California Water News Daily Your Source For Water News in California
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) in coordination with the State Water Resources Control Board, announced 10 small water systems in Tulare, Siskiyou, Shasta, Lake and Kern Counties will be receiving a combined $25 million in grant funding from the Small Community Drought Relief Program.
The program assists communities that are not served by an urban water supplier with at least 3,000 connections or that provides more than 3,000 acre-feet of drinking water annually.
“Drought is a compounding stressor to already struggling and vulnerable drinking water systems in the state,” said Joaquin Esquivel, Chair of the State Water Board. “DWR’s investments in critical water supply projects will provide much-needed emergency assistance as the state continues building the long-term resilience of our water systems. This new program also highlights the criticality of continued coordination between local, state and federal agencies to support communities that are responding to intensifying drought conditions.”
Recipients of the initial $25 million in funding include:
- Frazier Park Public Utility District (Kern County) awarded $9,851,450 for watermain replacement
- Lake of the Woods Mutual Water Company (Kern County) awarded $5,000,079 for watermain replacement, new well and water storage tank
- Crescent Bay Improvement Company (Lake County) awarded $61,510 for intake pump and filter replacement
- City of Lakeport (Lake County) awarded $22,500 intake works lowering
- Shasta Community Service Agency Sugarloaf #2 (Shasta County) awarded $2,702,000 for new storage tank and water distribution system improvement
- Shasta Community Service Agency Jones Valley #6 (Shasta County) awarded $140,000 for intake pump station repair
- Hornbrook Community Services District (Siskiyou County) awarded $1,160,000 for new well and pipelines replacement
- Teviston Community Services District (Tulare County) awarded $3,968,950 for new well, water storage tank, and backup generator
- Walker-Mangiaracina State Small Water System (# 445 – Linwood) (Tulare County) awarded $397,033 for permanent connection to existing water system (Consolidation)
- Woodville Public Utility District (Tulare County) awarded $2,219400 for well pump, booster pump station, and water storage tank
An additional $100 million in grant funding for urban drought relief projects and $200 million for multi-benefit drought relief projects is expected to be released this fall.
Guidelines how small water systems may apply for the remaining funds is available at here. Projects must be designed to benefit small communities located in counties under Governor Newsom’s drought emergency proclamations. Small communities impacted by the drought are encouraged to apply as soon as possible and can submit applications or questions to [email protected].
