Projects in Your Neighborhood

This is the second well in the Beltz system that will be converted to support ASR functionality and includes the following: demolition and modification of the existing well facility; modification of existing mechanical, piping, electrical, instrumentation, and control systems; installation of a corrosion control system; installation of a new downhole well control valve and piping.

November 2024 - November 2025

In 2020, ammonia and hydrogen sulfide was detected in raw groundwater at Beltz 12. This led to a decrease in production, then to well shutoff due to limited capacity within the existing treatment equipment. The Beltz 12 Ammonia Improvements Removal Project will add three major upgrades to the existing treatment process: oxidation of hydrogen sulfide, additional chlorine for ammonia removal, and sufficient contact time to reach breakpoint chlorination to ensure free chlorine residual in finished water.

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March 2025 - May 2026

The project consists of converting the existing drinking water production well (Beltz 12) to support ASR functionality and includes the following: demolition and modification of the existing well facility; modification of existing mechanical, piping, electrical, instrumentation, and control systems; installation of a corrosion control system; installation of a new downhole well control valve and piping.

Felton/Graham Hill, April 2024 - Summer 2026

This project 3.7 miles of the Newell Creek Pipeline out of Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and under Graham Hill Road, avoiding more environmentally sensitive areas and geologic hazards that have caused past breaks. This segment of the Newell Creek Pipeline was identified as the highest-priority segment for replacement. The pipeline transports water between Loch Lomond Reservoir, the City's reservoir, and the Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant. This project ensures the continued reliability of this critical water supply pipeline. The work will occur from the intersection between Graham Hill Road and East Zayante Road in Felton, down Graham Hill Road to Henry Cowell Drive.

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February 2025 - January 2026

This critically important project will dramatically increase system resilience, improve emergency preparedness, and ensure the availability of reliable, safe drinking water for customers of both agencies. The intertie will link the potable water systems of the City of Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley Water District by constructing a new 2-mile pipeline and pump station. The pipeline route will include La Madrona Drive, Sims Road and Firehouse Lane. The pipeline is the final link in a regional effort to connect public water systems from Boulder Creek to La Selva Beach.

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August 2024- January 2026

University Tank No. 4 (U4) is a 400,000-gallon steel tank constructed in 1965. Video inspections of U4 in 2019 revealed signs of corrosion on the tank floor, shell, and roof, necessitating a full rehabilitation or replacement project to ensure ongoing reliability. Planning work determined that replacement instead of rehabilitation of the current tank provided the best benefit/cost balance. The project is currently in design and includes the design of a replacement tank, a secondary maintenance tank, site access and drainage improvements, and fire resiliency features.

Summer 2021 - Summer 2026

The Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant's four post-tensioned concrete tanks are nearly 60 years old. The filtered water, reclaim, and sludge storage tanks are visually deteriorating as the tanks approach the end of their service life. This project will replace these tanks and their related equipment, piping, and other appurtenances. A new electrical building and several retaining walls will also be constructed, and the existing access roadway to the site will be widened as well.

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Summer 2026

Project Plans and Specifications(PDF, 5MB)

Completed 2015 I Cost/ Funding Source: $25.6M

Built in 1924 as the City's only significant reservoir, the Bay Street Reservoir held 39 million gallons of raw water piped in from North Coast sources.

After construction of the Loch Lomond Reservoir in 7962, passage of the Safe Drinking Water Act in 1974, and continued deterioration of the Bay Street Reservoir, it was decided to replace the open-air reservoir with two 6-million-gallon enclosed tanks. The new state-of-the-art Bay Street Tanks are the largest in the Santa Cruz system and hold treated, finished drinking water.

How it helps with climate resiliency

The Santa Cruz water system's greatest vulnerability ls Its lack of storage. The system's most significant storage, Loch Lomond, only holds enough water for one year. Multi-year drought and atmospheric rivers both produce conditions in which the system must rely on stored water. Climate change exacerbates both weather conditions.

