Tuesday, 15 June 2010 05:55

AWA, State Differ On Title 22’s Applicability

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slide3-awa_state_differ_on_title_22s_applicability.pngAmador County – The Amador Water Agency board of directors discussed capacity constraints for its Amador Water System, and directed staff to discuss “Title 22” law with the California Department of Public Health. Staff will monitor applications for service, and bring the issue back if applications exceed 2 a month. An engineering report asked for a release of 24 new hook-ups in the Ione water system, and another 186 connections to the Tanner water system “until the interim capacity study is completed and a plan can be presented to the board for increased capacity from these 2 water treatment plants.” The study is expected no sooner than the 4th quarter of 2010. Engineer John Griffin in the report said staff is working with Public Health “to determine if recent conservation efforts by Mule Creek State Prison can be used to reduce existing peak 24-hour demand for the AWS-Ione service area.” It was unclear if Public Health would reduce existing peak 24-hour demands, which are calculated by the state using “Title 22” methodology. The board directed AWA attorney Steve Kronick to look into the issue. Kronick said he hoped it would only take one meeting with state Public Health officials to settle the question. District 5 Director Terence Moore raised the issue, saying Title 22 “doesn’t really apply,” because the law “does not refer to water treatment plants,” and only “applies to source capacity.” Moore said: “Staff is going to have to convince me big-time that it applies to water treatment plants.” Kronick said staff raised this question, but it was the first time he heard if from the board. Kronick said AWA staff feels that because of conservation at the prison, they “in essence have freed up capacity in the AWS system,” and “that’s why drilling down on the issue that Terry raised is so important.” Engineering Manager Erik Christesen said Title 22’s applicability was the “exact issue we raised,” and Public Health said a water source is “everything,” including water treatment capacity. Moore said he didn’t “see how the state can arbitrarily decide that it applies to water treatment plants.” President Bill Condrashoff said the systems have committed more that they have to offer. Moore said they did not surpass the systems’ “theoretical peak.” Christesen said they are “working on changes to get us to our permitted peak, and possibly beyond.” Christesen agreed with Moore that they should bring the issue back to the board when they have more definitive answers form Public Health.. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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