Amador County – The Amador County Local Agency Formation Commission voted 6-0 last week to approve an application for an annexation into Plymouth that could bring 600 people to the town after discussing water needs.

Thomas Infusino delivered a letter on behalf of the Foothill Conservancy, saying Plymouth needed to identify its water source. LAFCO Executive Director Roseanne Chamberlain said Amador Water Agency has clarified most issues with water.

Infusino also was worried that Plymouth residents are “reeling” from paying for one water pipeline, and the project could mean another to be built at their expense. Plymouth Development Director Richard Prima said the city ‘made it clear it was not going to pay any money, and “no city funds are being advanced” on the annexation. Regarding water, he said current demand is 345,000 gallons a day, and capacity available today through the pipeline is 1.62 million gallons a day, good to serve 1,521 Equivalent Dwelling Units.

Plymouth Councilman and LAFCO Commissioner Jon Colburn asked about capacity at AWA’s Tanner treatment plant. AWA General Manager Gene Mancebo said AWA’s Tanner Water Treatment Plant runs at about 84 percent capacity while serving customers in Sutter Creek, Jackson and Plymouth. Another 5 percent is reserved for “will serve” commitments, which means 88 percent of AWA’s water is tied up. The rest of the capacity is taken up by “conditional will-serves.”

Mancebo said due to the economy, AWA’s Board has directed improvements to make “interim capacity increases.” He said 600 “Equivalent Dwelling Units” is adequate for Zinfandel and Shenandoah Ridge, and “it appears that there may be capacity to serve these projects.”

LACFO Counsel Robert Laurie said the project, under environmental rulings, must identify the water supply for the “entirety of the project,” but that is only required “if you need to enhance your infrastructure.”

LAFCO Chairman, Supervisor Ted Novelli asked Mancebo to clarify the language. Mancebo said once a “tentative map” is approved, you can get a conditional will serve. But the agency may require other tasks, including infrastructure, pipelines, pumps or lift stations to reach a final map, and for AWA to give a “will serve” notice, in effect a “non-revocable guarantee of service.”

Prima said obviously, the biggest impediment to the project will now be the economy. He said the city potentially could bring its water treatment plant back online, and up to code, but at considerable cost.

Supervisor Chairman and Commissioner Louis Boitano said the city did have rights to about 20,000 acre feet of water through the Arroyo Ditch. Colburn said the ditch was deemed an irregular source by the state. Boitano said the city needs to “keep utilizing that” because “if you don’t, someone could swoop down and take it.”

Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.