Le Grand faces potential water emergency

LE GRAND, Calif. (KFSN) -- A rural North Valley community is on the verge of major water restrictions because of trouble with its wells.

The green lawns and bright flowers around Le Grand could soon turn brown as the community faces a potential water emergency.

"Our water situation here is the water table is dropping and it's dropping fast. We've lost one well already, we have another one that we're just about to lose," said Le Grand Community Services District Superintendent Richard Kilgore II.

Anderson Pump Company arrived Monday to work on the one that recently failed. Officials say it was drilled back in the '60s as an open bottom well. It recently collapsed because of the dropping water table, but crews are hoping to tap into a cavity that's closer to the surface.

"We're coming back with a little bit smaller pump, and we're going to Band-Aid that well until we can get a couple of the others repaired," said Kilgore.

This well is also having trouble reaching deep enough to provide sufficient water for the community, even though it was lowered just two years ago. Back then it pumped more than 1,300 gallons a day, compared to less than 600 now. But new wells may not be an option.

"One of the farmers just drilled a new well and it was a dry hole, so the water is getting deep around here and it's getting scarce," said Kilgore.

That's why the Community Services District is now hoping to use this well that was supposed to serve a new development, which was never completed. It has to be certified by the state before the district can buy the property and start pumping. If that doesn't happen, residents who are already under some restrictions may not be allowed to do any outdoor watering.

"We pay a lot of money for water use and it's nowhere to be found," said Miguel Vera of Le Grand.

Water officials in Le Grand are also working with the California Office of Emergency Services to find grant funding to upgrade their wells. They hope to have more answers by the end of this week. In the meantime, they're asking residents to conserve water as much as possible.