header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
April 26
1906 - Bobby Batugo, World Champion Mixologist in the 1970s, born in The Philippines [story]
Bobby Batugo


[KHTS] – Amid ongoing litigation from the Santa Clarita Organization for Planning and the Environment, the Castaic Lake Water Agency is now facing another lawsuit, this time from the Newhall County Water District.

clwalogoThe NCWD officials filed a lawsuit Thursday concerning the CLWA’s December 2012 acquisition of the Valencia Water Company, contending the water agency acquired the VWC in violation of Assembly Bill 134.

AB 134, passed in April 2001, “provides statutory authority to the Castaic Lake Water Agency to sell water received from the State Water Project,” according to a state website.

Dan Masnada, general manager of the CLWA, disputed the NCWD’s claim that the CLWA was trying to build a monopoly, calling the claim “beyond ludicrous.”

“AB 134 was enacted to ensure that CLWA delivers on it’s promise to the community, and that’s basically not to use their money to build an empire,” said Steve Cole, NCWD general manager.

The bill “permits CLWA to sell (state water) at retail in accordance with the County Water District Law,” according to state documents, and “provides that the area in which the CLWA may sell water at retail is the franchise area held by the Santa Clarita Water Company when it was sold to CLWA.” The law also states that any changes to the service area in which CLWA may sell water at retail will be considered a special district boundary change subject to LAFCO approval.

“The reason they’re suing has nothing to do with looking out for the ratepayers,” Masnada said, adding the NCWD was using ratepayer money to pursue litigation that ultimately would not benefit those ratepayers.

Masnada also maintained that AB 134 did not prevent the CLWA from acquiring Valencia Water. “Assembly Bill 143 addresses retail operations,” he said. “It doesn’t address ownership.”

The CLWA’s deal with Valencia Water would also threaten the public’s water supply, according to the NCWD.

“In taking over Valencia Water Co., CLWA violated state law and threatened the fiscal integrity of the region’s water service,” said NCWD Board President B.J. Atkins in a press release. “We can’t sit idly by as CLWA compromises the public’s resources. We took action to protect the interests of our customers.”

But, the CLWA paid cash for the VWC, Masnada said.

“The acquisition took a privately-owned utility and brought it into local public ownership,” he said. “You really can’t do much better than that.”

Masnada believes that the new NCWD lawsuit is trying to accomplish what the SCOPE suit failed to do: unwind the transaction between the CLWA and Valencia Water, he said.

The CLWA won on the three initial causes of action in SCOPE’s case against them.

Lynne Plambeck, who is the president of SCOPE, also sits on the NCWD’s Board of Directors.

For Cole, the issue is to prevent a water monopoly in the Santa Clarita Valley.

“For us, it’s more about maintaining the separation between wholesale and retail,” he said. “We don’t believe in having one main water monopoly in the valley.”

For more information about the Newhall County Water District, click here.

Visit the Castaic Lake Water Agency online, here.

 

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

0 Comments

You can be the first one to leave a comment.

