Letter: Mayor urges ‘yes’ on water district
To the editor,
–We in the North County have a proud history of taking care of business. It was our efforts that forged the delivery of Nacimiento waters, our efforts that resulted in affordable housing and a solid employment base, and our collective efforts that resulted in a world-renowned wine industry.
There is now new business at hand to take care of: the business of managing the groundwater basin that benefits us all. Yes, the basin is strained; that is the bad news. And yes, there are steps we can take to sustain water supplies. That is the good news.
Steps that North County can take include using recycled wastewater, using surplus Nacimiento supplies, and perhaps obtaining state water entitlement. But organization is needed to take those steps.
The 12,740 acres within city limits is organized and has taken steps toward sustainable water supply, including a $69 million investment in the Nacimiento Water Project, a $49 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade soon poised to produce recycled water, and success in citywide water conservation. City residents and businesses have saved 479 million gallons of water since the Governor’s drought proclamation, equal to 1,470 acre feet of water.
Paso Robles fully supports owners and others in the 350,000 acres in the unincorporated area adjacent to Paso, in their efforts to create a Water District. By now, you’ve heard many opinions – “it’s just another layer of government,” “just let Sacramento do it for us,” “it’s just another tax,” and so on. Well, what the water district offers is local control – the best way for the North County to once again come together and take care of business.
I cannot emphasize enough what is at stake here. Water supply is foundational to not only North County goals and plans, but the life we share with our families in each of our households, as well as our future economic vitality.
Let’s do this, North County. Please vote to form the water district, fund the water district, and forge ahead to take care of business, as we have always done, to ensure we control our future. If we don’t, we will be subject to state control and be required to adhere to policies in which we have had little input..
Sincerely,
Steven W. Martin
Mayor of Paso Robles
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