Bruce R. Frohman: Why don’t public water agencies work together?
Water is essential for economic well being. The sign in downtown Modesto says it all: “Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health.”
Does anyone find irony in the fact that the citizens of Oakdale and Modesto have water restrictions while the Oakdale Irrigation District sells “surplus” water outside the area?
While Modesto Irrigation District farmers were restricted last year, OID had surplus water to sell.
Why has our area been called one of the worst places in the country to live? Is one reason that public agencies tasked to serve us sell our region’s resources so that we live under shortage?
Given OID’s surplus and MID’s shortage, why haven’t the two agencies met to arrange for a regional water bank? Why should either district ever suffer a shortage when sufficient water exists to supply customers of both districts?
When are leaders in our area going to quit operating independent fiefdoms and start working together to improve the quality of our lives as is done in the highly successful Bay Area? I am asking. Who has answers?
Bruce R. Frohman, Modesto
This story was originally published April 14, 2016 at 6:18 PM with the headline "Bruce R. Frohman: Why don’t public water agencies work together?."