Monday, 15 February 2010 08:32

AWA Considers Commitments, Finances in Ione, Tanner Study Approvals

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slide4-awa_considers_commitments_finances_in_ione_tanner_study_approvals.pngAmador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors considered its commitments to future customers and its finances last week before approving studies of the Tanner and Ione water capacities. Acting Engineering Manager Erik Christeson said the Amador Water System has a typical peak flow of 2.6 million gallons a day, but this year’s peak was 2.2 million gallons. Christeson the agency has “over-committed our will-serves” by 226,000 gallons a day, and 3 million gallons a day is all they “can push through” the Tanner water treatment plant, which serves Ione and the Amador Water System. The system is permitted for a total of 3,384,900 gallons a day, which is a number that was used in issuing “will-serves,” which are promises, often conditional promises, of water service. President Bill Condrashoff said “since then we have learned we should go with the actual capacity.” Director Don Cooper said he wanted to clarify that “we are over-committed if all of those existing will-serves were built out.” And he asked if money was collected on the will-serves. Christeson said only 2, when Wildflower built a 2 million-gallon tank, and JTS Communities built a “booster pump.” Interim General Manger Gene Mancebo said most will-serve holders “have made a participation fee payment,” and the board has a reimbursement agreement with Wildflower and JTS. Cooper said 10,000 per “Equivalent Dwelling Unit” was $3.21 million, and one of his concerns was “stranded assets.” Director Terence Moore said it could be stranded assets, but funding for this study “has already been paid for with participation fees, and this is an appropriate use of these funds.” Director Gary Thomas said “for the past year, we’ve been looking at interim studies for this.” He said “we have to move forward,” and “our job is to provide water for the communities.” They have $3.2 million in will-serve commitments, Condrashoff said, but in the last 2-and-a-half years, “35 houses have cashed in their will-serves and built.” He said “growth didn’t come to pay for” the Amador Transmission Pipeline, whose customers now are paying for it. Condrashoff said the AWA cut $1.2 million from operating revenues last year and might have to buy capacity from Ione at $750,000. Thomas said he understood being “cash strapped,” but conservation at the prison and elsewhere is meant to enhance capacity, and with the interim study, they can find more ways to “eke out capacity and help all of the customers.” Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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