CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS

August 2008

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Potential Impacts of a Major Earthquake on California’s Water Storage/ Delivery System to be Analyzed

Californians are preparing for the November 2008 “Great Southern California Shakeout,” which includes the largest earthquake simulation in U.S. history and is intended to test the state’s ability to weather a catastrophic seismic event. The recent attention garnered by the “shakeout” program, coupled with the state’s well-known efforts to repair its levee system, have prompted many to question the structural integrity of many components of California’s water storage and delivery system, particularly their ability to sustain a serious earthquake. Over the last few years, the state has spent hundreds of millions of dollars in an effort to repair many of the levee sites identified as having critical weaknesses. Water agencies have begun to focus on the feasibility of groundwater pumping and reliance on local reservoirs in the event an earthquake impairs use of the state’s major aqueducts. In addition, the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), the Earthquake Country Alliance and other organizations have undertaken public education programs to get the message out regarding disaster preparedness. It is hoped these programs will encourage the public to plan for a potential long-term disruption in water delivery and storage following a major seismic event.