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HomeMy WebLinkAboutEIGHTY YEARS PROGRESS - WATER SUPPLY FOR THE CITY OF HUNTIN EIGHTY YEARS ' PROGRESS WATER SUPPLY for the CITY OF HLYWTINGTON ]BEACH 1904 - 1984 James R. Wheeler CE 10655 Public Works Director City of Huntington Beach 1958-1973 Introduction This paper is divided into parts which separate the eras of the systematic delivery of water to residents and businesses in the City of Huntington Beach. These are clearly defined periods of time except for the years 1964-67 during which private operations were incorporated into the municipal water system. From time to time some note will be made of the population and area changes that occurred over the years and their relationship to the development of the City system. Recognition must be given to those whose fore- sight and concern for the need to develop a municipal system provided the initial philosophy and provided the funding to begin essential works prior to the ne-e-dfor their being put into service. This will be done without mention of names for the sake of simplicity and in fear of not remembering someone who played an important role. Private Enterprise Development 1904 - 1967 At some time after acquiring the old seashore lands called Pacific City from the investor landowners the site was renamed Huntington Beach by the new owners, the Huntington Beach Company, in the spring of 1904. The same year on July 4th the first electric car arrived from Los Angeles. Upon acquisition the Huntington Beach Company made public improvements which included a water system. For lack of a specific .date of commencement of service it can be surmised that it was one of the first constructed elements of the original infrastructure. The first State of California Railroad Commission ,decision on Huntington Beach, dated August 14 , 1914 , was approval of the water rates of the Huntington Beach Company. on December 1, 1915 the Commission issued rules and regulations for operation of the Huntington Beach Water Company. At this time the Huntington Beach Company had spun off the water business to its wholly-owned subsidiary, Huntington Beach Water Company, so that it could deal separately with the provisions of the Public Utility Act. In 1925 Huntington B.pach Water Company engaged a Los Angeles based engineering firm to review the viability of its operation. At the time 1, 300 properties were being served and, in addition, water was being delivered to the oil field. 2. These combined sources of revenue resulted in a profitable operation and the consultant recommended the development of a new source of water supply to the north .of the City. Subsequently a well field and wooden tank storage was put in service, located on Golden West Street, north of Talbert Avenue. A Los Angeles investor purchased Huntington Beach Water Company in 1925. In 1927 American States Public Service Company, a Chicago (Illinois) utilities holding company became interested and by the fall of 1929 the American States Water Service Company of California was formed to manage these California holdings. In the ensuing years this company suffered the troubles of the depression and eventually the courts ordered a distribution of the common stock. Sufficient stock holdings were gathered together so that in 1936 the Southern California Water Company was formed. This company operated in Huntington Beach and other .Orange County communities. From 1936 until purchase of the property in 1964 by the City of Huntington Beach, Southern California Water Company operated and increased its services within the "old Town" area of Huntington Beach. At the time of acquisition Southern California Water Company was serving 2, 825 customers, mostly residential. Included was the Southern California Edison steam generating plant, the largest customer, consuming an average of two million cubic feet per month for boiler feed water. Sea water was used for cooling. 3. In 1956 a residential subdivision in county jurisdiction, located southeast of the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Talbert Avenue, was developed and water service was provided by Dyke Water Company. Dyke, a private investment operation, provided water from a single well to the 163 homes. Its object was to offer revenue producing minimal water service, but inadquate for fire purposes. This system was acquired by the City in June 1967 after annexation. - Services were then metered and the system was tied in to distribution mains, giving the area a guarantee of continuity of service and ample water for fire protection. Water was provided to the Surfside-Sunset Beach area by the Sunset Beach Water Company. With the development of off- street parking up-coast from Warner Avenue by the County, City water mains were extended through the project to Anderson Street to provide fire service. As the area redeveloped to a higher intensity use, including multi-story structures, Sunset Beach Water Company could no longer meet service requirements and was acquired by the City in June 1966. Several small water companies served limited areas of old subdivisions bordering Beach Boulevard. All provided an adequate but minimal service to customers or association members. As development occurred main extensions passed through these areas to serve new construction and afforded an opportunity for water from the City to those properties being served by the private water operation. There was the usual reluctance of those served to take City water; taste and metering being the main concerns. 