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Story and Photo
Courtesy: LaHabraHeights.net
La Habra Heights, CA -
An agreement to construct a pipeline between two Water Districts could
provide water to a stalled Aera Energy housing project east of Harbor
Blvd.
Aera Energy, which has proposed a controversial plan to construct as many
as 3500 new homes in what is now open space, may not “hold water”.
Details in a developing story suggest The Rowland Heights Water District
may not have enough water to service Aera Project without the help of the
La Habra Heights County Water District.
Water has historically been the key or roadblock to development.
In the September 15, 2011 La Habra Journal, Board President Brad Cooke is
quoted saying,
"...
We have begun a couple of interesting negotiations with neighboring water
companies."
At a September 13th Special Meeting of the La Habra Heights County Water
District, the Board discussed final revisions to a water production and
delivery agreement with Rowland Water District.
The agreement is for supplying the neighboring District with water
via a new pipeline to be constructed on Fullerton Rd, north and east of
East Rd. Responding to a Board
question about any concerns he may have, the Water District's Attorney
said, "It's unusual for a small district to use almost half its
capacity to serve another district."
The LHH Water District has spent millions of dollars in recent years
upgrading the infrastructure and installing a two million gallon storage
tank at the top of Skyline Drive. The reservoir was described in the Water
District 2005 Master Plan as being needed for providing water to residents
for emergency storage and for fires. Providing or delivering water to
neighboring districts was not disclosed to residents and ratepayers.
It was implied during the discussion that the LHH Water District would
make a profit on the water delivery.
The Board voted 5-0 to approve changes to the Agreement and moved forward.
Rowland
Water District serves about 13,000 customers in Rowland Heights and
Hacienda Heights including large industrial accounts in the City of
Industry. They get almost all their potable water from the Colorado River
and State Water Project via the Metropolitan Water District. MWD water is
among the most expensive sources. This source has become limited in recent
years with drought and water pumping restrictions due to the Delta Smelt
fish.
State Law requires a developer to prove that sufficient water capacity
exists to serve a project before the project can be approved. In 2007,
Rowland Water District completed a study showing it would be able to
provide water to the 3000-acre, 3500 homes & Commercial AERA
Development east of Harbor Blvd, using MWD sources and installing recycled
water.
However, by 2008 a Rowland Water District Certificate of Participation
filing for a Recycled Water Project stated the need for alternative water
supplies, "to increase water supply reliability and offset future
cost increases."
In a June 2011 Regulatory Filing, Rowland Water District identified two
alternative water projects that would both require going through La Habra
Heights.
Potable
(drinking) Water Production and Delivery from Cal Domestic Water Company
• Construct a booster station at existing CDWC property in the
City of La Habra, East Whittier Blvd., between Shelburne Street
and Palm Street.
• Construct an additional booster station at abandoned Old
Fullerton Rd. and Harbor Blvd. in the City of La Habra Heights.
• Construct a pipeline from the booster station at CDWC property
to the second pump station, continuing north on Harbor Blvd. to
the RWD facilities at Harbor and Pathfinder.
Potable Water Production and Delivery
from La Habra Heights County Water
District to RWD.
Construct a pipeline in Old Fullerton Rd. from East Rd. in the City
of La Habra Heights to RWD facilities at Old Fullerton and Harbor.
According to City of La Habra Heights Staff, only preliminary inquiries
have been made at the City’s public works office and City Officials have
not been informed about the water projects. A 2002 Citywide survey for the
General Plan showed 70% of residents wanted the City to oppose the Aera
development. It is unclear why La Habra Heights Water District Board
members would want to directly or indirectly facilitate development
surrounding the City.
Voters may have the final say in the upcoming Water Board election to be
held November 8th. Current members Pam McVicar and Mark Perumean, both
initially appointed to their seats by other Board members, and elected
member Robert Wilson are running. Ironically, Judy Hathaway-Francis chose
to run at the last minute, concerned that no one else was running and
there would be no election.
Hathaway-Francis, a Heights Councilwomen for 13 years, was known as the
only stalwart opposition on the Council to the proposal to turn Powder
Canyon into a large housing development in the early 1990's. She voted in
favor of it going to a vote of the residents who voted to preserve what
today is known as Powder Canyon. Ms. Hathaway-Francis has been a
consistent supporter of open space and opposes the Aera project.
One vote against the project would not be enough if the Water Board voted
to work with Rowland Heights which ultimately would supply the Aera
project with water. That decision would have to be overturned by a
referendum, lawsuit, or recall election of Board members.
A
Public Records Request for additional information about the Water District
Agreement has not been filed as of this writing. Inquires at Rowland Water
District both in person and on the phone have gone unanswered.
What remains unclear is how this will impact water reserves and
reliability for La Habra Heights’ residents.
The Water District Board will meet September 27, 2011 at 4PM in the
Water District office building next to City Hall.
It is open to the public; ratepayers will have an opportunity to
speak.
EOM
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