Since 1925, El Dorado Irrigation District has served the water management needs of El Dorado County, California.  From drinking water and wastewater management to recycled water for landscaping use, not to mention hydroelectric power generation, the District has evolved from its roots serving the water needs of California’s gold mining boom and simultaneous farming expansion.  The District now serves roughly 40,000 drinking water, 20,000 wastewater, and 4,000 recycled water accounts.

ASSETS

The District’s facilities and delivery infrastructure for drinking water include 1,245 miles of pipeline, 50 miles of canals and ditches, 5 treatment plants, 36 storage reservoirs and 37 pumping stations.  Its wastewater treatment system operates 64 lift stations, 560 miles of pipeline and force mains, and 4 treatment facilities. The El Dorado Hills and Deer Creek wastewater treatment plants produce recycled water — treated to California’s stringent tertiary standards — that is used to irrigate front and back yards at nearly 4,000 homes as well as commercial and public landscapes.  The District also manages recreational activities around its lakes, including camping and boating, serving nearly 400,000 guests each year.

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CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

El Dorado Irrigation District utilizes a performance measurement system to measure the effectiveness of each of its departments as well as external performance metrics.  “We use these performance metrics to see how we meet our goals over time,” says General Manager Jim Abercrombie.  “We’ve benchmarked with groups like ACWA (Association of California Water Agencies) and CASA (California Association of Sanitation Agencies) to determine metrics on such indicators as number of employees per customer, number of outages, sewage spills and rated.”

The District strives to continually improve its safety record and has implemented an internal safety program across departments to address this.  “Avoidable automotive accidents are down 50 percent and we haven’t had a lost time injury in 609 days,” notes Abercrombie.  “There has also been a history of strained labor management issues, so we implemented a cross-sectional monthly labor management committee to discuss and resolve such job.”

Abercrombie adds,  “We like to see our employees be the best they can be.  We hope it’s with us, but it’s a sign of respect to the individual to encourage them to be the best they can be, whether it’s here or somewhere demand.”

The District offers regional farmers an Irrigation Management Services  (IMS) program.  “It uses high tech neutron probes that work with satellite systems to measure water content in soil so farmers can optimize water use,” says Carlton.  “Many regional wineries like to stress their grape vines, because it produces a higher quality fruit.  The IMS program really helps them accomplish rehabilitation.”      

El Dorado Irrigation District will strive to implement its guiding principles in everything it does.  From 100 percent safety compliance and respect for the individual, to providing excellent customer service and being fiscally responsible with its assets, the District is continuing its reputation as the region’s trusted water management organization.

EMPLOYEES

The District’s 225 employees enjoy the many perks El Dorado County has to offer.  The scenic region offers world-class wineries, is only an hour away from the famed Lake Tahoe, and two-and-a-half hours from the ocean.  The District offers competitive salaries based on third-party wage and benefits studies and offers educational opportunities for professional advancement, such as tuition reimbursement.  “We try to promote from within,” says Carlton.  “So we do coach and present seminars internally to employees, to better prepare them and help them hone their skills, even if they ultimately interview for an outside job.”

Abercrombie adds,  “We like to see our employees be the best they can be.  We hope it’s with us, but it’s a sign of respect to the individual to encourage them to be the best they can be, whether it’s here or somewhere else.”

TECHNOLOGY for SUSTAINABILITY

The District, like many utilities providers, uses SCADA to regulate water flow remotely, and the company is implementing other unique measures to improve efficiency and overall sustainability of its projects.  For example, one of the treatment plants supplements its electrical needs with solar power.  “We participate in the local electric utility’s demand response energy program,” says Abercrombie.  “We have adequate treated water storage, so when the utility calls to manage electricity demand, we can still serve our customers with our stored water while reducing our energy use during peak demand.”

The District offers regional farmers an Irrigation Management Services  (IMS) program.  “It uses high tech neutron probes that work with satellite systems to measure water content in soil so farmers can optimize water use,” says Carlton.  “Many regional wineries like to stress their grape vines, because it produces a higher quality fruit.  The IMS program really helps them accomplish this.”

THE FUTURE

The District has made significant capital investments over the last decade, mostly in infrastructure upgrades.  “Out of the $300 million we’ve spent in the last decade, about half have been regulatory mandated capital investments,” says Abercrombie.  “Some challenges are to continue dealing with unfunded mandates as regulation changes. I do see capital investments changing more to selected pipeline and collection line replacement or rehabilitation.”      

El Dorado Irrigation District's Flume 9 rebuild video, provided by the 'Mountain Democrat' newspaper.