Logo courtesy of Yuba City

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) – Residents of two apartment complexes whose private water systems no longer meet state drinking water quality standards could receive city water through a proposed connection project.

Yuba City is seeking state funding to connect Yuba Apartment Homes at 3863 Highway 20 and Louise Shaver Apartments at 1126 El Margarita Road to its municipal water system.

The City Council approved submitting a grant application as part of its Nov. 3 consent calendar. Additional council action will be needed before construction can proceed.

The private systems serving both properties fail to meet state drinking water quality standards, officials said. Both communities also qualify as disadvantaged under state income surveys, making them eligible for assistance intended to help small water systems address drinking water problems.

The city’s report does not identify the specific contaminants or other conditions responsible for the systems falling short of state standards.

Discussions among city representatives, property owners and state water officials began at least as early as 2019. In March 2021, the apartment complexes received funding to design connections to the city system.

Sanbell Engineering has brought the plans to approximately 90% completion. The next step is securing construction money through the State Water Resources Control Board’s Expedited Drinking Water Grant program.

As the agency that would absorb the private systems, Yuba City has been asked to submit the funding application. Officials anticipate the state grant would cover the full construction cost, estimated at $3.43 million.

Preparing the application would require approximately $40,000 in city employee time. Those expenses would be reimbursed if the grant is awarded, officials said.

Under the proposed agreement, the city would oversee construction of the waterline connections. Officials anticipate state consideration of the agreement later this year, followed by a return to the council for authorization to proceed.

Without the grant application, the apartment complexes would have to pursue another source of funding or another way to provide drinking water that meets state standards, officials said.