Stage 2 water rationing will begin Aug. 11, representatives of Southern California Edison told the Avalon City Council Tuesday night, July 1.
The utility company sent several representatives to Catalina to provide the council with an update on the fresh water situation.
Meanwhile, Edison reps reported that a West End area well has failed to meet secondary drinking water standards and water is being trucked to that part of the Island.
According to Council Member Joe Sampson, some water is being diverted from Avalon to the West End.
Stage 2 water rationing will begin Aug. 11, representatives of Southern California Edison told the Avalon City Council Tuesday night, July 1.
The utility company sent several representatives to Catalina to provide the council with an update on the fresh water situation.
Meanwhile, Edison reps reported that a West End area well has failed to meet secondary drinking water standards and water is being trucked to that part of the Island.
According to Council Member Joe Sampson, some water is being diverted from Avalon to the West End.
Mandatory water rationing will require everyone on the Island to reduce their water use by 25 percent, based on the usage during the year prior to Stage 1 water rationing that began more than a year ago.
In Avalon, Stage 2 water rationing becomes mandatory when the water level reaches 300 acre feet. As of Wednesday, June 25, the Thompson Reservoir water level measured 337 acre feet.
Jeff Lawrence, Edison’s local manager for Stage 2 water rationing, said it was necessary to set a date for water rationing in order to meet with the public notice requirements.
Lawrence was one of several Edison representatives who updated the council on the water situation Tuesday.
Lawrence said Edison customers would receive a reference guide on how to read their water meter.
Lawrence said Edison had received several variance requests for larger drinking water allotments.
He said they were being looked at.
Edison’s Ron Jensen said that following a complaint, Edison found that the water in the Howland well did not meet the state’s secondary drinking water standards.
He said sea water might have intruded into the well. Edison has issued an advisory to Edison customers. Another Edison representative said water was being trucked to the West End of the Island to serve kitchens in the four coves west of Two Harbors.
Council Member Sampson said a lot of water was being sent from Avalon to the West End.
Sampson said he thinks Edison should be barging in water to the Island.
Later, Council Member Oley Olsen said if Edison barges over water, the ratepayers on the Island would have to pay for it.
Council Member Richard Hernandez said he was concerned about the potential impact of water rationing enforcement on private water suppression systems opn the island.
City Attorney Scott Campbell said state law specifically protected the city from any liability in that situation.
Sampson complained he had not received a document he requested two months ago listing all of the fresh water assets on the Island.
Later, Sampson said he did not want a temporary solution that would have the council discussing the water issue. Sampson has called for dredging existing wells and would like Edison to increase the output of the desalination plant.
Mayor Anni Marshall said she recently met with a group that is looking into water reclamation.
“If it rains, it’s not going to stop,” Marshall said, referring to efforts to improve Avalon’s water supply. City Manager Ben Harvey proposed that the council hold a study session on water.
