Pinion Pines Estates Mutual Water Company

Location
Frazier Park, Kern County, California

Problem
Aging water treatment infrastructure and limited financial resources often prevent small communities from maintaining water quality standards and meeting the daily demands of their residents.

Solution
RCAC provides financial assistance so that small communities can upgrade their water treatment facilities, ensuring reliable and safe water supplies.

Pinion Pines Estates Mutual Water Company (PPEMWC) operates a water system that serves the community of Pinion Pines Estates, located approximately 52 miles south of Bakersfield, California. This community is part of Frazier Park, a census-designated place in southwest Kern County, nestled within the Los Padres National Forest. Frazier Park, known as one of the mountain communities of the Tejon Pass in the San Emigdio Mountains, has a population of 2,587 according to the 2019 American Community Survey. The area is primarily a retirement community with a mix of second homes, supported by a service-oriented local economy.

PPEMWC supplies water to 295 lots in Pinion Pines Estates, with 265 homes connected to the system. However, the water supply, drawn from wells, contains fluoride, iron and manganese levels that exceed the maximum levels, posing a significant health risk.

To address these issues, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) committed State Revolving Funds as a forgivable loan, earmarked for improvements to reduce fluoride levels and bring the water system into compliance. In 2021, PPEMWC requested a revolving line of credit from Rural Community Assistance Corporation (RCAC) to provide interim financing, allowing for timely payments to contractors and engineers as they await disbursements from the SWRCB.

With the funding from RCAC, PPEMWC was able to move forward with the proposed project, constructing facilities across three different sites within the Pinion Pines Estates community, including the addition of a new well, a blending tank and a storage tank. These upgrades were necessary to address the excessive fluoride levels and enhance the overall water supply, ensuring that the community has access to safe and reliable drinking water.