Frequently Asked Questions of this District and me

By Peggy Flynn Ruse

Lots of our neighbors in our community are asking good questions. Here are some of the important questions and answers from me as well as a response to some answers given by the current incumbents.

How do you plan to implement? ¸ Alternate, complementary water sources to our current ground water such as access to and use of new stream water and other water sources (e.g. Crystal Springs & other Hetch Hetchy water). ¸ New producing wells by the end of 2005 or earlier in the Montara Mountain area (higher quality water) with a serious look at the proliferation of private wells. ¸ Increase quality (low quality with nitrates) and decrease expense of water (we pay dearly for the water under airport) with serious plans in the next 2 years to move away from dependence on the "airport wells".

What is one specific thing you would push for as a MWSD board member? Alternate water sources to complement our current District's risky reliance on ground water with the intended result of an increased, reliable water supply, lower water rates and safe, quality water.

Is there any other way to bring water to the Moss Beach/Montara community aside from searching for more groundwater? Absolutely! I believe we have opportunities in our own "backyard" with distribution of current stream water. In addition, I believe we have opportunities to bring in water from the pristine Hetch Hetchy water system in a number of novel ways. Working with water district neighbors to the north, south and east must be seriously investigated. Moreover, a water pipeline from the north will be included in the tunnel for fire reasons and it is imperative that this district begins negotiations now in the design (currently) phase for our district to have rights (perhaps a "tie in") to the water coming through this pipe even if it is only for emergency purposes. In addition, "hooking up to the Hetch Hetchy Water system in some way" was the number 1 priority in the long term of many of our neighbors whom I recently surveyed.

Did we pay too much? I voted for Measure V and I believe that local control of our water district is in our best interests. However, if our money is mostly used to patch up some of the pipes, attempt to clean up some of the expensive "airport" water, and drill "test wells" very little will have changed. We paid too much if in 2 years we still don't have more water, we still have "sky-high" rates, chronic water rationing, unstable fire protection, and we still have poor quality and taste of water. In addition, we currently have a pool of money to use wisely due to extra bond funds and an additional approx. $400,000 per year from water rates (due to the fact that we are a public agency and not a "for-profit" company like our former owners who used this money to pay their shareholders instead of improving our water system that we pay dearly for everyday.

Do we have fire safety? This seems to be debatable. However, we know that the water pressure and flow is insufficient especially if there is a catastrophic event like many fires and/or an earthquake. I spoke with our firefighters who recently disclosed to me that they do not train in our district nor do they flush the fire hydrants because there isn't sufficient water. I understand that the water pressure is particularly of concern on the west side of Moss Beach.

What about our quality of water? Safe water and poor quality and taste of water were the number 1 concern of neighbors in our community whom I surveyed recently. Moss Beach water mostly comes from the airport well aquifer, which has a high copper content and nitrates. The airport has underground gas tanks and there is agriculture across from the airport. The current board plans to spend approx. $500,000 on a project to "clean up" this water. However, this project will not clean out the "nitrates". The water quality is much better from the wells in the Montara area. We need to have more of this type of water for Moss Beach. I'm not in favor of throwing "good money at a bad project".

I hear the Hetch-Hetchy system is "oversubscribed" and also has old leaky pipes and it will be expensive for us to use part of this system. Please comment. Yes, this system does have enough water. Some of the current districts that use this water do not use all of their allotment while others use more than their allotment. Check the newspapers regularly about the water in this system and you will find that they have plenty of water. Yes, this will not be easy and it will cost money; however, we currently have some of the highest water rates in California and possibly our country. We need to begin to look at this possibility now. Not doing something because it is difficult is not a wise philosophy. If CCWD can bring a pipe to the potential Highlands project in Moss Beach (the current plan), then they can certainly continue those pipes a little bit further for the rest of us. We will need to negotiate now and begin to plan for this possibility now.

What is your short-term plan for more water? We need more water now. A good quality water system with enough water will solve many of the other water problems in our district. If elected, I will begin the process for immediate, producing wells in the Montara Mountain area. The current incumbents are planning a five-year test well plan. Test wells are NOT PRODUCING WELLS. In addition, we need to begin negotiations for stream water in our area just south of us, possibly from Denniston Creek or other areas of stream water that flow down the hills and mountains toward. The experts that I have spoken with feel very positive about the possibility of distributing some of that water into our district to alleviate some of our chronic water problems.

What about rates? I believe that we need to look into alternate ways to charge for water, which could bring some relief. In addition, our district at a premium buys the water under the airport. The water in this airport aquifer is plentiful but of low quality and very expensive. We need eventually move away from dependence on this aquifer. This plan will lower our rates and bring us higher quality water. In addition, "opening up the books" and looking closely at how our money is being spent will surely afford us new opportunities to lower our rates.

Do the incumbents have a hidden agenda? The League for Coast side Protection endorses the current incumbents, Slater-Carter, Boyd, and Harvey. You decide. This organization's charter is basically "no-growth". This board's job is a quality, reliable, affordable Water and Sanitary District. No-Growth or "For-Growth" has no place on our non-partisan board and it is dangerous to have either philosophy as your guide. Our community is suffering from an unreliable water supply, high water rates and property taxes from the bond, and poor quality. This chronic situation affects the quality and safety of our lives, and our property values. It is unconscionable for any member of this board or the future boards to use water in any "hidden agenda" manner. I am neither "no-growth" nor "growth". I am for MORE WATER AND FOR WATER BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE!