Dear South Mesa Water Company Customers and Contractors:
Thank you for working together with us as we continue to provide high-quality water in our service areas. I write to update you on the unmarked recycled water pipelines that the Yucaipa Valley Water District (YVWD) installed without a permit in the South Mesa service area.
Joe Zoba, YVWD’s General Manager, said in his recent response to the State Regional Water Quality Control Board order that he has removed his District’s unpermitted recycled water lines from the South Mesa service area. While the lines have been removed, we hope the Water Board moves forward with an audit of YVWD’s recycled water lines to make sure our water is safe from cross connection.
The Board’s order follows the discovery of as many as four recycled water lines that YVWD installed in the South Mesa service area without approval from the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Drinking Water. Both South Mesa and YVWD provide water to areas in Calimesa and Yucaipa.
These unmarked water lines could contaminate drinking water lines if accidentally cross connected. They are copper pipes, and not the distinctive purple color recycled water pipelines required by state water codes to ensure recycled water, used for irrigating golf courses or washing cars, is kept separate from drinking water.
The State Board’s order to Mr. Zoba follows South Mesa’s request to state water regulators for an audit of YVWD’s recycled water system to verify that it meets technical and operational requirements, and is also in compliance with the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act.
I thank our state and regional water regulators for investigating the matter to keep our drinking water supply safe.
David Armstrong
General Manager
South Mesa Water Company