By Bob Skerstonas resident Agua Dulce
11-However, in Los Angeles County those who own property as individuals are being told you have no water property rights. Potable water according to the Los Angeles County Heath Department new policy (not law) is unsafe to drink. "Potable water can be contaminated" Los Angeles County Heath Department provided NO scientific proof that potable water is contaminated; accept from a 20-year-old limited study. This is the result from two meeting recent put on by the Mike Antonovich's office.
Administrators from the health, building safety, gave a presentation to explain why potable water was not a solution. These same public servants informed the audience about 350 property owners (both meeting) they (health and safety departments) did not have a reasonable solution for a water delivery system only that potable water is not a long term solution. But if potable water is not the solution then where is the solution?
"A Government who governs least governs best." When a government body creates a policy the policy should solve a problem or issue. Now all of Los Angels County has been presented a new potable water policy. "The county representatives stated, we are following the state guidelines". The county also suggested potable water will be allowed with a new and improved special safety system for delivering water. Who will pay for this solution? Will water-hauling trucks have to be fitted with new and improved system? What will this potable water cost the average homeowner per month? (Hundreds of dollars!)
There is and old saying "if it's not broke don't fix it". Now there are few ways to look at this water issue. One any corporation who wants to build a new housing track can get water supplied to a project. The second way is an individual landowner who wants to build a house may drill a well(s) and providing there is enough water they can build a house (key words if there is enough water). Third, any existing group of homeowners who have asked for public water served to their homes are slowed down or told some other story whereby they cannot receive public water.
Having water deliver to an existing home by a pipeline has many issues: Is there an existing water district to provide water? Where is the water going to come from? Has an environmental impact report been filed? Will an environmental group create litigation to try and stop residents from receiving water? Will local residences try and stop other residents from receiving pipe water? Will potable water be outlawed?
Then you read in the news, new development approved for 56 homes, new development approved for 502 homes, new development approved for 20,000 homes. Strange how a corporation can get water to a new housing tracks, but individual landowners cannot. Some of these individual landowners who want water are within a few hundred feet from a public water line. Some landowners are within 1 mile and some are within 4 miles or less and want a water system and cannot have public water served to them (why?). Finally, those who need potable water are being told this is not a solution. Then what is the solution? What happens to our land values?
When will Mike Antonovich office present a comprehensive water solution with all the facts? In a month, two months, three months, a year, when?
Bob Skerstonas
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