VOTMA forms domestic well owners group
At its February meeting, the Valley of the Moon Alliance (VOTMA) agreed to form a subcommittee for domestic well owners. The purpose of the Sonoma Valley Domestic Well Owners subcommittee is to provide a forum and resources for private domestic well owners who reside in the Sonoma Valley watershed and surrounding areas. The Sonoma Valley Domestic Well Owners Alliance has been formed in recognition of the fact that private domestic well owners are entirely dependent on the quantity and quality of water in the local aquifers and that these aquifers are increasingly utilized by large commercial wells, often without consideration of impacts on adjacent domestic wells. As a result, domestic well owners could be facing decreasing groundwater supplies that will adversely impact property values. Currently, the County has no policy or backup plan in place to assist domestic well owners in areas where their wells go dry as groundwater declines, and yet the County is responsible for issuing permits for large commercial wells.
The Alliance is seeking members from private, domestic well owners in the Sonoma Valley. The Alliance will work to unite domestic well owners to preserve present and future water supply by promoting sustainable water consumption by ALL stakeholders in the aquifer. The Alliance also seeks to protect the rights of private domestic well owners and their collective parity as stakeholders in the management of the area’s subterranean water resources. The Alliance will keep members informed and educated in matters relative to water rights, quality, resources, historical data and any other information relevant to owning and maintaining a private, domestic well water system. The Alliance will also advocate on behalf of the rights of private domestic well owners collectively and individually.
There will be a meeting on April 21, 6 p.m., at the Kenwood Depot. Email svdomesticwells@gmail.com for more information, or contact Kathy Pons, 833-2452, or Philip Sales, 592 1601. Please visit the Valley of the Moon Alliance website at www.votma.org.
