Mutual & Private Water Systems

Mutual water systems are non-profit corporations administered by a Board of Directors. Every lot or service owner is a stockholder, or commonly called a holder of a certificate, guaranteeing water service. Although mutual systems are privately owned, they qualify for State and Federal low-interest loans.

Private water systems are investor-owned for profit companies. The water rates are reviewed and approved by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

Sereno del Mar is owned by Russian River Utility and is a member of the California Water Agency. The California Water Agency members represent the private water systems.

Carmet-by-the-Sea Mutual Water Company, a non-profit corporation, and Sereno del Mar Water company, a private investor-owned water company, now operate a joint water source treatment and storage system.

This water system is located on Highway 1. The water source consists of two hill side wells. This water system receives treated surface water from the adjacent Sereno Del Mar Water Company. Additional information is included below with the Sereno Del Mar Water Company.

This company is located north-easterly of Santa Rosa, and consists of 109 services. There are three active wells serving four pressure zones. The two largest zones are served by two steel tanks. There are three booster pumps serving the remaining customers. These areas are served by two redwood tanks. The tank levels, pump station, and emergency alarms are transmitted by radio to the central computer in Forestville.

The Board of Directors approved a master improvement plan in February 2003. This plan includes replacement of water mains and storage tanks.

This water system is located along the Sonoma County coast on Highway 1 in Bodega Bay. The system was established in 1970 when the Sereno Del Mar subdivisions were developed. In 1976 the Gleason Beach Assessment District was added to the service area.

This private water system serves 139 customers and has issued 170 water permits. The original subdivision developed 190 parcels. It is owned by Russian River Utility. Water rates, policies and regulations are determined by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

The California Public Utilities Commission approved a transfer of stock to Russian River Utility in October 1999. The water company is now a California corporation with all stock held by Russian River Utility.

A 212,000-gallon storage tank and source wells were financed with new connection fees. Therefore, the established rate base is low so the return on the investment is also low.

Russian River Utility received a $250,000 low-interest loan from the State Revolving Fund to finance the renovation of the surface water treatment plant. The construction was completed in 2001. The treatment plant consists of a state-of-the-art micro-filtration membrane facility.

The adjacent Carmet-by-the-Sea Mutual Water Company secured a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan in the amount of $140,000 to consolidate the water treatment services at Sereno Del Mar. Carmet services are now connected to the 300,000-gallon Sereno Del Mar storage tanks and are served filtered water.

Sereno Del Mar Water Company and Carmet-by-the-Sea Mutual Water Company are managed separately but have consolidated the treatment and storage facilities.