Study of the Wadi Al-Qamar water area earthquake

The Valley of the Moon Water District conducts a seismic risk assessment to find out which aspects of the valley's water system are most vulnerable to damage from earthquakes.

The 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Humboldt County on December 5 was a sobering reminder of the dangers of living near fault lines, not only to residents, but also to critical infrastructure.

The Valley of the Moon Water District is taking the threat seriously by conducting a seismic risk assessment to see which aspects of the valley's water system are most vulnerable to damage from earthquakes.

VOMWD has managed and operated Sonoma Valley's water systems since 1962. The primary source of water is Russian River water purchased from the Sonoma County Water Agency. Water is pumped over 30 miles via a closed underground aqueduct. Another source for the area is local groundwater.

The District first began a local hazard mitigation process in June of 2020 to identify potential impacts of natural disasters on the Valley's water system and find ways to prepare for them. Earthquakes are one of these risks.

Sonoma Valley lies just a few miles east of the Rodgers Creek Fault, with the San Andreas Fault to the west and the Hayward Fault to the south, each capable of shaking earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater, according to the USGS.

Through the seismic risk assessment, VOMWD will be able to see which parts of the valley's water system are most at risk of damage during an earthquake and what impacts it could have on its services.

“Every water system is different, and every geographic area is different in terms of fault lines and terrain and how that will affect seismicity, pipes, reservoirs, booster stations, etc.,” said Matthew Fuller, VOMWD General Manager. “There are different types of methodologies you can take to respond to those things and help identify them.”

VOMWD is consulting with Infra Terra Inc. San Francisco-based Engineering to conduct the assessment, which is scheduled to take about 18 months and is scheduled to be completed sometime in 2026. Some of the seismic assessment procedures include general and structural data collection, vulnerability tests and landslide risk assessments.

The contract with Infra Terra Inc. will be presented. The VOMWD Board of Directors will seek formal approval at its December 10 district meeting.

Infra Terra Inc. estimated That the seismic assessment project must not exceed $244,146.

Instead of applying for funding through FEMA or another organization, the district is paying for the assessment, with plans to qualify for a larger grant from FEMA, which will fund about 75% of the costs of any construction work required for seismic strengthening.

“It's very important that you actually study your specific system seismically to make sure you're identifying the correct hardening mechanisms,” Fuller said. “The really expensive part is the construction, where we will actually be seeking grant funding and will be more competitive about that.”

As the project progresses, VOMWD board members and staff will learn more about the system's vulnerabilities as well as how to effectively apply for a FEMA grant and ensure they can fully meet seismic hardening requirements without significant impact on service to customers.

“Any time we do a capital project, we strive to minimize customer impact and we are very good at that,” Fuller said. “I think we won't have much of an impact…the vast majority of people won't have any idea this is happening.”

You can reach Staff Writer Isabel Beer at 707-933-2734 or [email protected]. On X (Twitter) @IsabelSongBeer

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