4. The City did not insist that service be taken but stood back and let nature take its course. As zoning changed, the over- sized lots redeveloped to multiple use. The little systems could not supply them and they had to take City service. At the same time fire heads were installed, insurance rates decreased and further development accelerated. In 1957 the following small companies were operating: R. J. Curry Tract, west of Beach Boulevard at Newman Street, 10 services ; Liberty Park Water Association, west of Beach Boulevard at Liberty Street, 52 services; Boulevard Water Company, Inc. , west of Beach Boulevard and south of Edinger Avenue, 107 services; Moore Mutual Water Company, Inc. west of Beach, south of Warner Avenue, 60 services. Decade of .Decision 1950 - 1959 The minds of the thinking people dwelled on the ever growing development to the north in Los Angeles County. Plans were devised to deal with the inevitable invasion of homes and businesses in the County of Orange; government and non-govern- mental agencies prepared to meet the onslaught. Southern California Edison Company proceeded to double generation at the Huntington Beach steam generating plant and planned additional units. New gas transmission mains, bringing more Texas natural gas, crossed the county. The County Flood Control District and Road Department, and the State Division of 5. Highways, within their financial limits, commenced to expedite the execution of planned projects. On January 11, 1951 Orange County Municipal Water District (now Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) ) was formed. It was created as the agency to obtain water from Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) to serve most of the developable lands in Orange County. Not included were the cities of Anaheim, Fullerton and Santa Ana, all original members of MWD, and Coastal Municipal Water District which annexed to MWD in 1942. MWDOC was to act as the wholesaler of water to cities and agencies purveying to users. It had no transmission system and no -storage and would provide .none of these. The West Orange County Water Board (WOCWB) was established November 23 , 1953 with the City of Huntington Beach one of its members. WOCWB was the agency to execute the connection to MWD feeders and be the contracting agent to build the transmission mains serving its members. Huntington Beach leaders commenced their planning, ordered feasibility studies and eventually plans and construc- tion documents. Concurrently they launched a three-pronged effort to ensure the future of their little city by the sea. First was the promotion 'of a bond issue to fund delivery of MWD water within the city. This was accomplished in 1955 when a bond issue ballot measure was approved by 78 percent of the electorate. 6. The two other prongs were annexation and formation of Sanitation Districts. By 1959 the city had expanded from its original four to more than 22 square miles and had committed itself to constructing trunk sewers to serve the annexed areas. And so, 1959 found Huntington Beach "a city of substantial size with primary utilities in place, and a mature and resolute governing body and the nucleus of a -professional staff. Master plans were delineated and ordinances were enacted setting forth the requirements of development. Homes, commerce and industry were welcome in Huntington Beach if they could pay their way; there would be no city general tax subvention for projects . The Years of Development 1960 - 1984 Major residential development commenced in 1960 and continues to occur today. The housing tracts were followed by commercial development to provided services to the new residents. As the city grew in population commercial use became more substantial, industry gradually moved in to serve the market, banks sprang up. Schools met the needs of the growth. As land became dearer, luxury homes were built and intensive residential land use resulted in extensive condominium construction. From a 1960 population of 11,500 to the 180 , 000 of 1984 the city has never caused a slow down in development by its inability to have water available. 7. The first construction of housing was in the north and northwest; always abutting or within an economical distance of West Orange County Feeder No. 1. Due to the demand for homes, developers continuously constructed the basic 12-inch and 8-inch master planned mains. In 1961 the first water well was developed to supplement imported water. A second bond issue, in 1963, was presented to the voters and carried by a 94-percent yes vote. These bonds funded the acquisition of Southern California Water Company, construction of West Orange County Feeder No. 2 and a joint venture trans- mission line with Costa Mesa County Water District to bring water from San Joaquin Reservoir to the east city limits on Adams Avenue, and for other miscellaneous projects. Despite the rapid growth, water system development remained abreast or ahead of the demands put upon it. Trunk water mains up to 42-inch diameter, interconnected with two West Orange County Feeders and the East Feeder on Adams Avenue. Fourteen and 16-inch trunks were extended to ensure adequate services to the geographically isolated extremities of the system. Reservoir capacity was, between 1961 and 1972 , increased to 170. 5 million gallons ; 24. 5 MG at Overmeyer, 16. 0 MG -at Peck, and 130. 0 MG at San Joaquin Reservoirs. Water well development has been ongoing and by 1983 there were nine wells in service capable of producing 25, 000 GPM. These wells alone are capable of supplying the total average daily water consumption of the city. 8. Of course, such production is not realized. Huntington Beach is fully aware of the necessity of protecting and conserving the underground source and produces within the limits of rules governing use of the basin. Good planning and financing has resulted in an out- standing water operation. Monies advanced from general funds in the years before the water operation paid its own way have been repaid. The present operation pays for interest and redemption on the outstanding bonds. The staff of the Water Division today is an extremely professional group. A detailed current report of status can be found in the October 1983 Public Information Report by the Water Division of the Department of Public Works.