Water problems plague subdivison

There's not enough water in Squaw Creek Canyon Estates, a subdivison located some five miles north of Sisters. Residents are worried about having sufficient water both for home use and for fire protection.

A rationing system has been in effect since July 1 and now some residents want a public meeting to address the fire protection issue.

Residents received notice on the rationing system in a notice mailed to all users in late June by President R. D. Remund. "As you know, we have been experiencing very low water pressure," the notice read. "In 20 days we have pumped 2 million gallons of water; as the days get hotter, the gallons will go up and the pressure will go down. The only solution we have is to implement an odd and even watering day. If your address ends with an odd number your watering day will be an odd date. The hours will be 4 to 8 a.m. and 4 to 8 p.m.

"Anyone caught watering not on your day will be shut off."

Bob Temple, a Squaw Creek Canyon Estates resident for the past nine months, said that many residents believe that under-powered pumps in the area's four wells are behind most of the problem.

"A neighbor just sold his house and said this water problem has been around for at least 10 years," Temple said. "We need bigger pumps and that requires a three-phase electrical system that Central Electric Cooperative can provide, but they have said they can't start work on that until the end of August. That won't give us any help this summer."

Temple said that some residents want to discuss this problem in a public meeting with all parties concerned including the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District.

Phone calls to Remund were not answered.

The area has four wells that average about 640 feet deep and can pump a total of 186 gallons per minute. Water is stored in a 120,000-gallon sealed concrete reservoir.