The Warren Valley Basin Watermaster board of directors—which is made up of the Hi-Desert Water District board—met December 15 to discuss adopting a resolution that would require new privately owned wells within the Warren Valley basin to connect to Hi-Desert Water District’s water mains. Managing editor Tami Roleff fills in the details…
During the last meeting of the Warren Valley Basin Watermaster board of directors, Hi-Desert Water District General Manager Ed Muzik explained that the resolution takes effect March 1 and will affect only new wells.
“This does not impact any existing wells. It would just be for new wells after March 1, 2021, they would have to connect to our system if our system ever came within 100 feet of their location. It doesn’t impact anyone who currently has a well, this is just for new wells going forward.”
Muzik went on to explain that the water district would not try to prevent anyone from drilling a new well.
“If we were to try to prevent someone from drilling a well, we’d have to have proof of why they shouldn’t do it, like a water shortage. We’d have to do a scientific study, showing a negative impact of installing a well, which we don’t have, and aren’t planning on doing. So we’re not going to oppose someone from putting in a well if they’re a thousand feet away from us.
But once you’re within a 100 feet you’ve got to connect to the main, too, for wells installed after March 1, 2021.
