RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Rubidoux and Jurupa Community Services Districts partner with Western Municipal Water District for regional water sustainability and are collaboratively thinking long-term when it comes to enhancing reliability for their customers through constructing an emergency interconnection. The project will allow the two agencies to move water between them in case of an emergency, such as a large scale fire.
Demonstrating commitment to collaboration, Western’s Board Member Don Galleano attended both agencies’ board meetings to comment on the critical importance of not only the emergency water interconnection, but also of regional solutions for water reliability. “It’s critical that agencies work together to expand abilities to serve our customers,” said Galleano, who represents Division 4, encompassing this area. “We applaud the efforts of these two districts as they set an example with forward-thinking solutions.”
In addition, the interconnection will enhance the operating flexibility of both retail systems and help protect against water supply shortages within their respective service areas. For instance, Jurupa Community Services District will be able to purchase up to an additional 4,500 gallons per minute of water from Rubidoux Community Services District.
Construction of the project includes placing 24-inch diameter waterlines in the vicinity of Mission Boulevard and Golden West Avenue in the city of Jurupa Valley, which Rubidoux and Jurupa Community Services District both cover parts of. The project expansion will triple the amount of water that can be moved between the two districts; currently, only 500 acre-feet of water can be moved. When complete, the project will be able to move 1,500 acre-feet. An acre-foot is approximately 325,000 gallons of water.
“This project was strategically thought out and brought to life due to our proactive working relationships with neighboring agencies,” said Jurupa’s General Manager Todd Corbin. “We are hopeful to see more collaborative water reliability projects in the future that will benefit our region and ratepayers – that’s our priority.”
The $3.8 million construction cost will be shared between the Jurupa and Rubidoux Community Services Districts; Jurupa Community Services District will pay $685,383. About $3 million of the construction costs are eligible, if approved, for state grants through Prop. 50’s disadvantaged community provision. Rubidoux Community Services District will pick up the cost not covered by the grant. The project is expected to be complete later this year.
“This important water reliability project is possible thanks to our staff who worked diligently to secure grants that will offset construction costs and stretch our ratepayer dollars even further,” said Rubidoux’s General Manager Dave Lopez.
Western Municipal Water District provides water supply, wastewater disposal and water resource management to the public in a safe, reliable, environmentally sensitive and financially responsible manner.
