by Arlene Corsetti
The time to rethink Napa county water has arrived.
Recently the Napa Register published an article “Idea of water agency for all Napa County is still alive” The story highlighted the progress toward a water agency to oversee the water and wastewater needs of all of Napa County. The idea came from a study from LAFCO (The Local Agency Formation Commission) a group mandated by the State of California that looks for projects that would reduce overhead, reduce cost and increase efficiency by promoting multi district groups cooperating with each other.
LAFCO put forth a study in 2020 suggesting the formation of a county water agency or district to consolidate the work of 14 different Napa county water agencies. WASH was pleased to see that LAFCO met in Yountville with representatives of the 14 different Napa County water districts to start the process of looking at combined water districts. “We know that its not simple” stated LAFCO’s Brendon Freeman, “but you have to start the process somewhere”. WASH has seen how various small Napa County districts are struggling to maintain their water and wastewater systems.
St Helena just spent $19+ million to overhaul its wastewater plant. Other smaller districts are buckling under the weight of these costs. Just last week Calistoga was trying to figure out the problem with their discolored and odorous water. LAFCO recently stated that the five County water treatment plants that are running in January could probably be done by 2 plants. Please take a moment to read the whole article in the Napa Valley register. It is informative and probably something that those living in St Helena should look at seriously. We can’t do everything by ourselves. The idea of 14 water districts operating as one my make real sense. https://napavalleyregister.com/news/local/napa-water-county-rural/article_24693f30-50ae-11ee-a755-b3c37f544a73.html