Increasing reliable water storage within the system improves its climate resiliency.

Completed 2021

The Coast Pump Station raw water main plays a critical role in Santa Cruz's drinking water system. It delivers raw water from North Coast sources to the Graham Hill Water Treatment Plant and subsequent distribution to customers.

Due to its age, the pipeline was plagued by leaks and breaks. Its potential loss was a significant threat to the system's reliability, particularly during times of drought. Using an innovative horizontal drilling technology, the main replacement project replaced approximately 225 feet of failing 20-inch diameter pipellne with new 24-lnch pipelfne beneath the San Lorenzo River.

How it helps with climate resiliency

North Coast water sources are particularly critical during times when San Lorenzo River water is scarce, as well as when river water is too turbid to treat - like during atmospheric rivers. Replacing the raw water transmission line helps ensure system reliability under extreme weather conditions caused by climate change.

Completed 2018

During "normal" water years (Oct 1- Sept. 30), Santa Cruz receives more water than it can store. Concurrently, local groundwater basins need replenishment. The intertie between Santa Cruz and Soquel Creek Water District allows the City to share excess winter water (when available) for injection into the Mid- County Groundwater Basin.

With a replenished basin, SoqWD can then share groundwater with Santa Cruz during dry periods.

How it helps wll'l1 climate resiliency

Santa Cruz. has very limited water storage, with just one reservoir (Loch Lomond) that holds only one year's worth of supply. This means that during wet years, lots of surface water simply flows out to sea.

Aquifer storage and recovery (ASR) allows the City to store excess water (when available) in groundwatar basins for future use during weather extremes caused by climate change.

Completed 2024

Functional water meters are critical to a water system. They record customer water use and bill accordingly, ensuring financial solvency of a water department.

As important, the meters record the status of the system's water supplies. They alert water departments to leaks and outages, as well as overuse during times of drought.

Santa Cruz's water meters were decades old and unreliable. The system was losing unrecorded water and associated fees.

The 18-month Water Main Replacement Project updated all water customer water meters that were three years old or older. The new meters utilize helpful technology that alerts both customers and water operators of system leaks, preventing waste and ensuring efficient use of water.

How it helps with climate resiliency

All of Santa Cruz's drinking water supply comes from local rainfall. Climate change has disrupted local weather patterns, making annual rainfall less reliable.

With unreliable weather patterns, it is more critical than ever to ensure that all water is used efficiently. With costs to operate the system increasing exponentially, it's also critical that all water used is paid for.

The new water meters provide customers with new tools to monitor their water use and costs. New meters also provide water operators with real-time information on leaks and breaks so that repairs can be made to prevent water waste In the system.

Completed 2024 I Cost/Funding Source: $113M

The inlet/outlet valves and pipeline in dams are where waler can be injected into and safely released from reservoirs. The in let/outlet structure on the Newell Creek Dam was original to the dam and in need of replacement - in particular to ensure the safe release of water to support threatened fish species.

The two-year project replaced approximately 2,000 linear feet of pipeline between the outlet structure and first isolation valve. 48-incli and 10-inch inlet/outlet pipelines were installed in a 14' tunnel that was drilled into the right abutment and under the dam.

A number of other enhancements were included with the project to ensure the reliability of the dam and associated systems.

How it helps with climate resiliency

As surface water supplies become less reliable with climate change, so do the fish species that rely on them.

Through a voluntary agreement with state Department of Water Resources (DWR), the Water Department com mitted to share more of its water supply with fish. As surface water supplies dwindle, the Water Department will release more water stored in Loch Lomond to ensure threatened fish species have enough water to thrive. Replacement of the inlet/outlet valves in Newell Creek Dam ensures water can be released efficfently and safely.

The agreement with DWR to help protect fish also adjusts the Water Department's water rights, allowing more flexibility on how they can use their water.

Both the inlet/outlet replacement project and the associated agreement with DWR are critical, proactive measures to protect fish and water resources from impacts of climate change.