Water & Wastewater
There is historical evidence of private well contamination in Boonville that is most likely attributable to the proximity of wells and onsite septic systems. In 2016, water quality testing of samples drawn from 23 residential wells in the densest housing areas revealed alarming levels of E Coli and nitrates. Funding is currently available under State Proposition 1 to create municipal utility systems. The District has tapped into Proposition 1 State planning grants to develop an affordable Water/Wastewater utility system.
The water system service area would extend from Hutsell Road northerly through Boonville (including side streets) to the High School and Clinic area, Meadow Estates and down Anderson Valley Way to the Elementary School. The wastewater system service area would extend from Hutsell Road northerly to the Mountain View Road intersection area, including side streets and also the High School and the AV Health Center.
Learn more in the Frequently Asked Question sections below.
Proposed Water System Map
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Proposed Wastewater System Map
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Frequently Asked Questions: General
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There is historical evidence of private well contamination in Boonville that is most likely attributable to the proximity of wells and onsite septic systems. The presence of small lots in portions of the community exacerbate the problem. Many septic systems are also nearing the end of their useful life and in some circumstances, there is insufficient space for a standard replacement leach field. When a system fails in these circumstances, the only viable alternatives are very expensive. In 2016, water quality testing of samples drawn from 23 residential wells in the densest housing areas revealed alarming levels of E Coli and nitrates. These findings confirm that a health issue exists. Funding is currently available under State Proposition 1 to create municipal utility systems. This is a relatively new program and offers an opportunity to take advantage of it. The District has tapped into Proposition 1 State planning grants to develop an affordable Water/Wastewater utility system.
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Renter's rights such as for potable water are enforced by the State and not the County. Renters need to file a complaint with the State to initiate an investigation and many tenants are unlikely to do so. Shortage of housing is a factor. Known failures of septic systems have been required to be repaired and only if a property owner refused to repair the failed septic system will the County consider taking action that may lead to "red tagging" the structure.
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The proposed service areas are shown on the maps that are linked at the top of this page. The water system service area would extend from Hutsell Road northerly through Boonville (including side streets) to the High School and Clinic area, Meadow Estates and down Anderson Valley Way to the Elementary School. The wastewater system service area would extend from Hutsell Road northerly to the Mountain View Road intersection area, including side streets and also the High School and the AV Health Center.
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Water systems are generally easier and less expensive to develop. Either public utility system would contribute to alleviating the current potential health issue in Boonville. However, there would still be contamination from septic systems if only the drinking water system is implemented. Since funding is currently available to study the feasibility of both public water and wastewater disposal systems, the AVCSD studied both systems.
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At this time the AVCSD has negotiated all the easements and acquisitions (wells, treatment sites, tank site) for both projects. The easements and acquisitions will be finalized when constructions funds are received. The final draft of the Engineering Reports have been sent to the State Water Board DFA (Department of Financial Assistance) and the Regional Waterboards for review.
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The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires that an Environmental Impact Report must be prepared as part of the planning process. In October of 2018 a Notice of Preparation was issued, stating that the report was being prepared. A public scoping meeting was held in November 2018 to hear public comments about the project. At this time we expect the draft EIR to be finished mid spring 2026. A public hearing will be held as part of this process. When the draft EIR becomes available, a Notice of Availability will be issued and comments will be accepted for the following 60 days.
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According to State rules, only the owners of properties within a proposed utility service area will have the opportunity to vote on any proposed rates. The process to set and adopt fees for property related services is set forth in Proposition 218. This procedure requires a letter to be sent to the parcel owners within the boundaries of the projects. Parcels in both the water and sewer boundaries will receive two letters. Parcels in the only the water system will receive one letter. The letter will explain the projects and the rates the parcel owners can anticipate. The parcel owner can do nothing (signifying acceptance) or return the letter with a “protest”. The definition of a majority protest is defined as occurring when more than 50% of all properly noticed property owners return a written protest.
