher, or water used for washing diapers.

I&I – Infiltration and Inflow – Inflow is water that is dumped into the sewer system through improper connections, such as downspouts and groundwater sump pumps. Infiltration is groundwater that enters the sewer system through leaks in the pipe. When this water gets into the sanitary sewers, it must be moved and treated like sanitary waste.  Too much I&I often cause sewer backups and overflows when it rains.

NEPA – National Environmental Policy Act.

Nonpotable Water – Water that is not suitable for drinking. The District delivers nonpotable water to Grass Valley Lake, when needed, for golf course irrigation.

NPDES – National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System – The program established by the Federal Clean Water Act that requires all point sources of pollution discharging into any “waters of the United States” to obtain a permit issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or a state agency authorized by the federal agency. The NPDES permit lists permissible discharges and/or the level of cleanup technology required for wastewater.

Outfall – The place where a sewer, drain, or stream discharges; the outlet or structure leaving a treatment plant through which reclaimed water or treated effluent is finally discharged to a receiving water body.

Potable Water – Water that is drinkable. Specifically, freshwater that generally meets the standards in quality as established in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Drinking Water Standards for drinking water throughout the United States. Potable water is considered safe for human consumption and is often referred to as Drinking Water.

Primary Wastewater Treatment – The removal of particulate materials from domestic wastewater, usually done by allowing the solid materials to settle as a result of gravity. Typically, the first major stage of treatment encountered by domestic wastewater as it enters a treatment facility.

Recycled Water – Wastewater that is suitable for a beneficial use as a result of treatment. The degree of treatment provided for recycled water depends on the quality of water needed for the specific beneficial use and for public health protection and may include effluent from Primary Wastewater Treatment, Secondary Wastewater Treatment, Tertiary Wastewater Treatment, or Advanced Tertiary.
 
RFP – Request for Proposal.

Runoff – The volume of surface flow from an area.

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) – A Federal law, which is an amendment to the Public    Health Service Act which established primary and secondary quality standards for drinking water. The SDWA was passed in 1976 to protect public health by establishing uniform drinking water standards for the nation. In 1986 SDWA Amendments were passed that mandated the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish standards for 83 drinking water contaminants by 1992 and identify an additional 25 contaminants for regulation every 3 years thereafter.

SCADA - Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. As the name indicates, it is not a full control system, but rather focuses on the supervisory level. As such, it is a purely software package that is positioned on top of hardware to which it is interfaced. The District utilizes SCADA software in its treatment facilities.

Secondary Wastewater Treatment – Treatment (following Primary Wastewater Treatment) involving the biological process of reducing suspended, colloidal, and dissolved organic matter in effluent from primary treatment systems. Activated sludge and trickling filters are two of the most common means of secondary treatment. It is accomplished by bringing together waste, bacteria, and oxygen in trickling filters or in the activated sludge process. Disinfection is usually the final stage of secondary treatment.

Sewage – The spent water of a community, now usually referred to as Wastewater but it has the further implication of wastewater containing domestic waste.

Stakeholders – Individuals and organizations who are involved in or may be affected by activities of the District, such as the construction and operation of a water recycling project.

Tertiary Wastewater Treatment – Biological, physical, and chemical treatment processes that follow Secondary Wastewater Treatment. The most common Tertiary Wastewater Treatment process consists of flocculation basins, clarifiers, filters, and disinfection processes. The term Tertiary Wastewater Treatment is also used to include Advanced Treatment beyond filters.

Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) – The maximum quantity of a particular water pollutant that can be discharged into a body of water without violating a water quality standard. The amount of pollutant is set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) when it determines that existing, technology-based effluent standards on the water pollution sources in the area will not achieve one or more ambient water quality standards. The process results in the allocation of the TMDL to the various point sources of pollutants in the area.

Treated (Wastewater) Effluent – Water that has received primary, secondary, or advanced treatment to reduce its pollution or health hazards and is subsequently released from a wastewater facility after treatment.

