CSD Board of Directors Directs Staff To Explore Groundwater, Electronic Water Metering Options

The BVCSD Board of Directors voted to direct staff to explore options for groundwater supplies and electronic water metering at their regular meeting on April 10.

In a unanimous vote, the Board requested staff prepare a Request for Proposal for a potable groundwater supply study and strategic plan. Many water wells within Bear Valley have declined in quality and have been taken out of service. As a result, the CSD currently purchases most of Bear Valley’s water from the Tehachapi Cummings County Water District. The District's Cummings Valley wells are also experiencing difficulties; three of its six wells are offline. The study requested by the Board of Directors will examine the quantity and quality of water available in our area, and develop a plan to rehabilitate and/or replace wells within Bear Valley.

In another matter, the Board voted unanimously to support a project to replace Bear Valley’s water meters with automated meters. Currently, CSD staff members manually read meters and enter the data into billing software, a process that requires a significant amount of time to complete A switch to new meters would automate that process. That change would make the process much more efficient. The automated meters also provide real-time data, making it easier for residents to discover potentially costly water leaks.

CSD staff will now gather data to determine the cost and scope of the replacement project before any final action is taken. The CSD will also be exploring grant opportunities to fund a water meter replacement project, but is looking into how it could be accomplished without grant money.

Both votes came as a result of recommendations made by the CSD Infrastructure Committee, led by Committee Chair Paul Paparella.

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