By Jim Reece -

Amador County got the OK for 20 new homes in Lake Camanche Village last week when the state lifted a moratorium on new homes there. The Amador Water Agency announced the lifting of the moratorium. AWA received notice from the California Department of Public Health on October 7th that said, “with the additional source capacity and reliability provided by the (newly installed) Well 14, state regulators will allow up to 20 new service connections in the system in the next year.” The health department halted all new connections in Lake Camanche Village in November of 2006, until the AWA could improve the system’s ability to provide a sustained water supply. Well 14 was completed in August of 2007 and gives an additional 40 percent capacity gain to the Lake Camanche system. AWA General Manager Jim Abercrombie said it was “critical to Lake Camanche property owners that they know whether they will be able to develop their property in the future.” He said the “state has recognized that we have made substantial improvements” to the system, and that AWA “is committed to continuing to develop a reliable, sustainable water supply for out Lake Camanche customers.” The health Department noted concern over diminishing groundwater resources in the Foothills in the current drought and outlined conditions for the 20 new hook-ups. AWA must monitor groundwater conditions and well production rates for evaluation before future hook-ups will be allowed. AWA must continue efforts to fund and complete a groundwater sustainability study in the Camanche area. If water shortages occur, the AWA will implement mandatory conservation practices for residents of Lake Camanche Village as needed to prevent water shortages.