Endorses Rate Increase as ‘Prudent Investment’
The board of directors at Crescenta Valley Water District (CVWD) will consider a water rate increase during its June 26 meeting. As a customer of CVWD and as a member of the board of directors of Foothill Municipal Water District (FMWD) and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD), I want to voice my support for the recommended 6.9% increase as a prudent investment to ensure reliable drinking water for the Crescenta Valley.
Access to groundwater supplies in Crescenta Valley is limited due to geography, adjudicated groundwater rights, water quality and hydrology. Without sufficient rainfall, groundwater levels are too low to meet more than half of our water needs. To meet these demands, CVWD has always depended on imported water from MWD and distributed by FMWD.
Pumping and distributing water from the Colorado River and State Water Project to Crescenta Valley incur large energy costs. The amount of energy required to pump water from the FMWD connection near the Rose Bowl to homes in the higher elevations of Crescenta Valley is comparable to pumping required on the 242-mile Colorado River Aqueduct. Therefore, CVWD has much higher electrical costs for pumping imported water than other comparable cities (e.g., Glendale, Pasadena and Burbank). In addition, MWD and FMWD have adopted their budgets with rate increases that are passed to CVWD.
Just recently, the legislature and the governor passed water conservation laws requiring new water conservation standards because we do not have adequate water supplies statewide. We should all recognize the significant investments in water reliability needed throughout southern California to ensure reliable drought proof supplies! These investments range from replacing aging infrastructure on the State Water Project with the Delta Tunnels and developing new supplies such as recycled water throughout Southern California and the LA County’s effort to capture more storm water to use locally in its proposed ballot measure in November.
I support the efforts of CVWD in investing in our future so we have sufficient and reliable water supplies.
Richard Atwater, Board President
Foothill Municipal Water District

Outdated Signs Not Welcome
Our political candidates have found a new twist . . . “Vote for Me” signs on our freeway on-ramps and off-ramps. This new twist of disrespecting the community while asking for its vote needs to stop. Not voting for them is one answer.
Steve Pierce
La Crescenta