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The community has concerns about future development in the Boonville area once existing infrastructure-related constraints are removed. We all want to maintain the positive qualities of life in Boonville. We should all recognize that there are other factors that will determine the pace of development and its nature (e.g. zoning, housing demand, proximity to employment opportunities, etc.). The matter of how much growth could theoretically occur was explored at a community meeting on 10/20/15. There is a link to this document on the right column of this page: Mendocino County Planning Dept Analysis. Note that growth will continue to be limited by current County of Mendocino zoning requirements and the system will only be designed for current usage with an "overcapacity" of only 10%. On the positive side, if a wastewater disposal system is installed, individual parcels will have more building options including the potential to accommodate small 'granny' units. Minimum lot size will be reduced with the addition of either water or wastewater systems and if both are installed the minimum lot size for a residential parcel will be reduced further. The systems will be designed to continue operating during electrical outages which is critical for the schools and businesses. Fire protection capabilities will be vastly improved which may result in lower insurance costs for property owners. Property values would be improved as well as public and environmental health.
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Everyone in the footprint of the wastewater system would have to connect if property owners approve. As for the water system, the decision to hook up would be optional. A backflow preventer would be required if an existing well were still connected to the house. A standalone irrigation system, not connected to the house, would not require a backflow preventer. Construction grants from the State would pay for all hookups for wastewater systems and residential laterals for water.
Frequently Asked Questions: Potable Water
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The project engineers have identified locations for multiple groundwater wells sited where the geology and/or existing wells suggest the potential for the best well yields. There are approximately nine existing wells and five to-be-built wells in the system.
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The distribution system layout and locations of the supply and storage facilities have been determined. There will be a network of water mains supplied by groundwater wells (approximately 14) with storage tanks for 300,000 gallons located at an elevation that provides gravity service throughout the service area. The water mains and storage facilities have been sized to deliver both fire and domestic service. The existing water system at Meadow Estates will be abandoned and not reused.
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The current California Fire Code (CFC) has regulations for most remodels and new construction requiring water designated for fire suppression. Current fire code requires designated on site fire water (hydrants) and fire sprinklers with large storage capacities and delivery capacities. Construction projects and improvements currently need a municipal water source or an independent site source designed for the building and occupancy. These rules apply to the building sites in Boonville that were recently destroyed by fire.
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Water is one of the biggest challenges that our FD faces while battling both structure fires and wildfires. -An average municipal fire hydrant can deliver the same amount of water in under two minutes as a single water tender can deliver in a single load. Normal water tender shuttle times range from 30 minutes to sometimes over an hour in rural areas. -Empirical data has proven that fire sprinklers save lives, keep fire smaller and more manageable, and reduce property loss. Availability of fire protection features like these will provide better protection for our community members, visitors and buildings. -A municipal system would provide a dedicated and reliable fire water supply. Dedicated water storage tanks supplying a gravity fed system would ensure adequate water delivery to fire suppression systems during power outages, which are typical during fire events.
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The Elementary School, High School and the Health Clinic all have unique firefighting challenges that would benefit from the water supply provided from a fire hydrant. The elementary school has an insufficient water supply, the high school system provides limited supply and the health clinic system is static. Future construction improvements and fire suppression efforts could be difficult with current water supply systems.
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The Insurance Services Office (ISO) rates all properties in Anderson Valley that are within 1000' of a recognized hydrant (municipal style) at an ISO 5. Most all other areas in the district are rated at an ISO 5Y. The ISO 5 rating significantly reduces property owner's insurance costs once over a ISO 5Y rating. The current plan calls for hydrants every 500'.
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Without an adequate water supply, defensive firefighting tactics are used to ensure efficient use of available water. Instead of directly putting the the fire out, the risk of running out of water requires letting an existing fire burn while utilizing the minimal water supply to protect nearby structures and the surrounding wildland areas.
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A Public water system would be able to maintain more consistent service at a possible lower cost during times of drought. The State only offers monies for drought relief and potable water to public water systems. Private property owners with dry wells do not have access to those types of monetary relief.
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Existing well systems may still be used for standalone systems. If an existing well system is connected to the municipal system, a backflow prevention device must be installed.
