Some residents in the Madera Country Club Estates near Road 27 and Avenue 18 1/2 say their private wells are drying up — and they think Madera Valley Water Co., which supplies water to some 1,900 customers, is to blame.
The water company’s officials, however, say their wells draw water from much deeper sources of groundwater than the private wells do and that shallow wells are drying because of the ongoing degradation of the groundwater supply by residents and farmers.
The uproar began when neighbors on Greentree Avenue noticed the water company digging and installing pipes along Road 27.
“Our wells are drying up because the water is being diverted,” said resident George Steeves. “They’re setting themselves up to supply the casino and other businesses if they come." ...