agenda city of watsonville city council/redevelopment agency meeting

#8. Describe the service area of the supplier (10631(a)).
Service Area and Physical Description
Watsonville is located along the Monterey Bay between Santa Cruz and Monterey, in the County of
Santa Cruz. The City lies in the heart of the Pajaro Valley, surrounded by prime agricultural land and
wetlands. Water is an integral component throughout the Watsonville environs. Five small lakes are
located near the city’s northern and eastern boundary. The City is bounded by Corralitos Creek to the
north, Salisipuedes Creek to the east, and the Pajaro River to the south. The Pajaro River forms the
boundary between Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties. Several small creeks and sloughs meander
through the city and extend to the south and west of Highway 1, which form what is referred to as the
Watsonville Slough System.
When the City of Watsonville was named after Judge John H. Watson and incorporated in 1868, it was a
small settlement of less than 1,000 residents. It has since grown to a city of over 51,000 in 2010 (source:
US Census Bureau).
The water system originated in 1877 when water was piped from the Corralitos area to a reservoir on
Whiskey Hill (now Freedom Reservoir on Freedom Boulevard.). It served the small community of
Watsonville under the name of the Watsonville Water and Light Company until the City acquired it in
1927.
In 1931 a slow sand filtration plant was constructed in Corralitos to filter the raw water coming from
Corralitos and Browns Creeks. By 1979, the water system had grown to closely represent its current
state. It consisted of 8 pressure zones, 10 wells, 8 storage facilities, over 100 miles of pipeline, and a
slow sand filter water treatment plant. Today, the City's water service area is larger than the City limits,
extending into the unincorporated areas of Santa Cruz County. These areas include parts of Freedom
and Corralitos. The service area consists of 9 hydraulic pressure zones, 14 wells, 8 reservoirs and water
storage facilities, 9 booster stations, over 150 miles of pipelines, and a slow sand filter water treatment
plant. Today, the City's regional water system delivers to a population of over 65,000 customers.
Climate
#9. (Describe the service area) climate (10631(a)).
Watsonville has a northern Mediterranean coastal climate, with dry, mild summers and cool winters.
The annual average precipitation in Watsonville is 23.27 inches, while precipitation in the nearby Santa
Cruz Mountains averages approximately 50 inches per year. Table 2.1 provides Eto 1 , rainfall and
temperature information for the Watsonville area.
1 Eto, Evapotranspiration, is used to indicate how much water is required per month to properly account for soil
moisture loss via plant growth and plant moisture evaporation
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