La Mel Heights Water System

The La Mel water system serves about 60 homes in La Mel Heights along Ridge Road. La Mel is one of four separate water systems that Amador Water Agency (AWA) services. Water for the La Mel system is supplied by a groundwater well. After the water is pumped from the ground. the water is treated and then stored in a tank before it is delivered to homes via the distribution piping system.

How Ratepayers are Affected

If the La Mel system is not operated efficiently, costs to ratepayers will be excessive. The La Mel water system is the poster child for poorly operated water systems within AWA. Since 2003, La Mel operational costs have increased by 93%. In 2006 alone, costs went up 69%.

The biggest reason for these increases is greater salaries and benefits which more than tripled from 2003 ($15,475) to 2006 ($51,020). It is no wonder that costs have increased so drastically.

All of these expenditures will eventually be paid by ratepayers so it is important to stop the waste to keep rates from going through the roof.

The increase in operational costs indicate how inefficiently AWA has operated the system. However, maintaining the system has also been an issue. By 2010, AWA spent all of the reserves and more, leaving La Mel $200k in debt and the debt is increasing every year.

All of the money that was spent was spent without the consent of the ratepayers. Now La Mel ratepayers are obligated to repayment of the funds that were overspent during the last 8 years.