Monterey County Suing Cal Am Water Company - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

SALINAS - The Monterey County Board of Supervisors said it's suing Cal Am, the water company it once partnered with, to find a solution to the water shortage.

The county said it has every right to be involved in the Regional Desalination Project and the water company is shutting it out, so it wants a judge to decide whether the project should be public since it's being funded by public money.

"They don't want a public partner because it might erode some of the profitability of the project, so we feel a court of law is the place to have that determination as to who is right and who is wrong in this case," said Dave Potter, county supervisor.

Cal Am said the county desal ordinace isn't enforceable in this case and said county involvement is getting in the way of the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project.

The water company said the project has to happen by 2017 in order to comply with state-ordered cutback of the Carmel River.

Cal Am released this statement to Central Coast news: "California American Water believes the county ordinance is not enforceable against our company and that it poses, in its current form, a challenge to our ability to move forward with the Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project, which is urgently needed to comply with state-ordered cutback to our area's water supply. We believe obtaining a favorable ruling from the court will allow us to move forward on a water solution in the most timely manner. It is important to recognize that the State of California has ordered our company to build a water supply project and that doing so is necessary to comply with state law and protect the health and safety of our customers. We look forward to communicating openly and moving forward in a professional manner with the County to resolve this issue and ensure a reliable water supply for the Monterey Peninsula."

The lawsuit was just filed and now the two sides are just waiting for their day in court.