Cal City seeks major water system upgrade
Hope to receive federal grant, loan funds
BY BILL DEAVER
CALIFORNIA CITY - City officials hope to receive a grant and loan package from the federal government to begin work on a multi-year upgrade of the city's water system, City Manager Jack Stewart told the California City Economic Development Corporation board last week.
"The plan has two goals - to meet future needs and to upgrade the system," Stewart said.
Centerpiece of the plan is construction of a 2.5 million-gallon water tank east of the Union Pacific Lone Pine Branch crossing on California City Boulevard, Stewart said.
The tank will be built at the same elevation as the city's current tank on 20 Mule Team Boulevard to balance the system.
"This would mean that in the worst drought years we would not run short of water," Stewart said.
Lines from the new tank would serve the Wonder Acres community which is currently served by the Mojave Public Utility District, and run east to connect with existing lines at Mitchell Avenue.
The city recently replaced the aging water lines in Wonder Acres.
Replacing lines
"The balance of the money would go to replace about 40 miles of steel pipe that was put in 40 years ago and was already 30 years old," he said.
That would significantly reduce the city's costs of repairing frequent leaks which take time and effort to repair and waste water.
Stewart said the program is estimated to take from six to eight years,
with construction of the new tank one of the first priorities. He met recently
with Congressman Bill Thomas (R-Bakersfield) and U.S. Department of Agriculture
officials in Washington, D.C. to discuss procedures for obtaining the $5
million in grants and a $1 million loan for the projects.
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