Why Does San Mateo County Not Protect Ground Water Aquifers From Private Well Contamination?

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VIDEO. From the March 3rd, 2021 Special Meeting on the History and Engineering of the Montara Water and Sewer District (MWSD) water system.  General Manager, Clemens Heldmaier, presents.

Watershed protection = ground water protection. Montara’s water comes from a bedrock aquifer, not the Hetch Hetchy reservoir system in the Sierras. MWSD plans more research to ensure they are producing their water sustainably.  Many California aquifers are over drafted.

Over the decades, the County permitted a number of private wells on the unincorporated mid-coastside in the urban zone.

Nowhere in the country is this the case.

Wells are rarely metered or monitored and can be the source of unintended contamination. MWSD offers well testing in order to protect the aquifer.

There is also a well conversion program for homes to get on the MWSD water system.

 

 

Clemens Heldmaier, General Manager of MWSD and one of their watershed water collection system.
Coastside Buzz
Author: Coastside Buzz

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