The installation of new pipeline along San Jacinto, Tahquitz, Lodge and Rim Rock roads is nearing completion, General Manager Steve Erler told the Fern Valley Water District directors at the Oct. 16 meeting.
“The pipeline project is going very well,” Erler said. “The project should be completed by the end of the month, provided the weather does not interfere with the final road work.”
The total amended project cost is about $800,000 and Erler said, “It will come in under budget.
After the first quarter of fiscal year 2015-16, the district’s budget results appear on normal trends. Since property tax receipts are not received until December and only two water sales billings have occurred, expenses are currently exceeding revenues; but the District’s reserves are sufficient until revenues begin to increase.
The major expense has been the initial payments for the pipeline project work.
In water business, FV customers consumed about 6.25 million gallons of water during July and August, which was 1.2 million gallons less than during the same period in 2014.
For the first eight months of 2015, water consumption has been 20.6 million gallons, which 10.5 percent less than during the same period in 2014.
However, Erler reported that the ground water level of the District’s static office well is now 18 feet. “That is six inches lower than the lowest level recorded in 2002,” Erler told the board. “Other wells are higher than in 2002,” he added. “The only difference is that we have nine [producing] wells now and had only five then.”
A consequence of the falling consumption is that the district’s water revenues fall also. Erler noted that residential sales were nearly $10,000 less during the July and August billing period this year compared to the same time in 2014. However the district has issued four new meters since January, including one in August.
