Our water is delivered to us by the
Solano Irrigation District SID. They own and run the irrigation canal
that runs along the southern boundary of the farm. Last week work
started on a big project to fix this 3.5 mile long leaky part of the
canal. The canal is first to be cleaned out then it will be lined with
concrete.
The leak is significant at about 4% of the water in the canal when it
is at maximum flow. This represents 2,700 gallons per minute which is
three times the amount of water we draw from the canal at any one time.
The cost is estimated to be one million dollars which is due to the
high cost of concrete and rebar.
The water is collected in Lake Berryessa and released into Lake Solano
when it is ordered by farmers. It travels along the many canals like
ours. Each canal is controlled by a water tender, ours is Robert. I
call him be before 2.30 pm on the day before we need the water and
place my order.
With all the taxes and fees we pay about $12,000 per year for the canal
water. We also pump from our own well for use in the pack house and
when we need lesser amounts of water in the field."
Our water is delivered to us by the
Solano Irrigation District SID. They own and run the irrigation canal
that runs along the southern boundary of the farm. Last week work
started on a big project to fix this 3.5 mile long leaky part of the
canal. The canal is first to be cleaned out then it will be lined with
concrete.
The leak is significant at about 4% of the water in the canal when it
is at maximum flow. This represents 2,700 gallons per minute which is
three times the amount of water we draw from the canal at any one time.
The cost is estimated to be one million dollars which is due to the
high cost of concrete and rebar.
The water is collected in Lake Berryessa and released into Lake Solano
when it is ordered by farmers. It travels along the many canals like
ours. Each canal is controlled by a water tender, ours is Robert. I
call him be before 2.30 pm on the day before we need the water and
place my order.
With all the taxes and fees we pay about $12,000 per year for the canal
water. We also pump from our own well for use in the pack house and
when we need lesser amounts of water in the field."