COMMUNITY COMMENTARY:

Good news! I have no opponents in the upcoming election. I would like to thank my constituents for your trust in me as your representative on the board of directors of Mesa Consolidated Water District.

I believe that the next four years will be even more challenging than my previous years as your representative. Why? First, Mother Nature is not cooperating and we’re not getting enough rain. Second, a state court decision stopped the pumps that deliver our water from up north. Third, our economy, (e.g. fuel prices) is having a negative domino effect on all of our finances. Even though we do not want to raise rates, Mesa is under pressure from outside sources to do so.

However, the citizens of Costa Mesa are very fortunate to have an independent water agency that can focus solely on water issues. Mesa directors are a hard working team which focus solely on water issues, unlike the Costa Mesa City Council, which must resolve a myriad of tasks. You have an excellent board of five members that are totally involved and informed on water matters ranging in scope from Northern to Southern California, from border to border, and even across the country.

The truth is, we must have a new and different source for our water supply. Yet where do we go and how do we get there? Should it be via reclamation, tertiary treatment, sea water desalting or conservation?

There are some in the water industry (thankfully not our board) talking about conservation penalties so severe that that they are beyond belief. They want to mandate how much water you can use. This is not my way of thinking because I recognize that we can work together to solve these issues. I will take your questions, opinions and feelings to our water wholesalers so I can accomplish our goals in a way that both you and I think is right.

Certainly, we never want to face a day when you turn on your faucet and there is no water, or a day when water prices exceed fuel prices!

This means that I need you, my customers, to get involved and understand these important water issues. For example, Mesa is encouraging projects that will desalt the sea water. Since the 1970s we have been discussing whether to build a bypass around the bay delta in Northern California. Everyone is asking where our next drop of water will come from. Also, the water industry is putting a water bond on the November ballot. I want you to feel free to contact your representative on the board if you have questions or are unsure about ballot measures — we are here to help.

To learn more about our most precious life-sustaining resource, water, I encourage you to read our newsletter, enroll in our Water Issues Study Group, starting January 2009, or attend our board meetings. Please visit mesawater.org, where you can get more information and easily communicate with us.

TRUDY OHLIG-HALL serves on the Mesa Consolidated Water District.