JOSHUA BASIN WATER ACCUSES SOLAR FIELD OF WATER THEFT

The Joshua Basin Water District accused a company operating a commercial solar field in Joshua Tree of water theft. According to a release from the district, a telemetry alarm notified crews early November 4 of a line break near the Sun Edison solar project in Joshua Tree. Staff discovered a break in the line near a damaged fire hydrant, which led to an about 72,000 gallon water loss; the area was not metered to service the solar project. A resident told District employees investigating the water loss that he had seen Sun Edison employees using the fire hydrant to wash solar panels numerous times. JBWD General Manager Kurt Sauer arrived and talked with a representative of Sun Edison Solar who said he did not know there was no agreement with Sun Edison and the water district about water use. Joshua Basin Water District attempted to contact Sun Edison’s corporate office, and after two days with no results, filed a sheriff’s report November 7, alleging water theft. Sun Edison’s corporate office manager Jeff Lewis, contacted Sauer shortly after and expressed Sun Edison’s desire to make things right, agreeing to pay $2,000 in damages, and $483 costs for water loss and water use. They also agreed to cover the water used between October 29 and November 3. Sauer and Lewis discussed future water needs for the solar project, including methods of tracking water use.