Hello,
I am often asked by
residents, "what is going on with our water?" This leads me to
believe many of you are wondering the same thing. Therefore I would like
to give you my current viewpoint on the situation, and encourage you to participate
in potential solutions. The Rolling Hills Citizen's Association is
now looking for volunteers to participate in one of four committees (see the
previous post). Even if you feel you do not have much to contribute, there is a
committee you can join to help spread the word to the residents who live next
to you.
Here is my take on our
current situation:
Are we going to get off
stage 3.5 "No Turf Watering" by this spring or summer?
I do not see that
happening, and here's why.
Basically there are 3
alternatives:
1) Stay with the
county
2) Privatize
3) Sell out to a large
water corporation.
At this time we cannot
get off restrictions this year with option 1 or 2 (details below), so that leaves option 3 as
the avenue which would get us off restrictions the fastest. However many people
are leery of selling out to a water corporation, losing so-called control,
and most would want that to be fully vetted. So that means no immediate
solutions. Therefore the board is asking for volunteers to help with the
vetting and to explore these options; including the county's financial
management of our funds, and the water bond debt. Will you please assist
us, and join one of the committees? (previous post, scroll down this page)
Below I give you a more
detailed explanation of we we are still in this situation (Water Restrictions):
- The State Waterboard and the County will not remove the
restriction, until we have a backup water source. The state
regulations say "community water systems, must meet peek water
demand during our highest month of demand" WITH IT'S TOP PRODUCING
WELL (SOURCE) OFF-LINE. This means that we have to find a backup source of
potable water, before getting off restrictions.
- The county states that our water system revenue is not
high enough to make any capital improvements, (like another well) and we
were already granted and emergency loan from the general fund last year to
rehab a well and get us back on-line from one well to two. This loan
helped us to get off the NO OUTDOOR WATERING (4) to Trees and Bushes only
via drip (3.5). This loan is still unpaid, and there will be no more
county loans until a rate study is completed and a rate increase is passed
on our water system via a 218 election. If there is no rate increase
passed, we will stay on restrictions; furthermore if one of our current
wells breaks down we will be back on No OUTDOOR WATERING (4); with no
further emergency loans until a rate increase is passed by the voters.
- As mentioned at the last association meeting in
January, we can not privatize our water system from the county, without
paying off the $3.1m bond debt first.
- The Gunner Well... The gunner well option Brett spoke of at the January meeting is an attempt at negotiating an agreement with Richard Gunner to use that well (existing) as a back up source. There are 2 issues with this: 1) References were made that if we were to gain access to that well, we may be required to approve the county to sell the system to Calwater.com; the company Gunner is negotiating with to run his wells. 2) Brett informs me that negotiations with Richard Gunner are currently at a stand still. In my opinion, regardless of getting the Gunner well or not, the county wants either the rate increase, to manage the long-term improvements we need, or to get us over to a water corporation; and release themselves of the burden. At this juncture, I don't see the majority of us ready to do either.
Now It's time for all of you who
want to help explore solutions, to get involved. Please contact the board member below who is leading the committee you are best suited for.
