Homeowners in northeastern Pope Valley, weary of jaw-dropping water rate hikes, are mulling whether to run their small utility on their own.

Stinging from sometimes quadruple-digit water bills and fed up with a 40-year-old ailing sewage system that has drawn fines from state regulators like honey draws flies, homeowners in the Lake Berryessa Estates subdivision may take matters into their own hands.

The Napa County Board of Supervisors, which acts as the board of the Lake Berryessa Resort Improvement District — a water and sewer utility that serves roughly 170 homes — is so far playing along, having its lawyers map out rules that could put homeowners in the driver’s seat.

“I think it could help by making us more informed,” said Roberto Verbera, vice president of the homeowner’s association at Berryessa Estates. “I think we would be more up to speed. If there were someone from here on the board there would be more accountability. That’s a major complaint right now is the lack of accountability.”

Still, some supervisors caution that what may seem like a welcome change now may ultimately place homeowners in the same difficult position supervisors find themselves in, ruling over a utility with expensive solutions no matter where they turn. The district currently faces a $3.3 million price tag to repair the system, and district engineers are busy cobbling together a financing plan that could ultimately lower homeowners’ rates.

State rules allow homeowners to occupy as many as four of five board seats, with a separate process allowing for an election in which the district could be entirely composed of homeowners. Such a district exists now in the Circle Oaks subdivision along Monticello Road, but problems occur there, too, Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht said.

“They have a board that does their own voting and they’ve been closed down with a building moratorium for years,” he said. “Any answer you have, (running a utility) costs money. It doesn’t matter who is doing the representation.”

Supervisor Mark Luce said he was open to changes, but also warned about potential pitfalls.

“You still have the same problem, you still have to deal with a failing sewage system, you still have to deal with changing law,” he said. “It takes a fair amount of expertise to understand the issues and deal with it.”

Luce said there may not be enough willing volunteers among the Berryessa Estates homeowners to take on the board’s duties.

Berryessa Estates homeowners are thinking over the scenario. Verbera said a group of residents met for the first time last weekend, but so far they’ve come up with more questions than answers.

“As far as the money part of it, I’m not sure if that entity would be billing the community itself,” Verbera said. “We barely had our first meeting on Saturday. Right now we’re trying to gather our concerns and trying to figure out what would benefit everyone here.”

When and if that happens, it’s likely they’ll find support on the board of supervisors for their decision.

“I personally don’t have any preference,” Luce said.

“There is a long process to getting it through, but I’m willing to hear it,” Wagenknecht said. “If I were living through what they’re living through I would be interested in it, too.”