For a group of local Realtors, well owners and property owners,
April 1 gave way to an eye-opening experience. The troupe
– in a quest for edification – were driven around South County
on a tour of the ins and outs of the area’s unique system of
reservoirs, pumping stations, a treatment plant and Anderson
Reservoir.
For a group of local Realtors, well owners and property owners, April 1 gave way to an eye-opening experience. The troupe – in a quest for edification – were driven around South County on a tour of the ins and outs of the area’s unique system of reservoirs, pumping stations, a treatment plant and Anderson Reservoir.
“This is something I believe is necessary for the community,” said Cy Mann, the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s at-large board member who was appointed to replace retired Sig Sanchez. “I want it to be clear. And get rid of assumption. People should have access to the information.” He’s compiling a South County water handbook with information ranging from perchlorate to preservation to distribute to libraries, city council buildings, the local high schools – any place where the public has access.
The tour was Mann’s idea, too. He’s a rancher by trade who has served on several committees and boards focused on South County water and land, but he said he wanted to “see, touch and feel first-hand” how the water system functions.
“It was impressive to see how they did things and understand, with any job, there’s a lot more to see than the public knows,” said Leonette Stafford, who along with her husband Tony, attended the field trip, are real estate partners in Morgan Hill and owners of a well that is shared among four properties. The Staffords waded through the eight-hour tour asking questions and airing their concerns, particularly about the redrawing of boundaries in South County.
“We don’t have the same voice, but it affects us most,” Stafford said about having just one representative on the water district board for an area with singular needs and the largest geographical area.
Two water district staff, Ray Yep, a water utility operations division manager and Keith Whitman, a water supply manager, went along for the ride with four residents. The day began at 7:30 a.m. at the Santa Clara Valley Water District headquarters in San Jose, with stops at San Luis Reservoir and pumping station, Coyote pumping station, Anderson, Madrone Channel groundwater recharge facility, Calero Reservoir and the Santa Teresa Water Treatment Plant.
“We had a full day of going to these places and along the way we provided factual information and handouts with information on how they function, and (we were) able to answer questions along the way,” Yep said.
Morgan Hill resident and Realtor Shanna Boigon, was pleased to be invited and said she was serving as a representative for South County residents with two questions in mind: Why have the pump fees increased so much over time? And, will South County be represented fairly once the district is redrawn?
“I don’t feel like we got answered: Why such a huge jump?” Boigon said. “They said it was because of the costs to bring water in and retrofitting. The landowners are already paying for the pump and well. It’s not really clarified in my mind.”
The groundwater pump tax is applicable to both home and business water users, and agricultural properties, at $275 per acre foot and $16.50, respectively. The $275 charge has increased 1,150 percent since the 1987 fee of $22. The average monthly water bill for Morgan Hill residents is $29.16, according to the water district and $21.18 for Gilroy residents. The figure is based on a home’s average monthly use of 1,500 cubic feet of water or about 11,250 gallons of water. A 10-minute shower uses about 25 gallons of water.
Boigon said she was impressed with the water district’s system to transport water where it’s needed in South County, as well as the water district employees. Much was learned on the tour, the locals said, such as how the 12 gigantic vertical-reaching pumps in San Luis Reservoir can supply water to San Benito and Santa Clara counties, how Frank “the dam master” Maitski works with engineers to ensure Anderson Dam is earthquake-safe, and how intricate and complicated a system it is to treat water to make sure it’s safe for use at the Santa Teresa treatment plant.
“We went away having more understanding and compassion,” Leonette Stafford said. Yet, the underlying grumbles from many South County water watchdogs remain: “There are huge concerns for redistricting.”
The final advisory committee meeting is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. At the meeting, the committee will look at the six maps that are up for consideration, as well as two new maps. It is the last redistricting committee meeting before the maps go to the water board, which plans to adopt new boundaries April 27.
DETAILS:
What: Santa Clara Valley Water District committee will examine, discuss redrawing boundaries
When: 6 – 8 p.m. Tuesday
Where: 5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose
Details: Meeting is open to the public, for more information go to www.valleywater.org.
View the redistricting maps at http://www.valleywater.org/About/RedistrictingMaps.aspx.
