Water Haulers Shut Down

Lucerne Valley Residents Left With No Warning

By Ryan Orr
Daily Press [Victorville, Calif.]

LUCERNE VALLEY -- The California Highway Patrol began impounding water haulers in Lucerne Valley Friday without giving notice to residents who depend on the service.

"All we know is what people are telling us," said Linda Gommel, who runs Lucerne Valley Market/Hardware. "Hundreds of residents are affected by the shutdown of our water haulers.

First District County Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt said that he learned what was happening late Friday night and was never notified that water haulers would be shut down.

He said he is sitting down with his staff first thing this morning to get to the bottom of the problem.

"The county was not brought into the loop on whoever is doing this," said David Wert, county spokesman. "It's very unusual. When people have problems like this, they depend on the county for help and information."

Rhonda More said she had nine loads of water to deliver Friday when she got the call that other providers were being shut down. More, who owns #1 More Water Service, said she has over 100 customers. She was told that she cannot do business until she gets a carrier's license and alters her truck to allow potable water only.

"I didn't know I needed a carrier's license," said More, who has been in business a little over a year.

Wert said that the CHP was under direction from the Environmental Protection Agency to keep all water haulers out of Lucerne Valley that were unlicensed.

Wert said that he doesn't know if it's the state or federal EPA, but that there is one water hauler that is licensed in Lucerne Valley that can still provide the service.

"Water haulers have been delivering water to residents for decades with no problems reported, no sickness," Gommel said. "The county health people are around lots and haven't interfered. Out of the blue this becomes acceptable?

More said that there are six water hauling companies, and the ones that were shut down were all due to various licensing or permitting issues.

More said that she received over 150 calls Sunday from people concerned about the water problem.

"It was just terrible," More said.

Gommel said that most people that use hauled water have it delivered on a weekly basis.

"This is the biggest bureaucratic screw-up that I've seen up here in a long time," said Chuck Bell, secretary for the Lucerne Valley Economic Development Association. He said that the agenda for Tuesday's meeting of the association has been completely altered to focus on the subject of water haulers.

Bell said that the association will recommend the water haulers be allowed to continue to operate and give them six months to comply with any license or certification issues.

"This is the middle of summer for God sakes," Bell said.

Wert said that Mitzelfelt's office is doing its best to get answers from various agencies, but as of Sunday night Lucerne Valley residents and county officials were left with nothing but questions.