Managing 4 Public Water Systems throughout Sonoma County
These systems are regulated by the Division of Drinking Water and governed by locally elected Board of Directors. The public water systems comply with the California Water Code, Community Services District, and County Water District regulations contained in the Government Code.
The Board of Directors for Public Water Systems must comply with the California Brown Act. The Board must post agendas, provide public notices, and schedule public hearings.
Public water systems are governed by a locally elected Board of Directors.
Camp Meeker Recreation and Park District
The state legislature passed legislation in 1994 granting this Recreation and Park District the power of a County Water District. The Board of Directors secured financing in 1996 for the construction of a water source well at Monte Rio, a transmission main and pump station to deliver water to a storage tank on Morelli Lane.
Subsequently, a second project replaced all water delivery facilities, and included two additional storage tanks. This project was constructed in 1999/2000. All operations are monitored by a remote telemetry system which reports the status of all critical equipment to a control center and sends alarms to the operator’s cell phone.
The system serves 356 customers. An additional annual charge of $350 is collected with property taxes to finance the $5.3 million capital improvements. The district received a total of $2.1 million in grants from the State Department of Water Resources and the Federal Rural Development Agency.
This system provides fire protection with a minimum flow of 750 gpm. The source is high-quality ground water produced below the deep gravel of the Russian River basin.
CMRPD Monthly Public Water Meeting
The Camp Meeker Recreation and Park District holds monthly public meetings:
Date: 3rd Tuesday of the Month
Time: 7 pm
Location: Anderson Hall on Tower Road, Camp Meeker
Occidental Community Services District
The Board of Directors received a grant and a loan from the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Rural Development Utilities Programs to construct an intertie to the Camp Meeker Water System. The construction, completed in 2006, consists of a well at Monte Rio, improvements to the Camp Meeker treatment plant at Alliance Redwoods, installation of a 6″ pipeline from Hampton Road to Occidental and replacement of a majority of the old distribution mains, installation of fire hydrants and replacement of the services in Occidental.
The system serves 110 customers; however, a number of commercial customers pay a majority of the capital repayment costs. The capital repayment costs were assessed against the property and the repayment of the USDA loan is collected with the county property tax. This system is monitored and controlled by a remote radio telemetry system.
Occidental Monthly Public Water Meeting
The Occidental Community Services District holds monthly public meetings:
Date: 2nd Tuesday of the Month
Time: 6 pm
Location: Occidental Fire Station on Bohemian Highway
Rains Creek Water District
This water system is a county water district, governed by a Board of Directors elected by the voters within the district. The service area consists of the former Hiatt Mutual and the private Rains Creek Water Company. The County of Sonoma Public Works Department secured grants and a low-interest loan to drill a well near the airport, construct a mainline distribution system and fabricate a new tank near Hiatt Road.
Water quality is excellent and consists of the underflow of the Russian River. Treatment consists of disinfection and corrosion control. The district serves 63 customers.
Russian River Utility maintains the facilities and collects all water quality samples.
Russian River County Water District
This public district was organized in 1983 with the primary purpose to acquire the private Russian River Terrace and Rio Dell Water Companies. District directors issued assessment bonds and acquired grants to construct a new water delivery system consisting of two wells located near Steelhead Beach, four steel tanks and a distribution system including meters and fire hydrants.
The service area extends three miles along the Russian River from Marianna Road on the east to Summer Home Park on the west.
The system expanded in 1994 to include the Summer Home Park area. The local property owners approved a benefit assessment district to finance a new storage tank and distribution system with service meters and fire hydrants.
In 1998/99 the Hacienda area approved a similar benefit assessment district to renovate their water service system, again including a new storage tank, service meters and fire hydrants. In 2007, the District annexed two mutual water companies and adjacent areas which needed a safe, potable water supply. The two annexed systems include the Hollydale Mutual Water System and the Rural Canyon Mutual Water System.
Subsequent assessment proceedings will provide funds to construct improvements to these water systems. In 2015, the service area includes 1,252 customers.
The fire flow in the 128 fire hydrants located within this district deliver in excess of 1,000 gal/min. This exceeds the 750 gpm requirements of the California Public Utilities Code and the Department of Health Services.
RRCWD Consumer Confidence Reports
Every year, RRCWD is required to mail out its Consumer Confidence Report. It shows the details of the results of monitoring between certain dates as required by State and Federal Regulations. To see the current Consumer Confidence Reports, go to RRCWD’s website: RRCWD Water Quality
RRCWD Monthly Public Water Meeting
The Russian River County Water District holds monthly public meetings:
Date: 4th Tuesday of the Month*
Time: 6 pm
Location: The Community Room behind the Forestville Fire Station, 6554 Mirabel Road in Forestville.
* Most Decembers and some Novembers, the meetings are earlier in the month and possibly earlier in the day. Check the RRCWD website for details: RRCWD Board Schedule
