Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Conservation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Water district adopts conservation plan, highlights repairs and system mapping
Summary
The Big White Water Service District adopted a water conservation plan at its Dec. 11 meeting after reports on a recent Cedar Point leak, planned valve/hydrant maintenance and a system mapping effort with Sunrise Engineering; routine consent items also passed.
The Big White Water Service District adopted a new water conservation plan at a Dec. 11 board meeting after members reviewed the plan and heard a public comment about residential irrigation technology.
Speaker 2, the meeting chair, said the district recently repaired a leak in the Cedar Point area and avoided a widespread shutdown. “We didn't have to shut the water off. We only had to shut it off to 1 house,” Speaker 2 said, adding the district offered to pay for a hotel stay for the affected resident while service was interrupted.
The adoption followed a public hearing. Speaker 4, an online commenter, told the board they will trial an electronically controlled, low-water lawn-watering system and share results: “It's supposed to save a lot of water,” Speaker 4 said. Board members credited Michelle for drafting the conservation plan and noted she submitted explanatory materials though she could not attend.
Board members also discussed operational improvements. Speaker 3 described clogged valve cans and hydrants that require hand excavation and proposed a quarterly maintenance schedule to exercise valves and keep hydrants operable. Speaker 2 said the district is working with Sunrise Engineering to map the system — pipes, valves and valve cans — and said there may be grant funding that could cover some of the cost. Speaker 2 also mentioned a possible submersible inspection drone as an option for tracing pipes.
Speaker 2 said the system recently required a planned flush of water to maintain operations: “the other day, they actually had to flush 200,000 gallons,” Speaker 2 said, and noted that the flushing was done in keeping with legal requirements to maintain the system.
After brief board discussion, Speaker 4 moved to adopt the conservation plan and Speaker 1 seconded. The board approved the measure by voice vote; Speaker 2 declared the motion carried.
In other business, the board approved a consent agenda that included a November 2024 disbursement listing, the fiscal 2025 budget report through November, a November 2024 water-usage comparison and minutes from the Nov. 13 meeting. A motion to approve the consent items was named for Scott Taylor, seconded and approved by voice vote. The board adjourned after confirming no closed session was necessary.
Votes at a glance - Adoption of water conservation plan: moved by Speaker 4; seconded by Speaker 1; voice vote, approved. - Consent agenda (disbursements, budget report, usage comparison, minutes): motion named for Scott Taylor; seconded by Speaker 3; voice vote, approved.
The district said it will move forward with system mapping and a regular valve/hydrant maintenance schedule; officials noted possible grant funding but did not provide details or funding amounts during the meeting.
