One of the reasons the Association hosts workshops is to provide networking opportunities for our members. For example, as a result of last year’s workshop, Averydale Mutual Water Company (Lancaster) was able to access free technical assistance.

To expand networking opportunities for our members, CalMutuals is excited to announce a new forum for sharing your concerns, issues, thoughts and resources — our Facebook page!

Our goal is to create a conversation with our members to ensure they are able to connect, raise issues and share solutions. In addition, our articles will be posted to Facebook so that members can offer comments and feedback.

We look forward to connecting with you on Facebook!  Join the conversation now by clicking here.

Click on the image below for an update from CalMutuals’ Executive Director, Adán Ortega on benefits for members:

CalMutuals JPRIMA Workers’ Compensation customers now have access to an online solution center made possible through our partnership with Zenith Insurance Company.

The Zenith Solution Center – a comprehensive risk management and safety resources website designed specifically for water systems – features access to online training programs, compliance tools, human resources management best practices, and more.

To learn more about the benefits of obtaining workers’ compensation insurance through CalMutuals JPRIMA, please contact Christine Graves at 415.602.3972 or email her at cgraves@alliedpublicrisk.com.

To download the step-by-step guide to all of your management and HR needs, click here.

Already a customer? Click here to access the Zenith Website and click on “Log In” to access your account and/or sign-up. If you have any issues logging in, please contact us!

The State Water Resources Control Board is requiring water systems to provide lead sampling services to K-12 schools upon request by school officials.

Under the requirement, testing is voluntary for schools, but if the schools make a written request, the community water systems must collect the samples within three months and report the results back to the school within two business days.  Sampling locations can include drinking fountains, cafeteria and food preparation areas, and reusable water bottle filling stations.

The community water systems are responsible for the costs associated with collecting drinking water samples, analyzing them and reporting results through this new program.  In addition, the State Water Board’s Division of Financial Assistance will have some funding available to assist with addressing lead found in tests, with a particular focus on schools in disadvantaged communities.

To download a helpful guide for mutual water companies that receive questions regarding lead sampling, click here.

For more background on this requirement, click here.

One of our members – Sunny Slope Water Company – has partnered with green tech pioneer Microvi to launch the world’s most advanced nitrate removal technology.

The new system will provide more than 200 million gallons of potable water to Sunny Slope’s 30,000 households.  The advanced nitrate removal technology – which generates no secondary waste – is the first of its kind in Southern California and will bring significant benefits to Sunny Slope’s customers.

“Our customers deserve the safest and best solutions, and we are happy to be the first to bring this innovative technology to the region, ” said Ken Tcheng, General Manager of Sunny Slope Water Company.

The State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) has announced that it will cease its practice of obscuring or redacting the actual locations of public water system wells.

Since 2001, the State Water Board has obscured the actual locations of certain wells in the GeoTracker and GeoTracker GAMA information systems and redacted documents to remove the locations of public water system wells that were provided to the public in response to Public Records Act requests.

In a letter released by the State Water Board, an explanation is provided outlining the previous practice and why the policy change has taken place. To read the letter, click here.

CalMutuals has been presented with the opportunity to host a FREE Rate Study Workshop for members. The cost to attend rate study workshops usually range between $150-$200+. If you are considering conducting a rate study – please contact us! Our office will plan a workshop based on the feedback we receive. 

Is your mutual in need of technical assistance? If so, help is available to mutual water companies through Proposition 1 (the Water Bond).

CalMutuals’ staff has already helped Maywood Mutual Water Company #1, located in Los Angeles, receive technical assistance for a water tank project from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB). The process to complete and submit a technical assistance form took less than three (3) hours and has already been approved.

To find out if your system qualifies, please click here to download and complete a Technical Assistance Request Form.

For questions or more information, please contact Susan Allen at (714) 449-8403 or via email at Susan@CalMutuals.org

This fall, Governor Brown signed AB 1794 (C.Garcia), impacting mutual water companies in the Central Basin Municipal Water District (“Cental Basin”). The bill expands Central Basin’s board to seven (7) members with the addition of three (3) purveyor members. The legislation also includes other reforms affecting the contracting and hiring practices of Central Basin. The new law will bring greater transparency to a district that, for years, has been plagued by corruption. Mutual water companies in Central Basin’s district will now have the opportunity to help elect a representative that will support small system priorities. 

AB 1794 does not impact mutual water companies statewide but does serve as an example of what can be accomplished through the combined efforts of our members. We appreciate Assemblymember Cristina Garcia’s continued support of mutual water companies and small systems. The success of AB 1794 would not have been possible without the support of our legislative committee, and members in, and around the Central Basin Municipal Water District. 

To review AB 1794 in greater detail, please click here.