Staff writer
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| JEROME A. POLLOS/Press Residents of the 4 S Ranch in Hayden are seeking a state loan to pay for the replacement of the development's water system, which is needed for household usage as well as fire protection via hydrants. |
Hayden subdivision seeks state help for defunct system
Residents of a Hayden subdivision are seeking a state loan of more than $1 million to remedy their defunct water system, a financial burden they deem more manageable than their temporary solution of trucking in H2O every week.
"Every three to four days, we have two to three trucks coming in," reported Buck Johnston, resident of 4 S Ranch north of Lancaster Road. "It's not unusual for people to pay over $600 a month for their water."
Development oversight in the 1990s left the subdivision lacking sufficient water supply regulation, Johnston said, which his neighborhood witnessed once two of its three wells were out of commission by last winter -- one dried up and the other shut down due to poor water quality.
Johnston and eight surrounding property owners are thus reined in to 700 to 800 gallons a day -- the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality's minimum daily standard for a single residence.
They supplement by trucking water in from Coeur d'Alene, Johnston said, which can ratchet water bills above $1,000 a month for some neighbors' irrigation.
Water quality has proven dubious on top of the shortage, he added, recalling yellow ice cubes in the fridge. He even shelled out $4,000 to replace two water heaters because of iron bacteria contamination. Replacing their filtration medium cost another $1,000.
"It was a surprise to people up here," Johnston said, adding that the previous owner of his home had disclosed to Johnston that there was a community water supply. "They came up here in good faith that they would have their homes built, and the next thing you know, they're dealing with severe water quality issues."
The DEQ even dubbed the system as non-compliant with drinking water standards due to inadequate source supply in a sanitary survey report this summer.
"The water system has been experiencing severe water shortages since 2007 and is now hauling approximately 70 percent of their water supply from a certified drinking water hauler at a high cost to water users," wrote Suzanne Scheidt, DEQ regional drinking water manager, in an e-mail. "The lack of an adequate water supply in addition to water quality concerns has created significant health and safety concerns to water users of the 4 S Ranch."
As regional rock formations preclude drilling new wells, the only solution is installing a 2-mile transmission main to tap into the North Kootenai Water District water supply, Johnston said, a project that could tally between $1.4 and $1.6 million.
"If we don't get this water pipe, we're in trouble, serious trouble," he said.
But nabbing the funds could prove tricky.
The nine property owners were able to apply for a DEQ State Revolving Fund loan after annexing into the NKWD this month.
To qualify, however, they must form a Local Improvement District designating those who will share the cost of repaying the loan. The more neighbors that join, the better, Johnston said, as it means more people to help shoulder the payments.
He is also hoping the DEQ will grant a disadvantaged loan with lower interest rates and longer financing term.
"Right now we only have 12 (in the LID), so payments would be $1,000 a month, and that's just not feasible," he said, adding that the DEQ is requiring more petitioners. "Among us are retirees. We've had incomes slashed by the economic situation."
Other 4 S residents were not available to comment.
More than 50 folks in the area could hook up to the transmission line, said Mike Galante, district manager for NKWD.
"I would encourage them to connect," he said. "The public water supply that comes from the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer is really pristine."
But residents have been wary to join the LID without knowing exactly what they will fork out each year, he said.
The DEQ can't crunch those numbers until the LID is formed, however.
"We're in a chicken and egg situation here," Galante said.
The NKWD board hopes to lure more folks by passing a resolution stating that the LID won't be required to go through with the project if interest rates prove too high, he said.
Other methods of paying for the project like a bond would require higher interest rates, he added, and he doubted the subdivision would qualify for grants that target lower income areas.
"The district is trying its best to help these people with their plight," he said.
Sen. Mike Jorgensen, R-Hayden Lake, said he believes that the demand from development in the area will only deplete water sources further unless the right steps are taken.
"It's a ticking time-bomb," he said. "I think bringing the problem to the surface is a first step in perhaps making people aware that there is a problem. At the same time, I want to caution people who are thinking about going out and building that they really ought to be careful."
yup wrote on Sep 16, 2009 10:41 AM: