FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Newport Beach Seeks to Drill Wells in City
Newport Beach wants to tap the plentiful underground water supply that gave this city its name. But Fountain Valley officials are digging for more information to ensure their water supply would not be pumped dry.
A proposal that won tentative approval from City Council this week would allow Newport Beach to drill four wells, then pipe water to the seaside city.
Current ordinances prohibit the drilling of wells within Fountain Valley for the purpose of selling water outside the city, Public Works Director Wayne S. Osborne said.
Should the water supply be depleted because of the Newport Beach wells, Osborne said, Fountain Valley would have to import water, an expensive proposition.
Fountain Valley now gets 75% of its water from wells. Newport Beach has no underground wells and must buy all of its water.
Osborne said he has not reached a decision on whether to recommend the well project to the council.
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