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Thursday, Apr 25, 2024
TMU Biology Students Earn Recognition at Annual Research Conference
Earlier this month, a team of biology students at The Master’s University won a distinguished award at one of the oldest intercollegiate research conferences in the country.
Thursday, Apr 25, 2024
April 26-28: Community Weekend Returns to CalArts
California Institute of the Arts' Community Weekend kicks off on Friday, April 26 and runs through Sunday, April 28.
Thursday, Apr 25, 2024
May 16: Children’s Bureau Foster Care Orientation
May is National Foster Parent Appreciation Month! Celebrate by applying to become a resource parent and fostering or foster-adopting siblings.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1906 - Bobby Batugo, World Champion Mixologist in the 1970s, born in The Philippines [story]
Bobby Batugo
Starting Monday, April 29, construction on the South Fork Trail will begin to replace a portion of the lodgepole fencing, the city of Santa Clarita announced.
South Fork Trail Construction to Begin April 29
College of the Canyons dual-sport athlete Sam Regez will continue his career at University of Portland with plans to run on both the cross country and track and field programs.
COC Standout Sam Regez Signs with University of Portland
An entertainment industry initiative to support the voices of California State University, Northridge film and TV students was celebrated with a recent screening of stories they created. 
‘Changing Lenses’ Initiative Lends Voice to CSUN Film, TV Students
How important is Film and Tourism to the Santa Clarita Valley Economy? 
SCVEDC Delves into Santa Clarita Film, Tourism Impact
Earlier this month, a team of biology students at The Master’s University won a distinguished award at one of the oldest intercollegiate research conferences in the country.
TMU Biology Students Earn Recognition at Annual Research Conference
Lisa Zamroz has announced her intent to step down as the head coach of The Master's University's women's basketball team effective July 1, 2024.
TMU Women’s Basketball Coach to Resign
Spring heralds a time of renewal and rejuvenation, not just in the natural world, but within our homes and lives as well.
Cameron Smyth | Spring Cleaning Your Neighborhood
College of the Canyons student-athletes Gigi Garcia (softball) and Hannes Yngve (men's golf) have been named the COC Athletic Department's Women's and Men's Student-Athletes of the Week for the period running April 15-20.
COC Names Gigi Garcia, Hannes Yngve Athletes of the Week
California Institute of the Arts' Community Weekend kicks off on Friday, April 26 and runs through Sunday, April 28.
April 26-28: Community Weekend Returns to CalArts
May is National Foster Parent Appreciation Month! Celebrate by applying to become a resource parent and fostering or foster-adopting siblings.
May 16: Children’s Bureau Foster Care Orientation
Santa Clarita resident Edina Lemus has been appointed Administrator of the Veterans Home of California in Lancaster by California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Newsom Appoints SCV Resident Veterans Home Administrator
The California Department of Transportation has scheduled Lane Closures on the northbound and southbound State Route 14 between Technology Drive in Palmdale and Avenue A in Lancaster, closing up to three lanes.
Caltrans Announces SR-14 Lane Closures
1906 - Bercaw General Store opens in Surrey (Saugus) [story]
Bercaw Store
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond testified today in the Senate Education Committee about the need for results-proven training for all teachers of reading and math.
State Superintendent Makes Historic Push for Results-Proven Training in Literacy, Math as Sponsor of SB 1115
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
Ocean Water Warning for April 24
Dust off the boots and get ready to holler, because Boots In The Park making its way to back to Santa Clarita, y’all. 
May 10: Boots In the Park Returns to Santa Clarita
State Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) and Supervisor Kathryn Barger honor the memory of those lost 109 years ago in Armenian Genocide. 
Barger, Wilk Recognize Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
The Salvation Army Santa Clarita Valley Corps is excited to announce the inaugural Donut Day event.
June 7: Salvation Army SCV Announces Inaugural Donut Day Event
The Los Angeles County Animal Care Foundation has approved $370,000 in funding to support the Vet@ThePark program operated by the County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control.
LAC Animal Care Foundation Provides $370K Grant to Support Vet@ThePark
The California Department of Public Health is encouraging Californians to take part in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 27.
CDPH Urges Californians to Support Prescription Drug Take Back Day
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion, introduced by Supervisor Kathryn Barger and co-authored by Board Chair Lindsey P. Horvath, proclaiming May 2024 as Mental Health Awareness Month in Los Angeles County.
Supes Proclaim May as Mental Health Awareness Month
The Grammy-award winning rock ‘n’ roll group Blues Traveler will take the stage of the Santa Clarita Performing Arts Center at 8 p.m. May 9. 
May 9: Blues Traveler to Perform at PAC
1962 - SCV residents vote to connect to State Water Project, creating Castaic Lake Water Agency (now part of SCV Water) [story]
Castaic Lake
SCVNews.com