Santa Rosa, Calif. wastewater shortage could hurt farmers

August 2008

U.S. Water News Online

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — Santa Rosa water officials say California's driest spring on record could even hurt farmers who rely on once-abundant supplies of recycled wastewater. Santa Rosa utilities director Miles Ferris says the city's supply of highly treated wastewater will likely run out by the end of August.

Typically farmers depend on the wastewater for irrigation through mid-October. But a lack of rain this spring forced farmers to begin irrigating up to two months earlier than usual.

Santa Rosa provides wastewater clean enough to be used on vegetables and vineyards for about 6,000 acres of farmland and other lands. Farmers say the shortage could cost them $20,000 a month to substitute alfalfa hay for irrigated pasture.

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