Browse archives: 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995

Published on 08/18/1997 All articles from this issue

Purissima Hills Water District mulls purchase offer from Cal Water Co.

printer friendly version

By Clyde Noel / Town Crier Staff Writer

For the last two months, California Water Company has quietly made overtures to purchase the 40-year-old Purissima Hills Water District. Those overtures culminated in the Purissima district's Aug. 13 meeting, when board members reviewed Cal Water's formal proposal.

The Board conducted a lengthy workshop to evaluate the proposition and decide whether the purchase would be a good idea. The board will seek customer input at its Nov. 12 meeting. The Purissima district serves approximately 2,000 customers in Los Altos Hills.

"Why would they want to buy us? They are going to get about $1.3 million from their proposed rates when our operating costs are $1.8 million annually," said Purissima director Janet Fenwick. "That's a differential of $500,000."

Los Altos Hills originally was served by small mutual water systems that distributed water from community wells. In 1956, water customers purchased $350,000 in general obligation bonds to form Purissima Hills Water District system, which was officially in business by the winter of 1957. At the time, the district had two 100,000 gallon tanks.

Today, the district has 12 tanks with a capacity of 11 million gallons of storage and 95 miles of pipe. The asset value is more than $10 million.

"I would not want to make a decision without the residents' input. The pros and cons should all be laid out for our customers," director Daniel Slidell said. "As of now, would fluoridation be a big problem?"

For the resident user, the obvious plus is a reduction in rates since Purissima rates are 35 percent higher than the California Water Company, which also supplies Los Altos and a portion of Los Altos Hills.

"I think the Purissima water district is a ridiculous, small facility (in which) the average homeowner in Los Altos Hills is paying between $250-500 a month to keep this place green," said one resident last week who didn't give his name. "I think it's time for them to give up and sell off Purissima, and join an adjoining water district because the overhead costs are killing us." The resident said his water bill was $500 last month - he said he owns 1.5 acres.

A disadvantage to selling out may be the quality of the water provided, Purissima officials said.

Director Robert Buss, on the board since 1954, asked what the effect would be on the users. "How will the system be maintained and how secure will the lower rate be, and what will be the impact of the water quality?" Buss asked.

"No one needs to use a water softener with Purissima water," Slidell said. "What we put in the tap is better than what you get at the grocery store."

Purissima Water purchases its water wholesale from the City and County of San Francisco, operators of Hetch-Hetchy Reservoir.

"In times of draught, San Francisco gives us what they want," Fenwick said. "Would Cal Water give us another source of water? In a long-term drought, we could be hurt because we need another source."

Patrick Walter, general manager of the water district, said the district is on an "aggressive" capital improvement program with seismic fittings and an improved pipeline.

Directors Fenwick and Earnest Solomon were appointed a committee to draw up questions for a Nov. 12 meeting with California Water Company. The committee was instructed to find out options other than being purchased outright.

Purissima Hills Water District is located at 25375 Fremont Road, Los Altos Hills. For more information, call 948-1217.