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Yes. Groundwater generated during the well development, pumping tests, and start up events can be captured and repurposed if need.

No, this project will not change the way water drains from the site. There will only be minimal disturbance to soil during construction. Drainage patterns at the project site would remain essentially the same as they currently exist. The project would result in only a minor increase in impermeable surfaces associated with the well treatment...

The proposed well has several design considerations that will alleviate concerns regarding groundwater depletion and impacts to nearby building foundations. First, the well will be drilled to a depth of approximately 500 feet and pull water from an aquafer this is located in a deep, hard rock formation. Second, the well will be lined with...

The Initial Study completed for the project did not identify significant unavoidable environmental impacts that would warrant a more comprehensive study such as an Environmental Impact Report. The Initial Study determines the appropriate level of compliance document, and in this case, a Mitigated Negative Declaration was deemed the appropriate document.

An Initial Study is a preliminary analysis prepared by the lead agency to determine whether the project may cause a significant environmental impact and weather an environmental impact report (EIR) or negative declaration (ND) must be prepared. An Initial Study facilitates environmental review early in the design of a project, enables mitigating adverse impacts, and...

CEQA requires public agencies to “look before they leap” and consider the environmental consequences of their discretionary actions. CEQA is intended to inform government decisionmakers and the public about the potential environmental effects of proposed activities, to identify ways environmental effects can be avoided or reduced, and to disclose an agency’s decision-making process and to...

Anyone can review the Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration to learn more about the project and how it was determined to not have significant environmental impacts through mitigation measures. The CEQA document is available for public review online at https://cityofpetaluma.org/capital-improvements-program/. The public is also invited to a community meeting that will be held at...

Because this project did not have significant impacts, direct notices were not sent to neighbors. Instead, the typical public noticing requirements CEQA guidelines was completed as noted in the FAQ that discusses noticing requirements.

The Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration completed for this project determined that with implementation of mitigation measures, the project would not have significant environmental impacts. Therefore, staff did not hold a community meeting.

The noticing requirements are based on what the study identifies in terms of possible environmental impacts - the more significant the impacts, the more noticing required. In the case of this project, several notices were required and completed. Notifications were sent to: Tribal representatives of California Native American tribes  The Public Responsible trustee agencies  regulatory...

When the City Council considers an action related to how a project will affect the environment, the noticing and public meeting requirements are tailored to the size and impact of the project. The City will be hosting a community meeting at the project site on August 11, 2022 from 6 pm to 8 pm. The...

Currently, we are in the planning stage of the project, which includes confirming that the project meets the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). An Initial Study has been completed and it has been determined that, through mitigation measures, this project would not negatively impact the environment.    As we continue to work through...

A location on Paula Lane and on Magnolia Open Space were considered. These locations lack the needed infrastructure to connect to our current water system.  These sites are connected to the city’s Zone 2 of the City’s water distribution system, which is much smaller and has lower demand than Zone 1. However, these locations may...

Oak Hill has historically been a water storage location in Petaluma. As such, needed land, existing utilities, and connections to the distribution system are already in place to support a well. In addition, the Oak Hill site is the only site connected to the city’s Zone 1 distribution system, which encompasses the majority of the...

Yes, a diluted chlorine solution (similar to household bleach) used to treat the water will be stored in the well building. A dedicated drainage system on-site is designed to contain any spillage or waste from the site.

The overall project should take approximately three to four months for completion, with the drilling of the well being a portion of that time. The well itself will be underground with only a small vault structure or decorative well cap at ground level for access and maintenance activities. In the current plans, a small well...

The City of Petaluma is working to enhance our ability to supplement our water supply with local groundwater when needed. Some short- and long-term situations that can limit our supply of water or require more water than we typically receive include:  Infrastructure failures such as broken pipes  Extreme drought  Large-scale disasters such as wildfires  Several...

Located at 35 Park Avenue, this project will install a new municipal groundwater well to provide local water to Petaluma residents. This project will provide water generated from a well located in the western portion of the City.