HOLLISTER
The county board of supervisors approved an alternative for a county service area in which the Stonegate subdivision sits to solve its water problem. Out of five possible alternatives, the board decided that a groundwater well should be dug to provide residents with water, 15 percent for drinking and 85 percent for agricultural use.
The well will be drilled on property owned by Graniterock at an estimated cost of $1.31 million. Schaff and Wheeler, the engineering firm in charge of this project, said such a pipeline can supply 30 gallons per minute of potable water and 350 gallons per minute of agricultural-use water.
The other alternatives include drilling another well on public property, staying with the status quo or having CSA 31 join either the Sunnyslope or Tres Pinos water districts.
Assistant County Administrative Officer Rich Inman said that along with the approval of this item, the board also directed staff to send a letter to Sunnyslope, Tres Pinos and San Benito County water districts asking for their comments on this decision.
The need for alternative water sources arose this past summer when a drought occurred and residents of Stonegate had to reduce their water consumption. It included a ban on watering lawns and landscaping.
