Progress Progress Progress
Activity has been both brisk and productive this year with two priority Master Plan Projects budgeted for 2009- 2010. Master Plan Projects are those improvements that directly benefit and upgrade services or technology of the District’s water, sewer, or fire departments.
PROJECT #1: (CLAWA CONNECTION)
An emergency water connection with the Crestline-Lake Arrowhead Water Agency (CLAWA) at the intersection of Deep Creek Drive and Deer Lane is being upgraded to ensure availability of extra water flow in case of water shortages or extreme threat of fire. This connection, valve, and pump station will be connected to the CLAWA water supply which receives all their water from Lake Silverwood and the State water aqueduct. Our district will be able to turn on/off this connection whenever necessary to meet the water needs of the district. After the Slide Fire of 2007, the Board of Directors prioritized this project to the front burner of the list of Master Plan Projects planned for the district. Completion of this project at an estimated cost of $265,390 is expected to be completed by December.
PROJECT #2: (REHAB OF OLD WELL #2)
Re-drilling of District Well #2 was approved for construction this year to see if this 1954 vintage shallow well of 70 feet could be deepened and produce water again. The well had been shut down in 1983 for lack of water. The purpose of this project was to establish the possibility of obtaining additional water and if water was found, convert the well to a full production well once again. The district hired Harich Enterprises of Arrowbear to rehab the well located on Garlock Drive enclosed in a district warehouse building.
First, the warehouse building had to come down. Then John Harich and his equipment came in and went to work. The old well was dry at 80ft; drilled to 100ft, dry. Down to 200ft and still dry; then down to 238ft and EUREKA, WATER! John hit an enormous amount of water, perhaps as much as 250gpm, a real find for mountain wells. Excited as we are, this water source will still need to be thoroughly tested and approved by the California State Health Department before being placed on line for our customer use.
The District sells a small percentage of water to our neighbors at the Running Springs Water District. With this production of water from old well #2, we will be able to provide additional water to Running Springs for additional income plus have this available water resource for our own district. A “Win-Win” situation!
ADDITIONAL DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS…
This past spring an upgraded invoicing program was introduced that shows a usage history graph on the billing invoices as well as an information box showing the amount of savings customers will realize when they pay their water bill on time. Additionally, as a convenience, credit card payments are now being accepted for paying your water bills over the phone or in person if desired.
Also, the District will soon be offering an automatic bill pay option (ACH) for direct payments from your bank to ours for those customers who like to pay their water bills with this feature.
The Fire Department is actively training the volunteer staff to keep current on latest safety and firefighting procedures. Grants are submitted annually for financial assistance with needed equipment and upgrades at the department. And a search is being made to look for a newer, surplus fire engine to replace our older 1971 secondary engine.
And finally did you know that Arrowbear Park Water District was highlighted in the June 12, 2009 edition of the Mountain News newspaper for having “the least expensive water supplied to customers…” when compared to the other water districts on the mountain. Certainly a highlight for which we are all proud of!
Please know that these highlights are just a few of many improvements planned by our present Board of Directors and Staff. More are on the way. If you have any questions pertaining to these or any other planned improvements for our water, sewer, or fire departments, please contact our General Manager, Mike Scullin. He will be happy to answer any of your questions. And you are always welcome to attend our monthly Board Meetings on the 2nd Friday of each month at 6:30pm at the district office.
Look for more “Waterline” newsletters to come in the future.
Thank you,
Board of Directors, Public Relations Committee