Civil Engineer James Owens, center, asks for a show of hands regarding which local mutual water company representation during Wednesday's meeting at the Lucerne Valley Community Center.
By Peter Day
Staff Writer
LUCERNE VALLEY — The Jubilee and Gordon Acres mutual water companies are looking at consolidating, a move that could bring numerous benefits to customers, according to water experts participating in a public information meeting Wednesday.
Merging the systems would allow the companies to share resources such as equipment and pipelines, utilize larger water tanks, which would provide continuous water pressure, and enjoy more reliable fire suppression, according to James Owens, a civil engineer with NV5, a land surveying, engineering, and construction management company with a focus on water. The benefits would also lead to reduced risk for the entities, which would become one mutual water company, and even create an opportunity to obtain lesser expensive fire insurance premiums.
“It’s a little of safety in numbers,” said Owens, one of nearly 10 who spoke at the Lucerne Valley Community Center event. Wednesday’s meeting was spearheaded by Lucerne Valley resident Richard Selby, president of Jubilee and representative of the California Rural Water Association.
“They (Jubilee) are a very good company, a very well run company” said Gloria Eighme, secretary of the 62-year-old Gordon Acres Water Company. “We’re looking into it.”
While Jubilee and Gordon Acres are tossing around the idea of consolidation, other local mutuals are encouraged to join forces and reap the benefits.
“Other systems are welcome to join the discussion of water system consolidation,” said Owens.
With representatives of most of Lucerne Valley’s nine mutual water companies present, nearly 50 attendees listened experts such as Owens and Selby discuss the in’s and out’s of water systems. Other speakers included Matthew Howard of the Mojave Water Agency, who served as moderator, Dustin Hardwick of the CRWA, who joined Owens in the discussion about Lucerne Valley water systems and consolidation, Belinda Huy and David Alaniz of San Bernardino County Public Health who spoke from a regulatory perspective, and Bridget Chase and Brendi Pauli, of Financial Assistance of the State Water Resources Control Board.
Eighme talked about Gordon Acres Water Company’s previous challenges with obtaining grants to improve their water system. After trying for years, they had little luck actually getting funding. In 2013, their system hit a low point with 13 leaks popping up in a 10-day period.
But with the help of the CRWA, Gordon Acres Water, which was started in 1954 and currently with 43 active hookups, finally got the answers and hope they were looking for.
“We’re getting a grant,” Eighme said. “We’re going to get our system fixed.”
The upbeat tone changed during the questions and discussion portion of the meeting when two attendees, a father and his son, expressed skepticism in politicians and government.
“Whey don’t we drill wells for each individual home,” the older man said. “Why are you hoarding the water supply?”
“I’d rather maintain three wells connected to a system than 500 individual wells,” Howard answered, adding that the total draft would be the same.
The younger man suggested Los Angeles-area water purveyors wanted to grab hold of High Desert water — a la water infrastructure pioneer William Mulholland — and redirect it for their use. Howard suggested otherwise.
“There is no talk of water going to L.A.,” Howard said. “They’re will be no exporting of water.”
The final speaker during the Q&A segment was Tom Courtney, president of the Desert Springs Mutual Water Co. His company was not interested in consolidating with another, he said.
“We’re not interested in consolidating,” Courtney said. “We’re proud to be independent. We follow the rules. We maintain local control. The people in my water company are proud we control our water. Small water companies aren’t all in trouble.”
Moreover, according to Courtney, his small water company is capable of dealing with occasional problems by itself.
“I got a loan from my mom when we put the water lines in,” he said. “The company paid her back. We file our reports on time. I’m going to be talking to you about money (loans and grants), but I have no interest in consolidating.”
For more information on water district consolidation or other water-related questions, email Richard Selby at jubileewaterco@gmail.com.
Reporter Peter Day can be contacted at pday@vvdailypress.com.