In an age where we take so many precautions to ensure our children’s’ safety from the dangers of the world at large, it’s appalling to see their very lives threatened daily and willfully at Brook Knoll Elementary school by parents themselves.

The San Lorenzo Valley Water District staff works hard to ensure customers have access to drinking water that meets or exceeds all State and Federal drinking water standards. The process to do so involves sampling and testing water, protecting the watershed and maintaining the distribution system.

I reside at the end of a privately maintained old lumber road. On Friday, January 22, Scenic Way was blocked to all inbound and outbound traffic due to downed tree/power lines. Our neighborhood is fortunate to have an alternative access route when either Scenic or Park Drive closes. When one road closes, all residential traffic is funneled through this private section. With more than a hundred vehicles passing through, the road quickly turned to thick mud; previous hardpan turned into deep pot holes, and two cars ended up in the drainage ditch.

Like water customers throughout the Central Coast and many other parts of California, Scotts Valley Water District ratepayers have responded to the historic drought by sharply reducing their water use even as El Niño rains fall across our service area. Although El Niño is bringing some relief to the parched soil, it will take longer than a single year for our thirsty watersheds to recover. Water conservation is still necessary to assist in the recuperation of our watersheds.

Dear Editor,