WATER BATTLE COMPANY, WELL OWNER GRAPPLE OVER WELL RIGHTS IN TINY COMMUNITY WITH LIMITED SUPPLY.

Byline: Judy O'Rourke Special to the Daily News

SLEEPY VALLEY - The battle over water rights is nearing the boiling point in this bucolic burg, leaving some of its residents sleep-deprived and worried there is no end in sight.

The namesake water company says an interloper is draining the town dry. But the owner of a prolific well says he should be able to tap into the gusher, which he contends is fed from a pool separate from the one that feeds his neighbors' groundwater supply.

``(The question is), is there enough water supply for (the petitioner's) well without impacting the health, safety and welfare of others?'' said Kim Szalay, a case planner for the Los Angeles Department of Regional Planning.

Early Wednesday morning, community members from both camps trekked from Sleepy Valley, on the outskirts of rural Agua Dulce, to downtown Los Angeles to address officials who were to consider issuing a conditional operating permit to the newer water company. Planning commissioners put off a decision until the question is answered.

Before the public hearing got under way, a top staff member recommended continuing the case pending further water studies. Commissioners decided the dozen or so Sleepy Valley folks who showed up should have their say. The panel considered flipping the case with a lengthy item listed just before it, but decided against it.

After sitting through about three hours of public testimony on the other matter followed by a lunch recess, the speakers were given the news.

A supporter of the established water company was relieved. ``It's not personal,'' Laurie Jenkins, a mortgage broker, said. ``It's just about keeping our community intact and not going through the scares we went through last year and this year of not having enough water. We're still paying trucked-in rates because we're afraid our water supply is not sufficient at this time.''

Former Tennessean Roy Ramey has lived in Agua Dulce for more than 20 years. He has trucked water to approximately 100 residential and commercial customers in Agua Dulce for about 10 years, he said. Ramey has applied for the conditional use permit to pump and sell 11,000 to 45,000 gallons of water a day from his well, which has been shut down for about a year pending the permit decision.

His business consists of a well, a pump house, two 10,000-gallon water storage tanks and a water-hauling truck. The enterprise sits on about 7.7 scrubby, rolling acres adjoining Sleepy Valley to the north and west, and Agua Dulce to the east.

The well is less than one-fifth of a mile from Sleepy Valley Water Company's wells, which have kept water flowing in the town's spigots for a century. The wells ran dry for the first time ever in May 2004, company officials said, and they believe Ramey's operation is largely to blame.

He disagrees.

``My land happens to be over a big lake, an aquifer, that has nothing to do with anybody else,'' he said. ``I have water and they don't, so they think I'm stealing theirs.''

His assertion, as well as the viability of the supply, will be evaluated by the county.

Another wrinkle lies in the documents presented by resident Arnold Verbiesen. He claims they prove his mother owns half of the water rights on Ramey's property, and said the water is not to be used for resale.

Sleepy Valley Water Co. - which is owned by community members - has begun the lengthy process of filing for imperial water rights with the State Water Resources Control board in Sacramento. The company supplies about 100,000 gallons of water a day to about 70 homes from wells that are 110 and 120 feet deep.

To keep its customers' faucets from running dry, the SVWC has imported 24,000 to 32,000 gallons of water each day. The utility passed along the higher cost to its subscribers.

While residual water from winter storms flowed in rivers and creeks through the summer, the company's wells are not as full as officials had hoped they would be.

Kathy Sloan, president of the water company, said the long-range effects of allowing Ramey to pump water could be devastating to her customers, who also are her neighbors.

``We're a working-class community, not a wealthy community,'' said Sloan, who teaches biology at College of the Canyons. ``A large part of our assets are in our house. If our home is devalued because we don't have water ... our wealth is down the tubes.''

What if you just want to quench your thirst with a glass of water?

``Imagine if you went to the faucet and there was nothing there,'' said Agua Dulce resident Ze Gonzales, who said that happened to him last spring. ``We have a shared well. I hooked up to (it). Our water went completely dry.'' Instead of water, he got sludge.

A county health services employee took time away from work to support the water company.

``Five years ago when I moved into the community, (water) cost $35 every two months,'' said Josephine Robinson. ``Now it's $200 every two months.''

Thirty-two-year resident Bill Konecko supplements water he buys from the company with 55-gallon drums he lugs in from Pacoima, where his business is located.

At least seven residents have brought in water tanks that cost upward of $4,000 apiece, he said.

``(That) indicates people are desperate,'' he said. ``They don't have confidence in the water supply in the ground.''

Meanwhile, Ramey said the county left him hanging. ``They're not cooperating with me,'' he said Thursday. ``(They gave) no deadline, no parameters ... they took it off the calendar and left it open. They've (let) it fall on my shoulders by myself.''

Officials told him he must pay for a water study if one is needed. The day before, one of Ramey's counselors, a law student who lives in Agua Dulce, was less delicate.

``(The county) lies to us,'' said Gar Smith. ``They said in a report they may require a water study. They're going to drag this thing out with a date uncertain.''

Smith, who had been one of Ramey's customers, said the county has essentially put his client out of business. He held out a petition in support of Ramey he said was signed by 180 local residents.

In a separate but related matter, the county district attorney filed suit against Ramey for running his business without a conditional use permit, one of the many layers of approval required for operating that type of business. The case is pending. To keep its customers' faucets from running dry, the SVWC imported between 24,000 and 32,000 gallons of water each day and passed along the higher cost. While residual water from winter storms flowed in rivers and creeks through the summer, it did not fill the company's well, officials have said.

As wells are drilled and more water is needed to douse flowers and for residents to bathe, the aquifer could be depleted if the water is not refilled.

Residents who sink wells for their own use are not subject to the same rules as water purveyors. Until Ramey complies with the policies required for commercial water suppliers and the county's public works and health departments review his reports and make recommendations, officials say his trucks will not be making any deliveries.

Judy O'Rourke, [phone]

judy.orourke(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

4 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color in SAC edition only) Sleepy Valley resident Connor Jenkins, 4, gets a trickle of water from a well his family shares with other residents.

(2 -- color in SAC edition only) Roy Ramey, whose well rights are being questioned, says, ``My land happens to be over a big lake, an aquifer ...''David Crane/Staff Photographer

(3 -- color in SAC edition only) Laurie Jenkins stands near a water tank in her backyard, which she and her husband use only as decoration.

(4 -- color -- ran in SAC edition only) Deadened lawns have become a common sight in Sleepy Valley since the town's taps began to run dry.

David Crane/Staff Photographer