Posted by: thepinetree on 10/28/2014 07:24 AM
Updated by: thepinetree on 10/28/2014 02:28 PM
Expires: 01/01/2019 12:00 AM
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CCWD Sets Aside Funds For Infrastructure Upgrades ~ By Don Stump
Arnold, CA...This is a section of pipe that was removed from the main water line in Arnold that blew out Wednesday night on Blagen Road. As you can see, this pipe is way past the end of its useful life. I'm excited that planning, engineering and permitting are almost completed so the Calaveras County Water District can replace this transmission line next summer. This 12-inch transmission line supplies water to a large number of homes and businesses in Arnold. This year alone, there have been four major blowouts in the pipe. That is just not acceptable. District staff has warned CCWD board members for the last 15 years that there are critical problems with pipes, pumps, tanks and facilities. When infrastructure failures occur, it’s inconvenient for our residential customers, but it’s especially difficult for customers who own commercial restaurants and places of lodging. CCWD staff strives to repair these infrastructure failures as quickly as possible, and I’m very proud of how hard they work to restore water service to our customers....
Last year, my board made the difficult decision to create a fund that can actually complete 5-to-6 million dollar replacement projects of this type each year, going into the future. In order to create this fund, my board had to make the difficult decision to raise rates. Everyone, including myself, hates rate increases. It’s crucial to remember that my board promised our ratepayers that every penny of that rate increases will go into the Renovation and Replacement Fund, forever. That fund can only be used to complete critical upgrades or replacement of infrastructure. I am proud of my board’s decision to implement long-term solutions to the District’s infrastructure challenges, instead of relying on continuous Band-Aids.
Don Stump, District 3 Director of the Calaveras County Water District
Contact Don Stump at donstump1@gmail.com
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