By land and sea

EBMUD wants to recharge deep aquifer near San Leandro; Port's turning basins may widen; Pleasanton's drinking water dilemma; A's to Vegas still uncertain; BLee threatens MLB's anti-trust exemption

COUNTY NEWS

EAST BAY MUD

—DEEP WATER—Some San Leandro and San Lorenzo residents are worried about a proposed East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD) project that seeks to inject treated water into a large aquifer near the bay.

—If the plan is greenlighted, the stored water would only be tapped by EBMUD as a last resort in the event of an extensive drought, district officials said.

—In recent months there has been growing concerns among residents near the site known as the Bayside Facility. Among the worries is ground rising or sinking because of the injection or extraction of water from the aquifer could compromise the stability of their homes.

—The deep aquifer is about 600 feet deep and runs beneath Oakland and cities to the south. The aquifer is well-suited for storage because it’s protected by a thick layer of clay.

—Water in the deepest part of the aquifer, closest to the bay in San Leandro and San Lorenzo has been found to be suitable drinking water, EBMUD officials said.

—The Bayside Facility on Grant Street in San Lorenzo can store around 500 million gallons of water. The well is currently located on Oro Loma Sanitary District land. EBMUD’s lease at the location ends in 2024, necessitating a replacement well be built on nearby land owned by the public utility.

—EBMUD says data collected since 2008 by the U.S. Geological Survey has found very little evidence of land subsidence, the gradual sinking of surface ground.

—Some of the questions being raised are coming from the nearby Heron Bay housing development in San Leandro. Over the years, the Heron Bay Homeowners Association has proven to be political active…

MORE INSIDE:

• More on the EBMUD Bayside Facility opposition

• Recommendation for Port’s Howard Terminal turning basin

• Pleasanton’s drinking water issues

• Las Vegas ballpark bill still uncertain after lengthy hearing

• BLee threatens baseball’s coveted federal anti-trust exemption