Water Quiz

By Henry J. Schultz

Hugely inefficient CLWA has no real publicoversight

1. Is the Castaic Lake Water Agency (CLWA) a state agency formed to manage wholesale state water project water for the Santa Clarita Valley?

2. Does the CLWA accurately represent available water supplies to the city and county?

3. Did the CLWA legally acquire the Santa Clarita Water Company?

4. Does the CLWA currently represent the best interests of water customers in the SCV?

5. Can the CLWA do a better job of providing quality water?

Answers:

1. Yes. The CLWA is a state chartered organization with an "independent" board of directors.
2. No. The CLWA represents its supply by its entitlements which are typically twice actual allotments and in time of drought there may be NO state water. The recent court ruling against the Newhall Ranch Project makes it clear that water supplies are not being accurately represented to the public.
3. No. State law states clearly that CLWA is a wholesaler, not a retailer. Any retail use must be to "rent" supplies. There is a lawsuit under appeal currently blocking the Santa Clara Water Company from being absorbed by CLWA. Furthermore, CLWA paid over $60,000,000 for a company twice independently appraised at less than one fourth that amount. It should be no surprise that the Bonelli's quietly resigned their directorships in favor of alter ego CLWA directors and grabbed the free cash. Who pays for all this? YOU do.
4. No. In an effort to "secure" future water supplies for sprawl projects the CLWA has irresponsibly borrowed hundreds of millions of YOUR money. This DRIVES development instead of development driving water.
5. Yes. A vote for HENRY SCHULTZ on Nov. 7 for Division 2 CLWA Director will move us towards responsible water management in the SCV and away from the shenanigans of private interests who want current rate payers to pay for unnecessary future water shortages.