• An Advisory Vote was held on November 5, 2007 to determine whether the public supported the use of El Camino Park as a site for an underground reservoir. The advisory vote passed with 92% of the voters supporting the use.
• Owned by Stanford, El Camino Park is under long-term lease to the City of Palo Alto. On January 12, 2009 Council approved the recommendations in CMR 104:09  to sign an agreement with Stanford University on the terms and conditions for the easement rights to place the reservoir in El Camino Park. Five permanent easements were established to permit the construction, maintenance and operation of the reservoir, pump station, well and water supply pipelines. These easements are permanent and will only terminate upon the abandonment or non-use of the facilities for a period of two consecutive years.
• In addition to the new reservoir, well and pump station at El Camino Park, the Emergency Water Supply and Storage Project includes the construction of two new water production wells at Eleanor Pardee Park and the Main Library/Community Gardens. The Notice to Proceed for this project was issued to the design-builder on October 1, 2009 (CMR 371:09). Construction will begin on October 28, 2009. For additional information, please click here to visit the project website.

In November 2007, Palo Alto voters voiced their opinion on an advisory measure regarding whether an area under El Camino Park should be used for an underground water storage reservoir and well to supply the City of Palo Alto with water during an emergency. The existing pump station will be replaced with modern equipment in its same location, and all existing park facilities will be fully restored upon completion of construction. This advisory measure allowed voters to indicate their approval or disapproval of the ballot proposal that appeared on the November 6th, 2007 ballot.

On March 5th, 2007, City Council approved the construction of a new underground reservoir and well beneath El Camino Park and the replacement of the Utilities Department’s existing pump station (Lytton Station). These new facilities are components of the Emergency Water Supply and Storage Project. Council made its decision after evaluating the Final EIR for the project, the recommendations of the Planning and Transportation Commission and the Utilities Advisory Commission, and numerous reports by City staff.

Before selecting El Camino Park, City staff considered numerous potential reservoir, pump station and well sites in Palo Alto and Stanford.  In March of 2005, City staff presented an initial evaluation of the seven potential sites to representatives from the residential and business communities at focus group meetings. Using feedback from these meetings and information from City of Palo Alto Utilities staff, the City Council identified four sites for further consideration in the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process: El Camino Park, Town and Country Center and two in the vicinity of Stanford Shopping Center. These sites appeared to be viable due to many factors, such as their geographical location and elevation, proximity to existing water lines, and ability to accommodate an underground reservoir and well and nearby pump station.

The El Camino Park location has several advantages compared to the other sites considered:

• Placing the reservoir and well beneath El Camino Park will not displace or disrupt existing residences and businesses.
• Placing the reservoir and well beneath El Camino Park eliminates the need to construct a new pump station, since the existing pump station within El Camino Park will be replaced.  No additional park space will be used to replace the existing pump station.
• In addition, construction costs will be substantially reduced since placing the reservoir near Lytton Station allows for an efficient underground connection to the existing Lytton Station building, and eliminates the need to construct long runs of underground piping between the reservoir and pump station.
• Placing the new well and reservoir near the existing Lytton pump station building allows for replacement of its aging 1950’s-era equipment.
• Historically, the highest producing well sites have been in north Palo Alto near San Francisquito Creek. The closer a well is to this creek, the greater the chance that the well will be high yielding. El Camino Park is closer to the creek than two of the three  alternative reservoir and well sites.
• The use of  El Camino Park for the underground reservoir, well and pump station will not permanently impact current park uses, since all existing park facilities will be fully restored upon the completion of construction.
• No parking spaces will be permanently lost due to the use of El Camino Park for the underground reservoir, well and pump station.

Background on the Project

The City of Palo Alto does not have enough water to meet normal and emergency demands if the Hetch Hetchy aqueduct system shuts down. Therefore, as part of the necessary water system improvements identified in a report prepared for the City in 1999, the City needs to locate a site and construct a 2.5 million gallon underground water reservoir and pump station in Palo Alto to meet emergency water supply and storage needs. In addition to this water reservoir, the project includes the siting and construction of several emergency supply wells and the upgrade of five existing wells and the existing Mayfield Pump Station.

The City’s primary source of potable water, since 1962, has been the Hetch Hetchy aqueduct system, which has five connection points in various parts of the City. In addition to the water supply, the City maintains five water wells that have at times been used to add to the Hetch Hetchy supply in times of drought. The proposed new reservoir, like the City’s existing reservoirs, will store water for fire fighting and meeting short-term emergency demand.

Adding a new reservoir is critical to meet emergency demands in the City in the event that the Hetch Hetchy system shuts down. This recommendation is consistent with the minimum recommended level of service standards set by The California Department of Public Health (Formerly the Department of Health Services) and the Council-approved Utilities’ Strategic Plan, especially supporting the following:

• Key Strategy No. 1: Operate distribution systems in a cost effective manner. 
• Objective No. 1: Enhance customer satisfaction by delivery of valued products and services.
• Objective No. 2: Invest in utility infrastructure to deliver reliable service.

Once construction begins, Utilities staff will manage the design and construction of the facilities to meet the emergency water supply needs of Palo Alto. 

Project completion is targeted for 2012.

Project Milestones

March 5, 2007: The City Council held a public hearing to certify the adequacy of the Final EIR and authorize staff to proceed with the project. At this meeting Council decided to place an advisory measure on the November ballot. The advisory measure will asked voters whether they approve of locating the new reservoir, pump station and well in El Camino Park.

February 14, 2007: The Planning and Transportation Commission held a second public hearing to take comments from the public on the adequacy of the Final EIR.

February 8 to March 5, 2007: The FEIR was circulated for public review and comment. 

February 12, 2007: The Utilities Advisory Commission held a public meeting to review the EIR. 

November 29, 2006: The Planning and Transportation Commission held a public hearing to take comments from the public on the adequacy of the Draft EIR. See Presentation for more information. 

November 8, 2006 - December 22, 2006: The DEIR (PDF) was circulated for public review and comment during the 45-day review period commencing on Wednesday, November 8, 2006 and ending on Friday, December 22, 2006.

March 8, 2006: A public scoping meeting on the DEIR for the Emergency Water Supply and Storage Project was conducted at a special Utility Advisory Commission meeting. Public comment was accepted through March 13, 2006. (Minutes from Scoping Meeting)

February 6, 2006: The Notice of Preparation (PDF) was issued to the State of California, which formally marked the beginning of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) process for the Emergency Water Supply and Storage Project.

January 30, 2006: The City Council authorized (CMR:124:06) staff to proceed with the EIR.

March 2005: Two focus group meetings were held with invited participants from community and neighborhood groups, environmental groups and businesses. The purpose of the public involvement meetings was to elicit feedback from the community about staff’s general approach to the project and the location of potential reservoir and well sites.

November 1999: The Water Wells, Regional Storage, and Distribution System Study (1999 Study) analyzed the impact of a severe emergency on Palo Alto’s water distribution system. A large earthquake, for instance, could result in shutdown of the City’s main water supply, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) Hetch Hetchy water system, for as long as 60 days. Coupled with the need to extinguish multiple fires in the hours immediately following such an earthquake, the City’s water system would not be able to supply sufficient water to meet demands, even if extensive water conservation measures were implemented during the disaster. The study concluded that the best way to provide for basic water needs would be to implement a dual approach to augmenting the City’s existing emergency water supply by constructing and underground 2.5 million gallon reservoir with pump station; rehabilitating up to five (5) existing water wells, constructing a total of three (3) new wells, and upgrading the existing Mayfield Pump Station.