Santa Clarita's Water Issues

By Carole L. Lutness

I pledge to protect current residents from paying for future developments. Developers need to pay for the real cost of building in our Valley. Their fees must reflect the cost of additional schools, infrastructure, roads, water treatment plants, environmental degradation, health costs,etc. I will make sure there is honest reporting that reflect real water availability for any new project.

The Delta - Our Delta from which over 50% of our water is obtained is in dire need of repair. Special Interests such as the Central Valley Agra-business corporations and the Southern California Developers engage in a continual "water war" over who will control this vital resource. Because of this, our SCV residents' needs are not considered nor is there an eye to the future. We must have adequate water for today's SCV residents and in order to guarentee there will be enough water for future generations, we must regain control of our Water Boards. Water is a finite resource. Former State Senator, Sheila Kuehl's "Show Me the Water" law requires Developers to prove that there is enough water for projects over 500 houses. Our Water Boards do not follow this law strictly and have allowed "paper water" to count as "available." This practice must cease.

Drought/Global Warming - The Southwest is expected to experience severe drought over the next century. We must make sure that we do not overbuild to a point that we cannot sustain the population in our Valley. Because of Global Warming there is not as much snow on the Sierra Mountains which feeds the Delta. This means there may not be as much water available from the Delta to import into the SCV. The current Board of the Castaic Lake Water Agency is comprised of people with strong ties to the Developers. We must have citizen input about important issues of water availability and water quality.

Local Issues

Desalinization Plant- The citizens of SCV are being required to foot the bill for a very expensive desalinization plant that will remove excess chlorine (salt) from the Santa Clara river that runs though Santa Clarita into Ventura. Without this removal Ventura farmers will not be able to produce their crops. It is not fair that our citizens must pay for this plant when it is developers who have caused the problem. Developers must pay for this since they profit from importing Delta water that has heavy salt content.

Water purity - Some of the water in Santa Clarita is polluted by contaminants from old industrial sites. I will make sure that the facilities to clean up that water are built before that water is counted as available for any new development or served to the public.

Overdevelopment - Water is not a limitless resource. It is not right that we are asked to conserve while thousands of new houses are approved. Water conservation is important and developers must recognize their role in reducing water use. My goal is to assure that we have enough water for current residents and surrounding ecosystems before new development is approved in this valley. We can't rely on expensive Northern California water to meet the needs of urban sprawl. We must use our own resources carefully and plan efficiently.

Health - Not only must we make sure that our water is clean, safe and available we must also be mindful that overdevelopment in Santa Clarita has resulted in our having one of the highest rates of asthma in the United States. The Water Boards in SCV are the watchdogs of our community making sure that overdevelopment does not bring on unintended consequences such as traffic gridlock, increased cancer/asthma rates, and resource depletion. The CLWA has fallen short in protecting our citizens and our resources.

My Ideas

Water conservation - As good citizens, we must all do our part to conserve water. We live in a desert and water is a finite resource. We are faced with the prospect of a greatly diminished water supply. As a CLWA Board member I will do everything I can to promote creative water conservation programs that will balance our current residents needs with our future needs.

Holding Developers accountable - Developers must be required to pay the real costs to the community by building. Water is not a limitless resource. It is not right that we are asked to conserve while thousands of new houses are approved. Water conservation is important and developers must recognize their role in reducing water use. My goal is to assure that we have enough water for current residents and surrounding ecosystems before new development is approved in this valley.We can't rely on expensive Northern California water to meet the needs of urban sprawl. We must use our own resources carefully and plan efficiently. New development must not burden current residents. The CLWA has allow current ratepayers to be burdened with the cost of new development. This practice must stop.

The current CLWA Board members are elected using Developer money. I pledge I will take no Developer contributions. I will insist that the CLWA Board's business will be open,honest and transparent. I will represent you, the taxpayer and current resident, on this Board. I will be a Steward of our environmental resources and a Guardian of your children's future.

Vote on November 2, 2010 for Carole Lutness, your advocate for water quality and availability.