Will Serve or Service Availability Letter - A letter stating the District will provide water and sewer services to a particular project upon satisfactory completion of a number of steps, timely payment of fees and availability of water.

Stakeholders

Mojave River Basin. The adjudicated boundary of the Mojave Basin Area encompasses about 3,400 square miles of San Bernardino County, California. In general the adjudicated area is bounded by the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains to the south, Afton Canyon to the northeast, just beyond Lucerne Valley in the east and the Antelope Valley to the west at the San Bernardino/Los Angeles County line. For purposes of administration of the Judgment, the Basin is divided into five separate hydrologic Subareas. The five Subareas are named: Este (East Basin), Oeste (West Basin), Alto (Upper Basin), Centro (Middle Basin) and Baja (Lower Basin).

San Bernardino County, Board of Supervisors. The District is in an unincorporated area of San Bernardino County. The governing body is the County Board of Supervisors. The District is in the 3rd District of San Bernardino County which is represented by Supervisor Dennis Hansberger.

San Bernardino County, Redevelopment Services. The Redevelopment Services Division is overseeing the Cedar Glen Disaster Recovery Project. The project area encompasses a portion of the District’s water service area. The majority of the project area is on standby for sewer service. If the County were to determine that sewers would be installed in the project area, the District would be responsible for providing those services.

San Bernardino County, Department of Land Use Services. San Bernardino County is the local land use authority for the Lake Arrowhead Community. The County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors consider and approve or disapprove all proposals for new development.

San Bernardino County, Fire Department. Provides administration and support for 32 legally separate fire districts and county wide services. The fire districts serve 328,260 citizens within 16,225 square miles of unincorporated areas and five cities.

San Bernardino County, Department of Public Works, Transportation Department. Operates, maintains, and improves the County Road System that currently includes approximately 2,860 miles of roadways. 

San Bernardino County, Division of Environmental Health Services, Water/Wastewater/Land Use. Inspects/permits small community and non-community water systems that serve water to the public. Protects water sources from pollution by permitting and inspecting construction and destruction of wells. Reviews/approves sewage disposal reports to protect underground water source. Evaluates/comments on Environmental Impact Reports.

San Bernardino County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO). The goals of the San Bernardino County LAFCO are to encourage orderly growth, promote logical and orderly service boundaries for cities and special districts, discourage premature conversion of prime agricultural lands to urban uses, and promote efficient and effective service delivery for cities and special districts. State law requires that LAFCO review the District’s sphere of influence at least once every five years. LAFCO would also review any proposal to add land to the district (annexation), to remove land from the district (detachment), or to consolidate, merge, or dissolve the district. The Commission also has the power to investigate the efficiency and effectiveness of the district, and to propose changes in organization where appropriate.

State of California, Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). The SWRCB is a regulatory agency, which means it has powers to mandate specific actions regarding water rights and water quality. The SWRCB Board presides over such hearings as water quality in the Delta and has several boards that regulate water quality and water rights issues within their specific jurisdictions. The SWRCB allocates water rights, adjudicates water right disputes, develops statewide water protection plans, establishes water quality standards, and guides the Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board.

State of California, Department of Fish and Game. The California Department of Fish and Game is charged with protecting conserving native fish, plants and wildlife. Whenever a District activity or proposal might impact a sensitive habitat, for example, their staff must be consulted whenever an environmental impact study is required for a construction project and requirements the department sets forth are complied with.

State of California, Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA). Enforces California laws and regulations pertaining to workplace safety and health and provides assistance to employers and workers about workplace safety and health issues.

State of California, South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD). Is the air pollution control agency for all of Orange County and the urban portions of Los Angeles, Riverside and San Bernardino counties, including Lake Arrowhead. This area of 10,000 square miles is home to nearly 16 million people, half the population of the whole state of California.

State of California, Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District (MDAQMD). Covers the northern portion of San Bernardino County and the eastern portion of Riverside County, including Hesperia. Annually inspects every permitted source to verify continuing adherence to MDAQMD requirements.

