Sonoma Water was awarded a $1,930,181 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on May 9 2014 to install 14 isolation valves throughout more than 83 miles of the water transmission system. These valves will to reduce the risk of adverse impacts of pipeline failure/rupture due to ground shaking, fault rupture, liquefaction, and lateral spread caused by seismic events. The estimated project cost is $3,667,740, which the grant revenue will offset. This work will increase Sonoma Water’s operational capability to restore a reliable water supply, minimize risk to life and property, maximize the number of residents who can remain in service, and prevent water quality impairment that could likely result from a transmission pipeline failure immediately following a major seismic event. Construction began in October 2016.
Sonoma Water has prepared a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (Local Plan) to ensure that it could provide an uninterrupted supply of clean drinking water and water for fire-fighting and to minimize the potential for loss of life and property damage following a major natural disaster. A Local Plan approved by FEMA is a prerequisite for FEMA and other sources of funding, and must be updated, re-submitted, and approved by FEMA every five years. On January 8, 2008, the Board of Directors adopted Sonoma Water’s Local Plan, and on December 11, 2012, the Board of Directors adopted the 2012 Local Plan Update. The Local Plan identifies various projects as having the greatest importance to the community served by Sonoma Water.
View Project Presentation to the Water Advisory Committee 8/3/15