St. Helena Issues Emergency Water Conservation Request

Press release from the City of St. Helena:

Oct. 20, 2022

ST. HELENA, CA – City of St. Helena Director of Public Works Joe Leach today announced the urgent need to curtail water use in the City of St. Helena. Effective today, Director Leach called for expanded water conservation practices.

“Our water system continues to pose challenges. With significant deferred maintenance, we experienced a pump failure at one of our two Stonebridge Wells, and are currently operating at significantly reduced capacity,” Director Leach explained. “Increased water conservation for the next two weeks will help us navigate this challenge.”

The two Stonebridge Wells provide a critical and significant component to the total potable water supply. A pump/motor for one of the wells failed on Wednesday.

“Working collaboratively between City staff and our contract plant operators, OTS, a contractor was mobilized on Thursday morning to remove the failed submersible pump and motor. It is our expectation that the well reassembly with the new pump/motor, after video inspection and cleaning, will occur within the next two weeks, or less,” said Leach.

Director Leach credits the staff of Public Works and OTS for rapidly addressing this issue and for working the extended hours to assure an adequate water supply.

“Our water operators are putting in the extra effort needed to manage this situation. The preliminary schedule is to place the well back into service within two weeks barring any unforeseen issues that come out of the inspection/installation process.”

Briefed on the situation, Mayor Geoff Ellsworth stated, “We now need the assistance from the St. Helena community to curtail the demand on our water system.” The City’s website will post updates on this water emergency.

This press release was produced by the City of St. Helena. The views expressed here are the author's own.