The City of California Board of Aldermen was informed of the failure of the Moniteau County Water District 2 well over New Years. The information was given to the council at the regular monthly meeting on Jan. 4, at the City Hall.
Mayor Norris Gerhart said many people served by Water District 2 believe they are served by the City of California Water Department. This complicated the situation since the wrong people were being contacted.
It was reported the well pump for the well belonging to the water district, near the district's water tower east of California, burned out at some time around the New Years holiday. Apparently, no one was aware the pump had failed until the water tower was nearly empty.
Gerhart reported he had received a telephone call asking the city open the connections with the district's water mains, but he needed to have approval from four of the six members of the Board of Aldermen and a contract signed. The contract offered by the city at the time District 2's well and tower water went online over a year ago had never been signed by the district board. Included in the contract were a requirement for a $1,000 fee each time the city opens the connection to provide water for the district, water use to be charged at double the rate for the city users (a normal requirement), and a monthly fee to remain as a backup provider.
Following a call on New Years Day from a representative of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), the council approved the water valves being open to provide a connection with the district's mains without the contract. About noon on New Years Day, Water and Wastewater Supervisor Kyle Wirts met a representative of District 2 to open the valves. The valve at what is known as the Racker's Connection was opened successfully. However, when Wirts and the District 2 person opened the small building housing the second main connection valve system, it appears no heating system was ever installed. As a result, the equipment inside was found to have been frozen and heavily damaged, rendering it unusable.
Since there was only one connection available, water pressure was low in some areas, even though there was water in the lines. DNR issued a boil order.
The pump motor has since been replaced and the district's tower began filling.
Gerhart said a bill will be sent to Water District 2 for the connection and water usage amounted to a total of about $1,926.
Wirts commented that the second set of connecting valves will have to be completely rebuilt to be usable. Gerhart and Wirts commented it appears District 2 did not have a backup source readily available. There is still currently no agreement in place.