Included in the past few Bubblers, I have alluded to the impending conclusion of the infrastructure project. That moment is now before us. Final touches and “punch-list” work are starting to be addressed which are signs that the project is truly coming to a close.

There a lot of folks to thank: Dave Hicks, the General Manager as well as the entire BLSMWC Staff; MC Engineering; Mozingo Construction for walking their talk; BLSMWC Board of Directors for having the courage and insight to move forward accepting known and unknown risks; and to our customers whose patience was sought and delivered. The collective effort is a system designed to handle growth and has been constructed with products that are poised to last 60 to 120 years.

Delivering water is expensive. The system was not cheap, nor was it intended to be. A cheap system is just that.

For the past few years, we have been purchasing water from the Calaveras County Water District (CCWD). Even though our complex of ground water wells can adequately supply our customer demands, the option of purchasing water serves to prolong our wells and all related equipment. We are very appreciative of this partnership. We have travelled a long way from CCWD summarily cutting our complete supply to a viable contract that benefits both companies. Special thanks go to Michael Minkler, the General Manager of CCWD, and former Legal Counsel for BLSMWC; and the CCWD Board of Directors.

The local population seems to be shifting, hence the addition of users of our water system.

The virus has created a stay-at-home-working population and sales of homes in Arnold have increased rather dramatically. The Arnold Post Office has opened two hundred new PO boxes, the school population at the two local schools has increased, and other demands are noted like use of the internet/wi-fi. Added to this is an increase in water consumption of 12% in 2020 over 2019. The “future” that we often refer to is upon us. Our much improved system was designed and constructed to meet such growth. The water company receives a notification from Title Companies on the sale of properties and thus transfers of ownership. In the first nine months of 2019, 66 were noted and in 2020, 97 were reported in the same 9-month period. That is an interesting but reflective measurement in population movement.

Once again I want to thank you the shareholder for being patient. The project could not have been as successful without your cooperation and understanding.

Bob Maginnis, President- BLSMWC Board of Directors