State of California, Department of Transportation (Caltrans). Designs, constructs, maintains, and operates  the California State Highway System, as well as that portion of the Interstate Highway System within the state's boundaries.

State of California, Department of Health Services (DHS). The California Health Services regulates drinking water quality standards and determines the levels at which potential toxins can be present in drinking water.

State of California, Elected Officials.

United States, Fish & Wildlife Service. Conserves, protects and enhances fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Enforces the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

United States, Forest Service. Manages public lands in national forests and grasslands, which encompass 193 million acres including areas where the District operates its treatment facilities.

United States, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Develops and enforces regulations that implement environmental laws enacted by Congress. Is responsible for researching and setting national standards for a variety of environmental programs, and delegates to states and tribes the responsibility for issuing permits and for monitoring and enforcing compliance.

United States, Army Corps of Engineers. Plans, designs, builds and operates water resources and other civil works projects.

United States, Bureau of Reclamation. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation performs many functions, for example it operates and maintains the Central Valley Project.  Closer to home for the Lake Arrowhead community, it administers grant programs to fund the cost of water supply projects and programs.  In 2004 the Bureau funded to cost of constructing three new groundwater wells in Lake Arrowhead, and in 2006, the Bureau awarded a grant for the District’s Automated Meter Reading Project.

Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO. The District is member of the Utility Workers Union of America, AFL-CIO (UWUA). The UWUA has more than 50,000 members working in the electric, gas, water, and nuclear industries across the United States.

RESOURCES

Crestline-Lake Arrowhead Water Agency (CLAWA). Public agency created in 1962 by a special act of the California State Legislature to provide supplemental water to a portion of the San Bernardino Mountains. Currently working on proposal to utilize currently available capacity in the Agency’s treatment plant and transmission system to treat and transport State Water Project water from MUNI to the retail system of the District.

San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (MUNI). Formed in 1954 to plan long-range water supply for the San Bernardino Valley, MUNI imports water into its service area through participation in the California State Water Project and manages groundwater storage within its boundaries. The District currently has a 10- to 15-year agreement with MUNI to import State Water Project water to the District through an agreement with CLAWA.

Arrowhead Lake Association (ALA). The Arrowhead Lake Association is a non-profit corporation that owns and operates Lake Arrowhead. The mission of ALA is to protect, operate and improve Lake Arrowhead, and to provide reasonable and safe recreational facilities in a fiscally responsible manner, with appropriate planning for the future for its members. Property owners in Arrowhead Woods are eligible to become members of ALA. The District and ALA entered into an Operating Criteria Agreement for managing lake level in August 2005.

State Water Project (SWP). The nation's largest state-built water and power development and conveyance system. Planned, designed, constructed and now operated and maintained by the California Department of Water Resources, this unique facility provides water supplies for 23 million Californians and 755,000 acres of irrigated farmland.

Land-holders (Groundwater). Private citizens with rights to groundwater on their property that may enter into agreements with the District to provide their groundwater as a supplemental resource.

California Urban Water Conservation Council (CUWCC). The CUWCC was created to increase efficient water use statewide through partnerships among urban water agencies, public interest organizations, and private entities. The Council's goal is to integrate urban water conservation Best Management Practices into the planning and management of California's water resources. The District is a signatory to the CUWCC and submits BMP reports as required. 

Community Groups. Local organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Save Our Forest Association, etc.

Lake Arrowhead Country Club (LACC). The District has five groundwater wells on the LACC property. The wells provide water for irrigation and drinking water supplies.

Metropolitan Water District (MWD). MWD could be a potential supplier of supplemental water to the District.

Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA). IEUA could be a potential supplier of supplemental water to the District.

Mojave Water Agency (MWA). MWA currently utilizes all of the District’s treated effluent via groundwater extraction in Hesperia. MWA could be a potential supplier of supplemental water to the District.