County Agency mulls delaying expansion

Auburn, Calif. – The continued slower pace of new development in Placer County has again caused the Placer County Water Agency to review and reevaluate plans for water system expansion projects.

 In a report to the PCWA Board of Directors on Thursday (Jan. 17), Director of Strategic Affairs Einar Maisch said the agency had anticipated about 900 new water connections in west Placer in PCWA Zones 1 & 3 during 2007 but recorded only 320.

 ‘This is the lowest number of paid connections since we began keeping records in 1986,’ Maisch reported.

 Since expansion of the PCWA water system is paid through a water connection charge (WCC) by those receiving the benefit of new water service, the agency is reviewing plans for further scaling back on new tanks, pumps, water treatment plants and other improvements related to new growth.

 As an example, Director of Technical Services Brian Martin said a new water treatment plant for the Ophir area would probably be delayed for a few more years.

 ‘Last year,’ Martin said, ‘the agency had also scaled back on new projects when staff and the Board realized growth and requests for new water service were slowing.’

In other business, directors:
 • heard a presentation from Tim Woodall, president of the board of directors of Protect American River Canyons ( PARC), who asked for the agency to participate in this year’s 17th Annual Confluence Festival.  The June 8 event will celebrate the American River pump station and river restoration project, he said.

 • heard a second presentation from Woodall who asked for the agency’s support in PARC’s bid for a Prop. 84 grant for studies on the American River watershed.  The board will consider the matter at a future meeting.

 • continued to Feb. 7 action on an environmental study and a project to repair sections of a leaking 175-foot segment of the Boardman Canal in the Auburn.  The canal supplies water to the Auburn Water Treatment Plant.

 • heard from management team members on issues and interests accomplished in 2007 and anticipated in 2008. Staff members offer these presentations near the first of each year to keep the board apprised of current activities.

 • learned that District 1 Director Gray Allen of Roseville has been elected to the 2008 Executive Committee of the Regional Water Authority. 

The RWA is a joint powers authority representing 22 water providers in the greater Sacramento area.

The board will next meet in adjourned workshop session at 2 p.m. on Jan. 24 at the PCWA Business Center, 144 Ferguson Road, in Auburn. 

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Feb. 7.  PCWA board meetings are open to the public.

 Information on PCWA board meetings is available through the Clerk to the Board at (530) 823-4850.