Parents from Rio Vista Elementary School in Canyon Country recently expressed concern over a water wholesaler’s desire to install a generator near the school.  

According to Brian Folsom, Engineering Operations Manager for Castaic Lake Water Agency, the agency is seeking a use permit from the South Coast Air Quality Management District to install an emergency diesel-powered generator approximately 500 feet west of the school on Cedar Creek Drive.  

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The proposed generator would be used to backup a nearby pumping station, which invariably supplies water to a significant portion of Santa Clarita.  

“The standby generator that we’re putting in is to run the pumps in the event of whatever kind of emergency or earthquake,” said Folsom. “If (Southern California) Edison’s power was to go down, that generator would kick in and run the pumps until the power came back on.”  

Agency officials maintain that these generators are required to meet emissions standards and, barring an emergency, would only be turned on 15 to 20 minutes every two weeks for maintenance.  
“AQMD reviews the generator – makes sure it has the latest technology as far as emission controls and filters to reduce emissions to the air,” Folsom said.  

The AQMD only permits this type of generator to operate 200 hours per year, but the likelihood of needing that total is minimal, officials said.  

A handful of Rio Vista parents, however, are still wary.  

On Tuesday, eight parents from the school attended an AQMD meeting held at the CLWA office.   “We tried to understand their position and come to a consensus and alternative ways to solve this issue,” said Aida Rodriguez. “However, it seemed they didn’t want to compromise.  

“I have a hard time knowing that my kids who are already exposed to some air pollution, will be even more on a regular basis if this project goes through,” she said.  

Agency officials said the last time a generator similar to the one proposed was used during an extended period of time was during the Northridge earthquake in 1994.  

If approved, the emergency generator would be up and running in approximately 12 to 18 months, said Folsom.