[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 116 (Monday, September 10, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                75TH ANNIVERSARY OF PICO WATER DISTRICT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GRACE F. NAPOLITANO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 10, 2001

  Mrs. NAPOLITANO. Mr. Speaker, I am proud today to rise in recognition 
of the 75th anniversary of Pico Water District in Pico Rivera, 
California. Currently serving 5,233 households, the Pico Water District 
is performing important work during this crucial period of addressing 
California's water shortage.
  Just before the Pico Water District was founded, the 243 homes in the 
area were served by five small water systems. In 1926, the Pico Rivera 
Chamber of Commerce called together the town's citizens and urged them 
to create a more modern water system. The citizens of Pico Rivera 
recognized that their old-fashioned water system was lowering the value 
of their homes. After much consideration, they agreed to consolidate 
their small systems into one large system. They voted to form the Pico 
Water District under the State Water Act of 1913. The newly elected 
Board of Directors for the Pico Water District held their inaugural 
meeting on September 20, 1926, and have been in operation ever since.
  As in 1926, California is again at a point in time when we are 
realizing that we must modernize our water system. If we are perceived 
by others as a region that is water deficient, it will be difficult to 
sustain the businesses that complement our high-tech and biotech 
industrial base and our diverse agricultural economy that is so 
important to our nation and the global marketplace. I applaud the Pico 
Water District for doing its part by continually modernizing its system 
while providing the residents of Pico Rivera with low cost, high 
quality water service.
  The Pico Water District currently has nine functional wells available 
to deliver water. The present energy crunch is being met in Pico Rivera 
by a water district prepared to provide uninterrupted excellent 
service. In fact, in the past 75 years, only natural disasters such as 
earthquakes have interrupted the District's water service.
  The Pico Water District provides only the highest quality water to 
its customers. Every week, numerous bacteriological and chemical tests 
are performed by the District. As a result of this meticulous work and 
the high standards maintained by the District, the quality of Pico 
Rivera's water has never been challenged by the Health Department. This 
high quality service is provided at very reasonable rates. In fact, the 
Pico Water District remains the only water district in Los Angeles 
County that does not tax its customers.
  I urge all of my colleagues to join me in recognizing the hard work 
of the Pico Water District. The high quality of service the District 
provides should serve as a model for water providers throughout 
California. Since 1926, the Pico Water District has worked as a 
cohesive unit to provide water to its customers. Please join me in 
commending them as they celebrate their 75th Anniversary.

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