Keene Water District
246 Powers Road
Keene, CA 95127

To Airport Planning Committee,

        Thank you for contacting us about projected water needs for the Keene Airport. Below we have summarized the water services we currently provide and expected needs for your project.

        The city of Keene provides water services for its 127,000 residents and non-city residents in the regional radius of 50 miles. Overall, about 249,000 people are served. Keene Water District provides water treatment and distribution facilities for the entire region, excluding some private wells dug and managed by farmers in the region.

        Keene Water District delivers potable water supplies through its pressurized distribution system. This system includes one 3-level water treatment plant, a small holding reservoir, 210 miles of pipeline, and four wells with corresponding pumping stations. All city water is filtered and treated to meet health standards. The city obtains 2,200 acre-feet per year from four wells with an average depth of 125 feet. The nearby reservoir retains an additional 81,000 acre-feet of water storage during average years of precipitation. Drought years may empty it to an average of 50,000 acre-feet per year.

        Keene Airport would increase water needs by an additional twenty percent. The region uses an average of 62,000 acre-feet of water per year. An increase of twenty percent would raise usage to 74,400 acre-feet per year. In drought years, the airport-induced need could not be met by existing facilities. Precipitation patterns from the past thirty years have shown drought conditions to be present eight out of thirty years. The last significant drought was recorded between the years of 1987 and 1990. The reservoir was at 40 to 60 percent capacity during that period. A full capacity recovery was made by April 1993.

        Keene Water District is concerned about maintaining constant and consistent water supplies to the planned airport. We are proposing working with the airport on the following projects, in order to increase water availability and prevent any problems with water use during drought years.

• To provide new water, one of the following:
  

  Dig a well and pump system in vicinity of airport Lay pipeline and purchase water to be pumped from a neighboring district

• Build water treatment facilities for the gallons of human waste generated every day, as well as industrial waste including fuel spills
• Install toilets, sinks, and other water-using devices that allow for water conservation

        We are happy to work with you as the Keene Airport planning progresses. Please contact us for further assistance.

        Sincerely,
                Andrew Doser
                KWD President