If measures O and P pass it will raise Lake County’s water rates.

Commercial pot growers use more water collectively than all Lake County residential water users combined!

Twelve marijuana growers were recently caught using 150,000 gallons of water in Spring Valley in just four months.

If measures O and P pass it will make it more difficult to prevent water thefts and excessive water usage within our communities.

Keep in mind that marijuana is a thirsty plant and can use up to 10 to 14 gallons per plant, per day for six months!

In January of 2014 I had to drill another well because the one I have used for over 30 years went dry.

I realize that we are in a drought but I have no doubts that the two marijuana grows that are attached to the east and north side of my horse pastures since May 4, 2012, significantly contributed to my loss of well water. That first year they had 99 plants in one grow and 99 in the other grow.

So let’s do the math using the low number of 10 gallons per day times 198 plants, that is 1,980 gallons used every day from May through October.

From May through October there are 183 days times 1,980 gallons used per day resulting in 362,340 gallons used in that time frame. That does not include the water used in their indoor grow that year. The next year the number of outdoor plants went down but the indoor grows expanded.

The marijuana growers are diverting and drying up already drought-plagued water sources throughout Lake County.

They are polluting our streams, Clear Lake and our ground water with fertilizers heavy with steroids.

If measures O and P pass Lake County will no longer be a place where families come to vacation, fish or wine taste.

I cannot fathom what it will do to our property values, our quality of life, our environment and our limited water resources.

It has been a peaceful summer without the two grows next door. However the growers left both places looking like I live in a third world country with their camouflage fence all tattered and torn and the huge marijuana planters and piles of dirt and trash just left behind because they care so much for this county’s environment.

Don’t let these growers for profit take over our county, vote no on measures O and P.

Check out www.protectourlakecounty.com or www.savemeasureN.info for truthful information on this topic.

Deborah Wallace lives in Middletown, Calif.