Walton water debate: Residents need to make informed water decision

The city is placing factual information in the hands of residents of the Walton-Hillcrest Water service area regarding options for improvements to the water quality and service in this area of the community.

Ultimately, the residents of the area will be given the right to vote on any proposal brought forward by the city. The law requires no less.

The infrastructure conditions in the annexed areas have been in need of improvement for some time. However, these areas of deferred maintenanceneed to be improved regardless of whether they are in city or countyjurisdiction. With the current city-county agreement, development cannot occur in the sphere of influence without annexation. This agreement is helping the city control both future growth and to address our roadway and utility needs. However, the future development in the southwest area of the city is neither dependent on, nor predicted by, improvements to the Walton-Hillcrest Water System.

The city acquired the Hillcrest Water Company from a private interest in year 2000. This private water system had little investment beyond that absolutely necessary to keep the water flowing. Since acquisition, the city has maintained this water system at a higher level of service than the private owner. The current Walton-Hillcrest Water System is not sustainable without major improvements. This system was not designed for water filtration to meet the new federal arsenic standards nor was it designed to address the rising level of nitrates in this area of town.

In addition, due to the age of the wells we are experiencing failures, this will affect water pressure and fire flows in the Walton-Hillcrest area as wells are taken out of service.

Options for improving the existing water system will be presented to Walton-Hillcrest area residents as part of the educational process.

However, the city is not proposing to blend or otherwise use the Walton-Hillcrest wells to support the main city surface water system. If the city were to propose the use of ground water to supplement its surface water needs. If needed in the future, we would likely drill new wells in an area of the community with lower levels of contaminates than afforded in the Walton-Hillcrest area.

The bonds, or loan, for the expansion of the city's water treatment plant are secured based on a combination of development impact fees and surface water rates. These bonds are not at risk and have several years of reserves in already collected development impact fees. However, the cost to fix the Walton-Hillcrest Water could impact all city water customers under the scenario proposed by a group of Walton-Hillcrest water users. This group advocates that it is the responsibility of the entire city to pay for the improvements to the Walton-Hillcrest Water System. While I do not support this position, such a proposal would cost to each home in Yuba City in excess of $1,000 each to repair a water system from which they derive no benefit. This would include the residents in Tierra Buena who paid to join the City Surface Water System a few years ago.

This is an important issue for the residents of the Walton-Hillcrest area; as such, I encourage respectful participation and debate of the issues by all involved parties. Hopefully, the voters in the Walton-Hillcrest area will take advantage of the opportunity to learn about all the facts regarding their water system so they can make an informed decision on the options available to them.

Steven Jepsen is Yuba City city manager.