Dear Editor, Groundwater in South County is a precious resource
that everyone needs. The recent letter from Eagle Ridge Golf Course
and Country Club’s general manager deserves comment.
South County residents pay some of the lowest water rates in California
Dear Editor,
Groundwater in South County is a precious resource that everyone needs. The recent letter from Eagle Ridge Golf Course and Country Club’s general manager deserves comment. Eagle Ridge’s operation – which is extremely water intensive – is much different than the average residence or business. For example, their 2009 water usage was 483 acre-feet – or a whopping 157,458,000 gallons. That’s the amount a community of about 4,000 to 5,000 people would use in one year.
Residents in South County pay some of the lowest rates for water in California. An average household on an average residential lot with a domestic well pays about $10 a month in South County for Santa Clara Valley Water District services. Other charges may be added if you have a municipal or private water retailer and charges may be higher if you have a very large lot and use more water. That’s fair.
South County’s water supply is a managed resource. About two-thirds of it comes from imported water and local water captured in reservoirs, which the water district uses to replenish or refill the groundwater basins. Groundwater charges pay for this and a complex infrastructure of pipelines, canals, percolation ponds and other programs that secure and protect our water supply. This integrated system, managed by the water district, ensures that South County has a reliable supply of water for homes and businesses.
Beau Goldie, CEO, Santa Clara Valley Water District
Water district provides a safety net for all South County residents
Dear Editor,
Where were you when the perchlorate crisis hit in 2003? Just as unexpected and alarming as an earthquake, Santa Clara Valley Water District turned on the sirens and headed south for the sake of health and safety of South County residents.
As a very happy resident of Morgan Hill, I feel it necessary to gently remind everyone of the panic that rolled through Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy with the finding of perchlorate contamination in our groundwater just a little over six years ago. The initial mere thought that South County could not drink or cook with the contaminated water had a painful impact on many lives. I wonder if many people recall the imminent threat of plummeting property values that began to send sheer panic throughout this region.
I recall the sudden relief when the “first responders” appeared at our doorsteps with important facts, free bottled water and free well testing. The water district sent out letters alerting residents, scheduled public meetings to provide information and calm community concerns, and dealt with immense fear and anger about the contamination. They tested wells free of charge and scheduled fresh water to be delivered to our doorsteps. The district didn’t think twice about what it would take to handle this problem and put residents at ease about the compromised quality of our precious drinking water. The district was in the lead to save our drinking water, our agriculture, our livestock and the future quality of our groundwater without missing a beat.
The expense of the notification, continuous monitoring, well testing, and weekly deliveries of fresh water was fronted by the district until others took over, with no expense to the public.
The district’s commitment has always been there for the public it serves. Think about it! Without the district during that one crisis, where would we be? It’s like an invisible safety net … you don’t know it’s there until you need it. The district was the safety net that was needed to rescue South County from a dire situation. The district continually receives bad press by a few people with the intent to sway all opinions. Look for their hidden agenda because the future of your family, property values, and the impact on our valley is on the line.
I love my community, and I want the district to have my back when it comes to the safety and supply of our water. Without the groundwater charges, the district could be in a position where this will be out of their hands.
I hope South County residents will remember the “safety net” when they consider the impacts of protesting the groundwater charge. I support the continuation of groundwater charges and the work that Santa Clara Valley Water District does, even if it is below the surface.
J. Brown, Morgan Hill
