By Joe Mosca
At the last meeting of the City Council, a debate ensued as to whether the Council should approve an agreement that would allow Sierra Madre a connection to the Metropolitan Water District’s (MWD) pipeline that runs through Sierra Madre. The debate seemed to turn on the question: What does this connection mean to Sierra Madre?
Currently, Sierra Madre receives its water supply from four wells in its mountains. In the past, the water levels in the wells have dropped to such a low level that the State of California has mandated that the wells be temporarily shut down until they were replenished and the containments fell to an acceptable level.
This issue of the City’s wells being shut down because of low water levels, or due a high level of contaminents, is of major concern, and it has led to a policy of upgrading the City’s water infrastructure and instituting an emergency action plan.
One of the key improvements to the water infrastructure is the creation of a water treatment facility. Sierra Madre does not have a water treatment facility. The plan for the construction of a water treatment facility has been approved, and it is expected to be completed in the next several years.
The current emergency plan is to buy water from Arcadia. Beyond the fact that when Sierra Madre purchases water on an emergency basis from Arcadia it is paying an extremely high rate, there is always the concern that an emergency in the area will likely affect Arcadia in the same manner as it affects Sierra Madre.
MWD’s pipeline has run through Sierra Madre for years now. Since Sierra Madre is not a member of MWD, MWD has refused, in the past, to allow Sierra Madre a connection to its pipeline for emergency purposes. Recently, however, because of a change in leadership at the MWD and some good negotiating, MWD has agreed to allow Sierra Madre to have a connection to their pipeline that runs through the City for emergency purposes only.
Under the agreement that will allow Sierra Madre to have a connection to the MWD pipeline that runs under the City, Sierra Madre will only be able to tap into the MWD water source in an emergency situation and will need to pay market rate for the water used. Additionally, the agreement allows for installation of monitors on the connections, so that MWD will be able to track the amount of water used by Sierra Madre.
This connection does not mean more water for an increased population or for more development. The explicit intent of the agreement is to allow Sierra Madre to have an emergency connection. MWD has no desire to be Sierra Madre’s water infrastructure and delivery service. Additionally, MWD water could never be mixed with Sierra Madre water because the difference in the way Sierra Madre treats its water and the way MWD treats its water would result in unusable water.
All costs for this project will be borne by MWD and San Gabriel Valley Municipal Water District (SGVMWD). Sierra Madre residents have been paying taxes into the SGVMWD for years and not receiving its fair share of the benefits. This agreement is the beginning of a movement to allow Sierra Madre to realize more of the benefits of their tax dollars.
The connections to the pipeline will ultimately mean one more layer of protection for Sierra Madreans in case of an emergency in which the City cannot pump enough water from its wells to meet the City’s demands.
Joe, I would like to say how appreciative I am to see you take the time to explain and clarify the facts around the MWD connection. There is lots of buzz around about the so called “development conspiracy” in town; the absence of fiction and “half-spun truths” in your words tells me you are a man of truth and reality, not hype and paranioa.
Thank You!