On Thursday, October 17, 2024, at the Tenaya Lodge in Yosemite, Attorney and Court Receiver Nicolas Jaber of Serviam by Wright LLP (Serviam) participated in a panel at the 2024 CALAFCO Annual Conference titled “Connecting the Drops: Private Water Systems in California.” The panel explored the challenges and opportunities facing private drinking water systems, with Jaber sharing his expertise on the role of court-appointed receivers in stabilizing distressed systems.
Jaber discussed and answered questions pertaining to his experience as the Attorney and Receivership Project Manager overseeing the Big Basin Water Company, Inc. (BBWC) on behalf of Serviam, which the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Santa Cruz appointed as BBWC’s Court Receiver.
BBWC is a private, investor-owned water system serving more than 500 individual households located in the Santa Cruz Mountains. BBWC is officially classified as a failing water system according to the State of California and faces severe operational, funding, regulatory, and legal challenges. Jaber’s experience with BBWC provided a real-world example of how court receiverships, while extreme remedies of last resort, are increasingly necessary to ensure the survival of aging private water systems across the State of California. Jaber detailed Serviam’s success in securing an $850,000 Department of Water Resources State grant for BBWC’s immediate use, which was in large part due to Serviam’s close partnership with the County of Santa Cruz, the official grant recipient.
The CALAFCO Conference panel, which also included J.M. Brown from Santa Cruz County and Lydia Rossiter from MoonShot Missions, discussed a broad range of issues, including regulatory oversight, emergency preparedness, and the importance of capital funding in ensuring system sustainability. Jaber’s insights into the Big Basin case illustrated the real-world application of these principles and the critical role appointing a court receiver play in securing California’s water future.
Nicolas Jaber’s experience with Big Basin Water Company, Inc. brought a unique and practical perspective to the CALAFCO Conference panel, highlighting the intersection of law, public policy, and water management. His contributions underscored the essential role of court-appointed receivers in ensuring that private water systems remain viable and capable of serving their communities. You may contact Nicolas Jaber at Jaber@Serviam.Law.
