Response to Recent Comments

All District Customers,

Thank you to everyone who has shared feedback about our water quality and the recent Cross Connection Control Survey. We hear your frustrations about taste, color, staining, and the monthly cost of service. These concerns are valid, and we take them seriously.

Our water comes from local groundwater wells and is tested regularly to meet state and federal drinking water standards. However, like many small rural districts, we are dealing with decades of disrepair in our aging infrastructure. This limits our ability to make immediate improvements to aesthetics such as taste, hardness, or mineral-related staining.

We are actively working on solutions:

• The District is currently pursuing a planning grant to evaluate and improve our water infrastructure and water quality. Planning is only the first step, this process will take time, and even after the plan is complete, securing construction funding and completing the actual work will require additional years.
• We are also beginning Phase 2 of our sewer planning grant project. Early estimates from this effort show that addressing everything needed in the sewer system alone could cost around $12 million. The District does not have the local funds to cover these major projects on our own, which is why we are aggressively seeking grant funding to make meaningful progress. The costs for the sewer planning grant alone is $600,000

Regarding the Cross Connection Control Survey:

This survey is state-mandated. The District originally passed its Cross Connection Control Ordinance in 1988, and it should have been consistently enforced over the years. With updated state regulations, the State Water Resources Control Board is now ensuring all districts properly enforce their ordinances and follow the California Cross-Connection Control Policy Handbook.

The purpose is to protect the entire public water system from backflow contamination (for example, preventing chemicals, fertilizers, or other substances from being pulled back into the main supply). Completing the survey helps us stay in compliance and keeps the water safer for every customer.

On water quality and testing:

We conduct monthly testing as required by the state. Our Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs), which are posted on the District website at lcwd1.org, detail exactly where our water comes from and what is in it. These reports confirm that the water meets all primary drinking water standards. You can view the latest reports there or contact our office for a printed copy.

If you haven’t yet returned your survey, please do so as soon as possible. Questions? Call us at (530) 278-6476 or email info@lcwd1.org.

Thank you for your patience and for being part of our community as we pursue grant funding and improvements for a more reliable system.

Sincerely,

Kody Smith

General Manager
Lassen County Waterworks District No. 1