May 9, 2001

California Water District law provides that forms for declarations of candidacy shall be available for a specific period of time, and shall be filed by a certain date. Forms will be available from District Secretary Dave Ciapponi in the Fresno office on May 14, and must be filed with the Secretary no later than 5 p.m. on June 8, 2001. To be eligible to run for the Board, a person must be a landowner in Westlands Water District or a legal representative of a landowner. Terms are four years.

Rotating Outage Information

Power shortages being experienced in California will affect District facilities along with the rest of the state. Main conveyance facilities such as the Tracy, Banks, O’Neill, Dos Amigos and Pleasant Valley Pumping Plants are not scheduled to be part of the rotating block outages. Other District pumping plants and offices will be affected by the outages.

For your quick reference and convenience, we have enclosed a summary of the pumping plants associated with PG&E block outage number and letter designations. This information, along with information from the news media, will help you plan. KMJ Radio (580 AM) and KCBS Radio (740 AM) follow these outages closely.

When we become aware that a pumping plant is without power due to rotating outages, you will be notified by your accounting technician to turn off your deliveries. This will minimize the time needed to refill the system and restore water service. If you are aware that your lateral is being impacted by a power outage, please contact your accounting technician for updated information.

Once power is back on, you will be notified when you can resume delivery of water. It is anticipated that when power is restored, it will take four hours to complete the filling process. You will be required to get clearance from your accounting technician before you resume delivery of water. If water users begin delivery of water before filling is completed, it will take a longer period of time to fill the lateral. Your cooperation during these events will minimize the total amount of time you are without water.

As always, accurate and timely water orders are essential to the efficient operation of the district’s distribution system. During power outages, this information is even more critical. Please ensure that you and your staff follow the water ordering rules.

If you are unable to locate District staff at their usual telephone numbers, please call (559) 224-1523.

Revised  5/16/01 - Important Rotating Block Outage Information Below