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Story by:
George Edwardz
Rowland Heights, CA - Water customers of the La Habra Heights County Water
District descended upon Rowland Water District’s Headquarters to learn
more about a proposed water trafficking agreement, and whether it could
lead to an in water bills. Approximately 19 ratepayers, members of the
press and LHHCWD General Manager Mike Gualtieri attended the October 4th
regular meeting of the RWD Board. At issue was an item on the Board’s
agenda titled “Update on Proposed Water Production and Delivery
Agreement between La Habra Heights County Water District and Rowland Water
District.”
Controversy has surrounded the undisclosed agreement mainly due to the
water district’s refusal to release the agreement. They claimed it was a
draft and not subject to release under the California Public Records Act,
despite being presented to the Board as an agendized open session item at
a regular meeting. The agreement would have LHHCWD “wheeling”
(trafficking) water for neighboring RWD in exchange for $100,000 annually
and seven new fire hydrants along Fullerton Road. The hydrants would be
placed on the City’s eastside. The agreement also allows for 10 service
connections to existing customers.
Late Tuesday afternoon prior to the 6pm start of the Roland Water
Board’s meeting, the LHHCWD released an early draft version of the
agreement dated May 31, 2011 to Stephen Blagden, Editor of
LaHabraHeights.net. The “DRAFT” agreement would facilitate RWD to move
one acre-foot of water, which they purchased in October 2010. At that
time, RWD was in negotiations and subsequently purchased water rights from
CMPC Transition LLC for $5,000, effectively buying into what is know as
‘The Central Basin Judgment”. This gave the district a foot in the
door to purchase or lease more water from the same source that LHHCWD
utilizes. As a point of reference, an acre-foot of water equals 435 units
or approximately the amount that two La Habra Height’s households use in
a year.
Mr. Gualtieri, General Manage with LHHCWD, whose water district leases
between 200-300 acre feet of water said he would have “loved” the
opportunity to buy one acre foot of water for $5,000. However, he was not
aware of the rare offer to sell water rights within the Central Basin. Mr.
Gualtieri reportedly seeks and explores every opportunity to obtain
additional water rights, of which the district owns 2596 acre-feet. This
is in order to avoid buying higher priced Metropolitan Water District
water, estimated to be about $859 an acre-foot. LHHCWD, which on average
utilizes 2800 acre feet, makes up for the shortfall in water rights by
leasing water from various "pumpers" for between $60-$160 an
acre-foot.
Rowland water, which only owns one acre-foot, will have to seek additional
water rights or leased water in order to make the necessary infrastructure
improvements financially viable. Robert Lewis a Director with RWD stated
his district identified and has been assured the availability of up 2,000
acre-feet of water on the open market. Mr. Lewis, whose district is 100
percent dependent on imported water, estimated the cost of MWD water will
skyrocket to $1,000 an acre foot. That is why his district is seeking
other sources of water. But in doing so both water districts will be
competing for the same water rights and leased water purveyors.
Ratepayers in attendance at last night’s meeting fear that a bidding war
for water could drive up water rates for La Habra Heights and force the
water district to become dependent on imported water supplied from MWD.
“Why is our water board allowing this to happen when we don't have
enough water for ourselves” said one ratepayer. A Rowland official who
wished to remain anonymous said the district uses up to 16,000 acre-feet a
year and stated simply “ we just want to take sip”. Yet some believe
it’s more like a gulp.
Click here to view Rowland Water District
meeting (La Habra Heights Agreement)
Click here to view the September 27th
meeting of the La Habra Heights Water Board.
EOM
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