Thursday, Sep 20 2012 5:24PM

The Tribune in San Luis Obispo County, California, reports Nipomo Community Services District leaders are implementing plans to source water from Santa Maria after a previous plan was voted against.

Current plans for the project are set to occur in phases. The first phase involves connecting a pipeline from Santa Maria's current water system and installing it across the community's main water source, the Santa Maria River. Ultimately, this would bring Nipomo consumers and businesses 645 acre-feet of water annually. The second and third phases would be to increase the capacity brought on by the pipeline.

Voters previously rejected a plan that would use property taxes to fund a $26 million pipeline back in May. District leaders are open to using an alternative method to collect water for residents living in Nipomo.

"If the [Supplemental Water Alternatives Evaluation Committee] comes up with something that's better, cheaper and faster than the phased approach, then we'd take their assessment and go with that," board member Ed Eby said, according to the paper.

The newspaper reports much of the costs for the first phase will be provided by state and district funds, while the agency will continue reaching out from other water services for an overall better program for rural California residents.

For further information, check out this source: The Tribune in San Luis Obispo County