Friday, Senator Scott Wilk, R- Antelope Valley, issued a statement on the introduction of Senate Bill 634, a measure which will establish a new water district in the Santa Clarita area. Currently there are multiple water providers supplying water to the region – a situation, proponents of the measure argue, has resulted in confusion, overlap and added costs for consumers. Wilk’s proposal would integrate existing systems into one state agency.
Late last year the boards of the Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA) and the Newhall County Water District (NCWD) voted to support legislation that would dissolve the two agencies and create a new valley-wide water agency. The measure introduced today is the fruit of those negotiations.
“The measure introduced today is merely a starting point for negotiations. Since we are up against a legislative deadline, I introduced the language provided by the water agency stakeholders but it is by no means where we will end up,” said Wilk.
“While I’m supportive of a valley-wide agency that will proactively manage our watershed and provide an economy of scale that should reduce the costs of delivering water to ratepayers, I’m not satisfied with the current version of the bill,” commented Wilk. “I plan on fully vetting this proposal as we go through the process.”
Senator Wilk said he is committed to “getting this right.” He held constituent office hours last weekend specifically on this topic and has actively solicited input from various stakeholders and community members.
“I will continue dialoging with all interested parties so that our final product is a new agency that best reflects the principles of environmental sustainability and a more accountable government,” concluded Wilk.
Senator Wilk’s statement on this matter can be found here.
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3 Comments
What a surprise. Wilk, as a trusted tool of the local powers-that-be has put into the state legislature’s agenda a bill that will give the CLWA complete control of the groundwater in the SCV. Say good bye to local control; the SVC gentry will now tell you what you can have and what it will cost you – and all of us.
There’s no denying the possible benefits of centralized ground water control. What is deniable is whether this change will provide any benefits to private citizen/ratepayers. Elections for CLWA reps have been obviously a rubber-stamp process for years. Most of the elected and director positions there have been MWD and DWP retirees/employees for years.
As an NCWD customer (by requirement) for 28 years I’ve not been unhappy with their service. It could be better, but I’ve always gotten the attention my issues needed when I’ve contacted them. I’ve also known that they are local and are at least aware (if not swayed) by local issues.
Now that I will be only one out of all the SCV customers regarding water issues, I do not think that the CLWA response to my issues will be the same. I have too much knowledge and experience in dealing with large governmental agencies to believe that.
The big boys have won; their game will soon be the only one in town. Let’s just hope that the fun and games that have been played by our new mutli-county Water Agency doesn’t forget who it is that they are supposed to serve.
And when you don’t like what they are doing, just remember that they did this with your permission – more or less, since nobody tried to stop them.
Jim is correct about CLWA reps but there has been a protest about this, NCWD ratepayers want, at the very least, a right to vote. A recall has been filed for two of the NCWD board members that represented their agency in the backroom regarding this takeover.
I am a Valencia Water ratepayer. Valencia Water isn’t included in this takeover of NCWD. It was done to delete lawsuits against the purchase of the Valencia Water stock by CLWA. Valencia Water isn’t included in this merger it is NOT a Valley Wide agency.
CLWA wants complete control of not only the ground water but the sewer reclaimed water. They have big commitments to developers. They already control the imported water. That is all they were legally allowed to control. Then they took over Santa Clarita Water, they needed legislation for that takeover too. It is suppose to be operated as a separate company.
If this was good for the ratepayers it wouldn’t need legislation. CLWA should only be a wholesaler of imported water. The local water agencies should have been maintained to represent their area and beheld accountable to their ratepayers.
CLWA will only represent the developers who build here and leave.
Jim,
MANY Newhall Water District customers have tried to fight this “take-over”
off however Wilk and others have NOT listened to us.
Sorry day!
Let’s hope that Wilk will NOT get Bill 634 passed !