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Lanier community seeks State Water Board letter to force negotiations on water and wastewater consolidation
Summary
Speakers from Lanier Community Services District and its legal counsel asked the State Water Board to issue a letter under Health and Safety Code section 116682 directing six months of negotiations with Riverdale PUD to advance consolidation of drinking water and wastewater services.
Representatives of the Lanier Community Services District and their attorneys asked the State Water Resources Control Board for help advancing drinking water and wastewater consolidation with Riverdale Public Utility District, arguing local negotiations have reached an impasse and that a board letter under state law could prompt progress.
Michael Claiborne, directing attorney with Leadership Council for Justice and Accountability, told the board the community has a long history of water-quality and governance problems, including an arsenic treatment plant funded with 2007 CDBG money that the district could not operate long-term. Claiborne said the system was placed in receivership in 2010 and remains in receivership today. "We are asking for the board's help in moving forward the drinking water and wastewater consolidation projects with Riverdale PUD," he said, and requested a letter under Health and Safety Code section 116682 directing the parties to negotiate for six months.
Why it matters: Lanier CSD has been operating under receivership and has previously relied on emergency or temporary fixes. Claiborne said feasibility studies completed with state technical assistance find consolidation feasible and that Riverdale PUD's current written opposition has created an impasse. Board staff and counsel were asked to consider issuing the statutory letter to compel negotiation and to coordinate regional action from the board and regional agencies.
Background provided to the board included a 2013 feasibility study that concluded consolidation with Riverdale appeared most feasible at the time; new wells funded and installed in 2019 resolved an arsenic violation temporarily but one of those wells was later shut down due to benzene. Claiborne noted a 2022 bill (SB 403) amended state authority to make consolidation orders more easily available in some circumstances and said recent feasibility studies for both drinking water and wastewater find paths forward. He said: "Without that letter, I think we're at an impasse."
Community speakers reinforced the plea. Isabel Solorio, from Lanier Community, described persistent water and economic risks for her community and asked the board to support consolidation. Leslie Martinez, community advocacy manager with Leadership Council, said residents' top priorities remain water and wastewater service and urged the board to act.
Looking ahead: Claiborne requested staff issue a Health and Safety Code 116682 letter directing six months of negotiation and indicated parallel conversations with the regional board about wastewater service extension authority. Board staff acknowledged the request and said they would follow up with the community and regional partners.
