Conejo Post

I have been researching on the internet just how much electricity it takes to move Sacramento Delta water down to SoCal for us to drink and water our lawns.  According to a website written about the Central and San Joaquin Valleys, the water conveyance system uses an average of 12.2 billion KWh!  (Here is a link:  http://www.cardellawinery.com/agritourism/valley.php) 

I don’t know what the use is for the whole of California, and I am still looking for that figure.  But, I had heard that the California Aqueduct/State Water Project uses about 25% – 30% of all electricity in the state.  Part of the huge demand for electricity is because  the water has to be pumped up 2,000 feet, over the Tehachapi Mountains, to get to us. 

Now, the good news is that the SWP produces from between 6 billion to 7.6 billion Kwh, both from hydroelectric generators, and coal-fired ones, but that still leaves a lot of electricity that has to be imported. 

I started thinking about this because of water agencies in SoCal having to cut back 15% in water use for the past year.  Did the electricity usage by the SWP also decline?  I will continue my research.  Here is a link to the State Water Project website:  

http://www.water.ca.gov/pubs/swp/california’s_state_water_project/swp.pdf

Posted by Janna Orkney