Improper use of water in Agua Dulce

9-11-03 This is a letter from a concerned Agua Dulce resident. The Name has been withheld under California law that protect Newspaper sources to prevent harassment. The private group claiming to represent Agua Dulce, the Town Clowncil, is demanding that LA County allow Dick Lang to continue to sell water without the required permits.

We need to help existing residents that need water for their household uses and animals. But, hauled water for lawns should be banned.

A ban on all new subdivisions and building without a well that meets the state requirement of 4 gal per minute needs to enforced now. The question of building new developments and taking water from District 37 in Acton needs to go to the voters in District 37.

Lang claims he is only being paid $15.00 per truckload. Based on an average of 40 trucks a day (14,600 trips) that $219,000.00 a year.

The so called independent drivers charge $80.00 to deliver, that is $1,168,000 per year. No wonder Lang and his drivers want the county to allow his un-permitted operation.

A phone check with one of the legal Acton water companies offers water to Agua Dulce at $75.00 for 2300 gallons and $95.00 for 4,000 gallons delivered.

And that's 43,800,000 gallons or 120 acre feet of water removed from Downtown Agua Dulce. How long before the wells surrounding Lang's well go dry? cb

acre feet (af) - A quantity of volume of water that covers one acre to a depth of one foot; equal to 43,560 cubic feet or 325,851 gallons.

Letter

I attended the Town Council meeting last night, Sept.10th in Agua Dulce and would like to comment on what I have discovered regarding the selling of water from the Dick Lang property. I listened to the residents who unfortunately are at the mercy of water haulers and providers. My feelings now is this: the situation at the Lang property has been going on for some time and obviously, Dick Lang and the haulers have benefited greatly from this. I am appreciative that this issue has been exposed, as other residents including myself could be the losers, as our wells are being unnecessarily compromised for someone else's gain. I also feel that the greed factor has overcome common sense.

Why would anyone in the area sit back as the large lawns at Sierra Colony are abusing this precious commodity and as water is being hauled out of the area? I also feel there was a bit of hypocrisy in the haulers voices as they were part of the greed factor while feeling victim to the exposure of this issue.

Why doesn't the Town Council address the issue of the soccer field at the airpark that is being maintained daily with water running off into the street? If there was ever a large lawn, this is it!! Bottom line, there is water available for these people and these haulers need to realize the party is over and count their blessings for what they already have gotten out of this. There are a few legal water companies and I guess its time to use the legal companies. I don't agree with any process that would expedite the flow of water out of this downtown area, as there are other sources available. It's like the energy crisis in a way. In reality they should be paying more.

If this is allowed to continue uncontrolled, we will all be out of water and there are no water sources outside the area to pipe in that are for sale. Regional water quality has already said that it will be approx $100,000 per house to bring in water and sewer. At that rate even $200 a load is cheaper.

To the Agua Dulce News Home page
To the Vanguard News Home page