FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Well #8 Project
Why does Crestview need to build Well #8?
Crestview’s Well #6, located at 241 Crestview Avenue, lacks water capacity to meet 100% of the district’s peak demands if it is the only operating well. Well #4, located at 6 Alviso Drive (drilled in 1985), which has historically produced as much as 60% of our local water supply, has decreased to approximately 18% due to falling groundwater levels. Experts believe Well #4 will go “dry” within the next year, leaving Well #6 as the district’s only operating well. Well #8 could temporarily be a backup for Well #6 if it is off line for repairs or maintenance. Otherwise, replacement water would be purchased from Calleguas Municipal Water Company at a much greater cost to shareholders.
The Company made plans several years ago for a replacement for Well # 4 by developing a Well #7 to be operational by September 2019. Legal challenges by some shareholders have resulted in a temporary halt to that project. In addition to Well #8, Well #7 is needed to replace lost production from Well #4 in Crestview’s upper zone and to supply water to approximately 320 households. Well #8 cannot replace the need for Well #7.
Well #6 is now producing 75% of Crestview’s local supply, and over 55% of Crestview’s total water supply, with no back up or local water source for over 6-months of each year. Having so much of your water supply dependent on a single source without a redundant supply or back up is high risk and not optimal. Crestview would experience significant increases in production costs and imported water costs due to peaking charges for taking imported water during the summer season.
Where is Well #8, and what will the site look like?
The site is currently a vacant lot located on Crestview Avenue (APN 152-0-380-185) within a residential neighborhood. The project location is within the City of Camarillo, and Crestview will be required to present a design to the City of Camarillo that will complement the neighborhood. Staff is working with our landscape architect to design a neighborhood-pleasing and drought-tolerant landscape that will be submitted for City approval as part of the application package. The landscape plan will mask and hide the well house from street view, and includes a plant wall. When finished, only the top of the roof line will be visible from the street. Staff has installed “story poles” to outline the perimeter and top of the proposed well house and plant wall on site.
How long will construction take, and what about noise?
As with all construction projects, the City of Camarillo will place a condition on our construction permit to limit construction noise so it will not be disturbing to neighbors. Crestview commits to meet all permit conditions imposed to minimize any shareholder disturbances during construction, and after, during the long-term operation of the facility. Well drilling is expected to take 7 to 10 days for the pilot hole, and after a 2- or 3-week break, another 7-10 days to install the well casing. Once the well is operational, all work will be completed during normal business hours Monday – Friday. Operation of the well will occur during daylight hours, and will conform to City of Camarillo Code requirements, with a complete enclosure of the well that incorporates sound suppression materials into the building design.
Will any hazardous materials be stored onsite?
A 2,000–gallon horizontal chemical storage tank, to hold 12.5% sodium hypochlorite (bleach), would be placed inside a vinyl lined, pre-cast vault that would be sized to hold 125% (2,500 gallons). Currently, Crestview receives 4,000 gallons bulk deliveries of bleach every 4-weeks during peak operation with the product being fully contained to prevent fumes or odors. Bleach deliveries would be incorporated into the normal delivery routine to minimize traffic disruption and/or noise. All deliveries would be during normal business hours of 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday – Thursday. The use of bleach is for disinfection of the groundwater, and is required by the Department of Health Services.
Why is Calleguas Paying for the Project?
In 2017, Calleguas Municipal Water completed their Water Supply Alternatives Study (Study). The purpose of the Study was to identify water supply projects that would be available in the event of a catastrophic water system failure within the State Water Project, Metropolitan Water District or the Calleguas water systems, thereby leaving the entire Eastern and Central Ventura County region without a water supply. A catastrophic water system failure may be a major earthquake in the Sacramento Delta, or a collapse of the Santa Susana Tunnel that would result in a disruption of water deliveries. The Study identified that locally produced well water was the most cost-efficient of identified projects to provide additional water supply in the event of an outage.
During an Emergency, Calleguas estimates they will need approximately 160 Acre-feet (Ac-Ft) per day to meet water demands for the Ventura County Region for up to 6-months, or approximately 29,000 Acre-feet. The Calleguas – Crestview partnership is a small but important project to local cities to be served.
What are the Terms of the Contract?
Per the terms of the contract, Calleguas will reimburse Crestview for the cost to design, acquire right-of-way, permit, construct, own, operate, maintain and repair of the Well #8 facility and piping subject to a total cost cap of $2.1 million, provided the project is completed within 5-years from date of contract signing. If Calleguas loses their supply, Crestview is required to provide at least 1,350 gpm continuously for up to 6-months (1,100 Acre-Feet) from any of our operational wells. All operational and treatment costs incurred to pump and deliver the water to Calleguas will be reimbursed. Failure to provide the water supply will result in a $315 Ac-Ft charge to Crestview for lost production. Once the emergency is over, Calleguas will return all water delivered on a 1:1 basis, free of charge. Calleguas decided to not fund the installation of an Emergency Generator at the facility, thereby releasing Crestview from the requirement to produce if there is a power outage or if an “Act of God” prevents us from meeting all of our system demands during the Emergency.
How can Crestview best serve neighboring shareholders?
Crestview is close to submitting our permit application package to the City of Camarillo for their review and public hearings. Crestview respectfully requests that neighboring shareholders review posted documentation and email your thoughts, concerns and your preferred building design so we can know the level of support or concerns that Crestview needs to address prior to our application submittal. Thank you.