OJAI : Appeals Open for Those Denied Water

Casitas Municipal Water District has adopted an appeal process for people who are denied water service under the company’s moratorium on new or expanded hookups.

About 20 people who have been awaiting a formal appeal process may now submit their applications, Casitas General Manager John Johnson said. He indicated that up to 100 applications may require review.

Residents’ tempers have flared at Casitas board meetings as many applicants learned their service requests would have to wait at least until next April before any more water would be allocated.

The board adopted the moratorium on April 11 to give the company time to determine how to meet the increasing demands on Lake Casitas reservoir and other water supplies in the Ojai Valley.

For the past several months, the board has been painstakingly reviewing requests for service and appeals on a case-by-case basis.

In the new, three-step appeal process, the board will be the last resort. Those who seek appeals must now submit individual applications for each step if they are dissatisfied with a decision.

The first appeal will be reviewed by a three-member committee of Casitas department heads. If the applicant wants to continue the appeal, he or she can resubmit the case to Johnson, who will issue a ruling. If still not satisfied, the appellant can then seek review before the district’s five-member board of directors.

No fee will be charged for any appeal, Johnson said.

Next month, the board will consider adopting a set of policies and priorities for water allocations when the moratorium is lifted. Applicants could be charged up to $500 to be placed on a waiting list and $50 annually to retain priority standing.