HELP AVAILABLE FOR PROPERTY OWNERS WITH DRY WELLS

Loans are available to help people with dry wells due to the drought

By Michele Clock, County of San Diego Communications Office

October 27, 2016 (San Diego) -- Do you own a property with a well in San Diego County? Is it dry due to our prolonged statewide drought? Help is available.

A new emergency water distribution program is offering assistance to residents without access to running water for drinking and sanitation due to a dry well. Residents who qualify can receive low-interest loans to replace individual water well systems and install temporary water tanks. The water assistance is not for landscaping or agricultural needs.

The program was created as a result of an executive order by California Governor Jerry Brown. Local assistance is available through the County of San Diego and the Rural Community Assistance Corporation.

For a low-interest loan, applicants must:

• Own and occupy the property or plan to purchase the property with the dry well
• Earn an annual gross household income of $62,883 or less

For the emergency water distribution program, applicants must:

• Own a property with a well that has gone dry due to drought
• Earn a total gross monthly household income less than or equal to 200 percent of the federal poverty level (here’s a breakdown of those income levels)
• Own and live in a primary residence on the property with the well
• Own and live in a legal dwelling on a legal parcel
• Have plans for a long-term water supply solution

For more information, visit the County Office of Emergency Services’ emergency water program webpage, email the department at readysd@sdcounty.ca.gov or call 858-565-3490.