The aftermath of the Eaton Fire continues to ripple through Altadena, as nearly 200 residents convened at a recent gathering to confront a $3,000 financial imposition from the Las Flores Water Company. The fee, intended to sustain the private utility's operations after significant fire damage, was met with dissent and worries about affordability among the community members still in recovery mode.
According to ABC7, Altadena homeowner Michael Bartlett expressed the communal strife, stating, "I think we're going to get hosed again," emphasizing the double jeopardy residents find themselves in, first by natural disaster and now, by a financial predicament foisted upon them in their time of reconstruction. Las Flores Water Company, which was substantially underinsured, faces a critical deficit and needs the assessment to prevent a water service halt, directly impacting the community it serves.
At the core of the issue, as detailed by Pasadena Now, is the stark reality that private mutual water companies like Las Flores lack access to the federal and state disaster funds that cushion public utilities in such crises. This starkly places the financial burden of rebuilding the private utility's infrastructure squarely on the shoulders of already beleaguered homeowners and customers.
Further complicating matters, the Las Flores Water Company, which lost both of its reservoirs in the fire, has put forth payment options: either a $50 monthly fee spanning five years or a one-time $3,000 charge with interest repaid after the term, as reported by ABC7. As residents struggle with the emotional and financial toll of the disaster, Vallitta Sharpe, a resident, questions, "My concern is the $3,000. How are low-income people going to pay this?" highlighting the added stress on those already facing economic challenges.
Some residents see consolidation with another water provider as a potential solution to ensure long-term viability. Shawna Dawson Beer called the hefty assessment "a Band-Aid on a sinking ship," while advocating for a merger with a competent water company to reliably support Altadena, especially with community growth and the threat of future disasters. The notion of merging with the Lincoln Avenue Water Company has been broached, with Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger endorsing this strategic move, which is under consideration by the State Water Resources Control Board.
While the immediate assessment has been deferred until residents can return to their properties, the slated initiation of the charge in February or March for those already resettled in their homes is imminent. The financial lifeline for Las Flores remains tethered to its shareholders – the very customers depending on its survival for a critical resource – water.
