Editor, Manteca Bulletin,

People write into the Bulletin stating that tankless water heaters are not a water savings or cost effective system. They fail to conduct any kind of study to back their claim up.

They also don’t make a comparison to 50 to 100 gallon water heaters that require constant reheating and refilling of this tank every time there is a demand.

Public Works Director Mark Houghton makes reference to landscaping accountable for 60% of the water use and subsequent waste. That fails to account for the percentage of loss in storage of water in tanks in the home. Water tank systems use pilot lights that keep constant residual heat in the tank. The pilot system is inefficient itself, for a percentage of this heat is vented through the vent pipe. If someone wants to shoot something down and is afraid to try a new concept, they will come up with negative information to discourage its use.

The Environmental Protection Agency has determined that the tankless system represents a 30 to 40% savings over the tank system. Councilman Mike Morowit didn’t use any comparison, he simply stated that he wasn’t into trying something new at the time this issue was considered. My question is why he supported more new homes to be built in a severe drought.  

Morowit is a business man in the community. Does he constantly look for new ways to cut cost and increase his profits, or does he accept a small unchallenged constant profit? You add more new homes to a city that is in a severe drought and then you fail to move on upgrading the water heating system. There is no manmade system in this world that is perfect, but I feel tankless water heaters will be accepted in the near future, as we constantly experience severe droughts in this valley. This city and council is on a mission to drain our water supply in Manteca, by yielding to developers’ demands for more home construction. If you sit on the council and don’t support change, then you are costing someone a seat on the council that is not afraid of new concepts. Some new councilmen act as if they are going to really initiate change in the council, then the fire inside is reduced to a spark.

It appears as though Morowit and the council refuse to accept change for the benefit of our conservation program. The council also fails to address the explosion of the population in Manteca when it comes to saving water. Ask yourselves this question: If our water system is in trouble now, what will be the impact on the water table after 12,000 more homes that are proposed are developed? There is no serious concern about water conservation when you compound the problem by adding 12,000 homes in a severe drought. It’s evident that the entire 32% state mandated reduction in Manteca water use rests solely on the residents. As the three digit heat hits us in mid-summer, this council will reflect on the irresponsible decision to over-develop, in a severe on-going drought. This council needs to seriously consider a moratorium on building, or reduce the cap to at least by 1.5%, with no rollover clause. I feel this decision want be yours in the future, for the state will act to curb development of homes, as the mandate for saving water is increased. Developers are in control of this city, for this city and council prioritizes taxes in lieu of water conservation. I would like to see this council start to represent the people’s interest, not developers’ profits. You can’t drink taxes, council.



Fleener Richards

Manteca