Overview

In 2021, the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) began the process of updating the State Well Standards, known as Bulletin 74, which was last updated in 1991. Upon completion of the update, Bulletin 74 will be submitted to the State Water Resources Control Board for adoption into a Statewide Model Well Ordinance. 

DWR has formed a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) as part of the Bulletin 74 update. A member of the MCWRA staff was selected to participate on the TAC and is able to serve as a liaison between MCWRA's stakeholders and the TAC. 

TAC Process and Focus Groups

The TAC process is designed to occur in two phases; each phase involves meetings of several small focus groups of TAC members that discuss specific aspects of the Well Standard. The first phase occurs from March to June 2021 and the second from November 2021 to February 2022.

Focus group topics for the first phase include: Water Well Siting and Design, Sealing Materials and Placement, Large Diameter Infiltration/Recharge Wells, Non-Vertical Wells, and Destruction. Focus group topics for the second phase include: Water Wells, Monitoring Wells, Cathodic Protection Wells, and Geothermal Heat Exchange Wells. 

 MCWRA's TAC representative has been assigned to the Water Well Siting and Design focus group for phase 1 and the Water Wells focus group for phase 2. 

Opportunities for Public Participation

MCWRA staff will provide regular updates on the project to BMAC and the MCWRA Board of Directors. Meeting summaries and discussion questions from the TAC Focus Group will be shared. Responses to the Focus Group questions or other input from Committee members, Directors, and the public will be provided to the TAC. 

Meetings of the TAC and Focus Groups are live-streamed on YouTube. Please contact MCWRA's TAC representative for information on accessing the meetings. 

Members of the public may participate directly by:

• Emailing comments to MCWRA's TAC representative 
• Signing up for email updates from DWR
• Submitting comments directly to DWR using their online comment portal or via email
• Providing comments on the public review draft of Bulletin 74 when it is released in Fall 2022
• Visiting DWR's webpage for the Bulletin 74 update

Meeting Materials

TAC Kickoff Meeting Summary (March 1, 2021)

Presentation to BMAC (April 7, 2021)

Monterey County Water Resources Agency
1441 Schilling Pl., North Bldg., Salinas, CA 93901

    Phone (831) 755-4860   |   FAX (831) 424-7935   |   After Hours (831) 796-1166

Email: mcwater@countyofmonterey.gov