Those of you who are a water company as well,   would you be willing to share your application for water services or agreement you have cabin owners initially sign when buying the cabin and wanting water services.

 

Thank you

Bunny Krall

Mt Laguna Improvement Association, Cleveland NAtional Forest

We don't have an agreement. The terms for our water system are included in our association bylaws and any changes in terms are recorded in our annual meeting minutes. When we have a new owner, as a part of closing, we receive an HOA demand letter that asks for the Bylaws, last annual meeting approved minutes and financials, and a copy of their current HOA invoice. If there is a balance due, it has to be remedied as part of closing costs and is often negotiated between seller/buyer.

Thanks Des. Do you have a new member fee? And would you be willing to share your water rates? You are in CA?

Our water association covers two tract, Bryant Creek and Fir Tracts near (25 min from) Lake Tahoe.  The association has bylaws and constitution that I can share if you want.  (Why we have two things is beyond me and they really need to be updated for an email type world, but that's another topic)

We have a one page agreement form (attached) we ask new owners to sign.  When we hear about a cabin for sale we contact the realtor, if there is one, and the owner/seller, giving them copies of the constitution, bylaws and agreement form.  There two title companies up here and they both know about us and always ask us for the dues, etc.  We also give them the info and ask that the agreement be part of the signings.

We don't charge a "new" member fee, but if a cabin who wasn't part of the system originally (they had other water sources) wants to join, we charge them a fee which is roughly the amount everyone paid to set up the system 30 years ago inflated every Jan.  That fee is about $2,400 this year.

You didn't ask this but for completeness.  We have a well and a 10,000 gal tank.  We used to serve 47 cabins.  There were 52 cabins in the two tracts.  The Caldor Fire wiped out all except 13 cabins with 11 on the system (some will rebuild).  The other two had thought about joining the system as their spring would dry up late in the season but with the loss of thousands of trees, it doesn't anymore.

We have a special use permit for the water association; though, we haven't received a bill in several years in spite of asking why.  It expires along with the cabins on the El Dorado NF at the end of the year.  We've asked what we need to do to renew, and, of course, we've heard nothing, but the FS is understaffed and quite busy with almost 900 cabins to inspect and to issue new permits for.

One final tidbit, the pump house, tank and most of the mains don't have an APN (assessors parcel number) so the county won't issue building permits.  We replaced almost 5,000 ft of mains a few years ago.  The FS just said oh, you're an engineer go ahead.  No need for an independent (would have to be hired by us) inspector.  Also when we rebuild the pump house, replaced the tank and reestablished power after the fire, the FS and the power company (PG&E) just said go ahead.

I am so sorry for all the cabin losses in your tracts.

We have a special use permit for our water system as well that is expired. We have not been charged for years- We are trying to renew, so will let you know if we make any progress.

We have a water agreement - trying to change to an application so a signature on our end is not required. We do charge a new member fee of 25.00 (Seems to be so little) .and water rates seem very reasonable.

We have a well, pump house and 2 tanks (80,000 and a larger tank (I was told this larger tank was old oil tank that was refurbished into a water tank MANY years ago and is in need of replacement.) We supply water to 175 cabins. This will be our challenge.

Appreciate any info you are willing to share

Bunny Krall

Follow-up - We do not have a new member fee. Our annual association dues are $350/year. Because all cabins are connected, there is no option to opt out. Our annual dues include water system permit, water system operation and maintenances fees (all required CA testing) and NFH member tract dues. Our system source is spring fed (two horizontal wellheads) to a 63,000 gallon tank serving 47 cabins.

I am asking for input from other tracts who serve as water companies for their cabins.    

 

Our Organization (MLIA)  serves as a water company for multiple tracts - Total of 175 cabins.   We have a well, a pump station and 2 tanks.  One tank has been replaced in the past with an 80,000 gal tank and services approx 35 cabins, the other tank is in need of repair/replacement  (will need to guesstimate how long it is going to last, 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years?) .   The tank in need of repair is 420,000 Gal (we believe it was brought in MANY years ago as a refurbished fuel storage tank.     

We are gathering  information from tank companies and others who have come in to evaluate the tank.   As a Board, we are trying to make a sound decision with refurbishment versus replacement and size of tank that we should replace it with.....And Cost.

 

Those of you who have replaced your tanks within the past 10 years can you share the decisions that went into size.

 

and would any of you be willing to share your tank size, number of cabins serviced and annual water usage?

Thank you, appreciate any input

Bunny Krall

Director, MLIA

858-663-4390

 

 

Size of tanks is a big depends question.

The 10,000 gal tank we have never had any issues keeping up with the water usage of 47 cabins on a busy weekend. Our pump can pump about 1,000 gals/hour. You would need a bigger tank if your recovery rate is less.

Also, if you provide fire hydrants then there are CA state and county requirements for how much storage; though, they depend a bit on when the tank was installed. The last I heard they wanted a 1,000 gals/hour for two hours or 120,000 gals, but in the past it was 1,000 gals/hour for an hour.

Spring Tract in the Tahoe basin provides water to about 130 cabins and fire hydrants. I believe they have 60,000 gal tank. They put that in in the last 10 years with consultation of tons of government agencies.

The other thing is how much outdoor watering is allowed. The significantly boosts the usage.