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Yes, parcel owners can decide not to connect to the water system and still benefit by fire hydrants along their street. If they decide to connect, the cost of the lateral, if a residential property, will be paid for by the construction grant. If they choose not to connect initially and later decide they want the service, then the cost of the hookup will be on them.
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Yes, usage will be metered. The rate structure has not yet been determined, but it is likely that there will be a base charge for everyone connected. The base charge is what everyone is charged regardless of how much water they use for each billing cycle and the usage charge is a cost per unit of water used during the billing cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions: Wastewater
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The wastewater collection system layout has been determined. It will be a State-approved grinder pump collection system with a municipal type treatment facility and sub-surface disposal. This is the system that is deemed to be least costly to construct and maintain.
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We are studying the possibility of setting up a system to reuse the treated effluent as it will be “secondary-plus” quality and can be used for many purposes: road construction, fire suppression, irrigation and livestock watering, etc. It is not suitable for filling swimming pools or hot tubs as it is not potable.
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The wastewater treatment plant would have a backup power source. The grinder pumps at each hookup, however, would be powered by each homeowner's/business's electrical service which might go out, unless they have a backup generator. Larger than normal wet wells will be used for each grinder pump installation to accommodate any backup. They have a minimum of about 230 gallons, which may hold 2 or 3 days of normal use. During an extended outage, conservation measures would be encouraged. In addition, the grinder pump control panels would be outfitted with a quick generator fitting. If the regional power outage lasted more than a day or two, the District could go around and connect emergency generator(s) to each household and pump out its contents. Only the smallest of portable generators are required to operate the grinder pump.
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The state grant will cover the cost of decommissioning the tanks during the construction project. Once the new system is running and the house connected to it, the septic tank can be pumped out and then filled with gravel.
Frequently Asked Questions: Financial
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The engineering firm of Brelje & Race anticipates that the sewer project will cost about $30,000,000 and the Drinking Water project will cost about $26,000,000. The initial planning phase (2015-2026) was paid for by two State planning grants of approximately $850,000 each.
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The chosen option MUST be deemed affordable in the view of the State before they would commit further funds to build it.
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State grants are available for construction. Our applications will be submitted after the LAFCo and the Proposition 218 processes signifying community acceptance are complete. Since the the area is designated as "disadvantaged" based on the most recent census data, we are eligible to have all the capital costs covered by grants. This grant covers infrastructure costs for residents and non-profits. Parcel owners of properties which are solely commercial should anticipate being responsible for the cost to connect to a utility (typically the work on their side of the property line). After project implementation, operating costs would be derived from ratepayer fees. There will be no cost to property owners located outside of the projected service zone(s).
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It is unlikely that a loan will be needed. At this time, given Boonville's rating (severely economically depressed), the State will cover 100% of our construction costs.
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According to Mendocino County Assessor's office (Sue Ranochek June 2018), there would be no automatic increase in the assessed values of properties due to the availability of water or wastewater hookups since properties are already assumed to have water and wastewater systems available (via wells and septic systems).
Frequently Asked Questions: Administrative
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The AVCSD would be the administrator and operator of the system(s). The service areas for water and/or wastewater systems would lie within current AV Community Service District boundaries.
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Yes, the AVCSD would need to apply to the Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCo) to activate powers for Water and Sewer. The District already has those latent powers and has started discussion with LAFCo about their activation. The AVCSD has entered into the LAFCo approval process but it can not be completed until the rate schedule has been determined. The engineers will submit possible rate schedules to the AVCSD for consideration and adoption. We hope to have this settled by summer 2026.
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Keep following our posts here. There are still unknowns at this time but information will be released as it becomes available. The CSD, engineers and our State DFA project manager meet the first Thursday of each month at 10:30 at the Fire House and the public is welcome. This is an opportunity for you to directly ask engineers and agencies questions. Now that we have finished the planning process and are entering the EIR process (Environmental Impacts) we will schedule another community meeting. We hope that there is a lot of interest and feedback throughout this process with the goal that the community is fully educated prior to receiving their Proposition 218 letter(s) to approve the projects. Please reach out to us if you have questions or concerns.