Water service at Varian Ranch is provided by the Varian Ranch Mutual Water Company (VRMWC).

 

VRMWC was incorporated in April, 1987, as part of the approved Varian Ranch development.  It is a not-for-profit California corporation formed for the purpose of owning, operating, and maintaining a water supply and distribution system to serve the water needs of the 48 Varian Ranch residential parcels and a 49th parcel owned by the Homeowners Association that includes the community amenities and a barn apartment.

Each owner of a residential lot within the Varian Ranch development is required to purchase, concurrently with the purchase of a residential parcel, one (1) share of stock in the Varian Ranch Mutual Water Company.  In addition, the Varian Ranch Homeowner’s Association has been issued two (2) shares to own and control.  One of these shares is allocated to the service of common facilities that serve the entire development (horse barn, community center, pool, spa, community garden) and one share is allocated for domestic use for a ranch foreman’s residence.  The maximum number of allowed connections is 49, and the service area of the company is not allowed to be altered without a two-thirds favorable vote of all shareholders.
 
The water supply and distribution system was built in 1987 by the Varian Ranch developer and the assets were transferred to the Varian Ranch Mutual Water Company in September, 1987.  A Domestic Water Supply Permit was issued by the County of San Luis Obispo Health Department in October, 1987, which established the requirements for operation of the system.  The most recent permit was amended in May 2017.  The system has been in operation since early 1988.
 
As of May 2026, there are 48 active connections, including the two for the Varian Ranch Homeowner’s Association.  One of the residential parcels remains undeveloped. 

 

 

The water supply and distribution system owned and operated by VRMWC consists of two active water wells and pumps, flow meters, an 80,000 gallon in-ground reinforced concrete water storage reservoir, approximately five miles of PVC distribution piping, associated isolation valves and air evacuation devices, a small pump house, a chlorination system for disinfection, fire water supply wharf heads at each residential parcel, two fire hydrants, individual residence water meters for each connection and all required electrical components to operate the system.  The two active wells are capable of pumping 145 gallons per minute and 230 gallons per minute.  Both active wells are within the San Luis Obispo/Edna Valley groundwater basin.

 

An additional well (Well #4) was drilled in 2014 within the Arroyo Grande sub-basin as a backup domestic water supply source for the community should it ever be needed.  This well is capable of supplying over 400 gallons per minute.  It is currently being used as a backup well to irrigate the 80 acres of citrus and avocado orchards along Lopez Drive owned by the HOA.  A new pipeline from this well location would be required if the source were needed to augment the two existing wells to supply the residential area of the ranch.

 

 

The two active Varian Ranch wells (Wells #1 and #3) are located at the far southeastern end of the Edna Valley sub-basin of the San Luis Obispo groundwater basin.  This basin has been designated a High Priority Basin as part of the Strategic Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) that was established in 2015.  VRMWC was one of five partners to help establish the SGMA-required Groundwater Sustainability Agency (GSA) for this basin.  The GSA for the Edna Valley sub-basin is now managed by the San Luis Obispo County Groundwater Sustainability Department.  For more information on the basin status and management activities, visit the SLO Basin GSA webpage.

 

The water level in the two active wells, before SGMA was fully implemented, had been declining very slowly for several years.  However, since 2022 the water levels have been recovering year-over-year.  Additional actions planned by the SLO Basin GSA for the future are intended to strengthen the basin sustainability over the long term.  In addition, the water level in Well #4 remains steady year-over-year other than very small seasonal changes.  This is due to the proximity to the Arroyo Grande creek which has year-round flow from nearby Lopez Lake to help replenish the aquifer.

 

Members have access to the VRMWC charts, graphs, meeting minutes and financials on the VRMWC web page.