The Blue Lake Springs Mutual Water Company was created to provide an adequate supply of good quality water for domestic use at a reasonable cost to the Blue Lake Springs Development.
History
Mission Statement
Water links us to our neighbors in a way more profound and complex than any other.
-John Thorson, Federal Water Master
In the Beginning:
An operating permit from the State Board of Health was first issued in 1962 to the Blue Lake Springs Mutual Water Company (BLSMWC). Actually, the name of the water company was originally Lake Mont Pines Mutual Water Company when the first Articles of Incorporation were applied for in March 16, 1962. The water company changed to its current name in June of that same year.
The initial groundwater source was of limited quality and quantity. In 1965, the BLSMWC elected to purchase treated surface water from the Calaveras County Water District (CCWD). CCWD’s supplies were limited and during the drought years of the 1970s, it placed severe restrictions on usage, as well as substantially increasing charges for water supplied. The BLSMWC was forced to seek an independent source. In 1979, the BLSMWC constructed and began operating a plant for treating water from wells developed near Lodge Lake. These wells served into the mid 1980s when the quantity available became insufficient, again requiring further purchases from the CCWD.
Because of rapid growth throughout the Ebbetts Pass area, the CCWD supplies were still limited. In 1987, to solve a mutual shortage problem, the BLSMWC and the CCWD entered into a joint venture to develop new high production wells at White Pines Lake (our current wells 2 and 3). This project was very successful. Not only were Blue Lake Springs needs fulfilled, but an equivalent amount was available for the CCWD.
The Growing Years:
The number of homes served by the BLSMWC increased at an average annual rate of 45 new connections a year, from 973 in 1980 to 1423 at the end of 1989. Early projections stated that in 10 years, 400 to 500 additional homes would be added to the system. This will be approaching a full build-out for Blue Lake Springs. In fact, we are currently serving 1,715 homes out of the 2,024 shares originally issued to the developer Kenneth DeMeuse.
In 2017, the BLSMWC broke ground on the “USDA Project.” This project moved water lines that were behind homes to the front, street-side. It also completed the installation of meters for all homes, and increased water and fire hydrants to within 300 feet of all homes. These improvements were completed in 2021.
In December 2023, the Cross-Country Pipeline was completed. This replaced transmission lines from Blue Lake Springs Drive to Del Rio Court.