By Jason KUROSU

The Glendale City Council approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Crescenta Valley Water District, which would allow the district to access water from the groundwater well on the property of the Rockhaven Sanitarium in Montrose. CVWD will lease part of the property where the well is located for a period of 25 years at $15,040 annually.

Steve Zurn, general manager of Glendale Water & Power, said the project was an example of the “great relationship between two neighboring agencies,” at the City Council’s special meeting on Dec. 16.

“We think this is a great partnership, a great arrangement. We take a dormant, non-functioning infrastructure asset, put it to work and bring money back into the city,” said Zurn.

The city of Glendale purchased Rockhaven in 2008, as locals worried that Crescenta Valley’s last remaining sanitarium might not be properly preserved. While historic uses for the site have remained in limbo with waning funds, Glendale Water & Power was authorized to drill a groundwater well on the property in 2010, which the city hopes can supply the Crescenta Valley Water District, while also generating revenue for Glendale’s water.

The water will be sold to CVWD for about $140,000 a year. Zurn said that the project will allow CVWD to purchase water “for cheaper than they’re buying now from a third party.” The revenue generated for the city of Glendale will be used to purchase water from the Metropolitan Water District.

One advantage that the city has with a Crescenta Valley well is CVWD’s Nitrate Removal Treatment Plant, which will be connected to the well.

“If we had decided to do this on our own, we would have had to put a treatment facility there. That would have been a lot more intrusive,” said Zurn, who also said that there were originally considerations for a second well “but that was felt to have a greater impact on the property so we decided not to do that well.”

According to Ramon Abueg, Glendale Water & Power Electrical Services administrator, a shed will be constructed around the equipment to prevent noise pollution for nearby residents.

According to CVWD Engineer David Gould, construction should begin in April and completed by October.

  Jason Kurosu