SPRING VALLEY — The Spring Valley water problem is as bad as originally thought, as made evident by a Redding consulting firm”s findings presented to the Board of Supervisors during its first followup meeting regarding that area”s water treatment issues.
The board adopted an emergency ordinance imposing a water moratorium on Spring Valley at its Sept. 5 meeting, after much heated debate and input from concerned residents.
The ordinance was adopted based on findings by the Lake County Special Districts office, which manages the water system in Spring Valley, that water usage in the district had reached treatment plant capacity in July.
It included a $6 dollar-charge per 100 cubic feet over the 600 cubic foot allotment, which would be imposed in addition to tier charges already in place on Spring Valley residents” water bills.
Spring Valley residents pressed the board for answers in September regarding the water plant”s capacity, what would be done to solve the problem long-term, and who was responsible for the changes.
Special Districts Director Mark Dellinger, absent from the September meeting, appeared before the board with consultant Jerry Dehn of CH2M HILL on Tuesday. Dehn presented the findings he compiled to the board, detailing recommendations for improvements to the treatment plant in order to accommodate growth over the next 20 years.
Dehn”s report states that the plant”s current 383,040 gallon-per-day treatment capacity would be exceeded at current maximum demand.
Maximum daily demand is calculated in the report at 1,040 gallons per day, which would accommodate 368 hookups. Spring Valley currently has 412 hookups.
Spring Valley residents again appeared before the board to offer input, bringing concerns regarding resident involvement in the decision-making process, along with old piping and rate increase.
“We don”t want to pay for new improvements (to the water system) when we need new pipes,” Spring Valley resident Cathy Jones.
Dellinger noted that pipe repair is currently estimated at $1.5 million, which Dehn said is to accommodate the improvements to the plant.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
