Ex-Olympia water customers join SLV Water District

The San Lorenzo Valley Water District announced last week that it has completed a consolidation project to supply water to 51 homes on Zayante Road in Felton that previously were under a state-mandated boil water order.
According to a press release, the area had previously received water service from Olympia Mutual Water Company, a privately owned mutual water company that sourced water from a natural spring.
The spring, which also feeds Zayante Creek, was classified by the State of California Department of Water Resources as “under the influence of surface water.” Since 2003, Olympia Mutual has been under a State Compliance Order, requiring the company to bring its source water and system into compliance with California code. Without appropriate treatment, Olympia Mutual had been operating under a state-issued boil water order for years.
Olympia Mutual proposed a consolidation with the San Lorenzo Valley Water District in 2006 that would connect the 51 homes served by Olympia Mutual to SLVWD. The District agreed and, in 2008, SLVWD submitted an application to the Department of Water Resources under the Safe Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for the Olympia Mutual Consolidation Project, which would provide a loan to fund part of the new distribution system.
The total cost of the project is $916,710. An assessment district was formed at the request of the 51 homeowners to fund the remainder of the project. Each homeowner will pay $20,000 over a 20-year period.
The state approved the project in August 2013. Work began in October 2014 and was completed in early April of this year.
As part of the project, undersized water mains were replaced and fire hydrants were added, improving fire protection services in the area. 
“We now have water for fire suppression in areas where fire hydrants had been nonexistent,” Zayante Fire Chief John Stipes said in the release. “This type of upgrade may lower homeowners’ insurance.”
Like other SLVWD customers, the new service area is subject to water restrictions due to the drought, including limited outdoor irrigation and other conservation methods.
For more information, visit www.slvwd.com.