Modesto could leave water partnership

Modesto could end its partnership with Ceres and Turlock to build a drinking water plant south of the Tuolumne River over concerns about the project’s cost.

Utilities Director Larry Parlin is expected to update the City Council on Tuesday regarding the project and ask the council for direction going forward. The plant would serve Turlock, Ceres and south Modesto.

In a report to the council, Parlin does not make any recommendations, but his report states Modesto faces spending at least $55 million for its costs associated with the plant vs. spending $20 million to undertake its own water infrastructure improvements to serve the future needs of south Modesto.

Modesto already has spent $3 million toward the proposed treatment plant, according to the report.

Parlin’s report states Modesto notified its regional water authority partners a couple of months ago that the city would not need the water from the proposed treatment plant once the Modesto Irrigation District completes its expansion of its drinking water plant, which serves Modesto. Work on the expansion started about a decade ago and is expected to be finished this year.

Parlin said this did not become clear until recently and as a result of a consultant’s work on a water master plan. He added that this was the city’s first long-term plan for water and that the city’s needs have changed substantially after four years of drought.

The three cities formed the Stanislaus Regional Water Authority to carry out the project, and the authority entered into a July agreement with the Turlock Irrigation District to purchase as much as 30,000 acre-feet of water each year for the treatment plant. The plant, which is planned to be built close to where the river crosses Geer Road, would reduce the use of well water and improve water quality.

Officials with Turlock, Ceres and the Turlock Irrigation District expressed disappointment over Modesto’s potential departure but said the project is not dead. Turlock and Ceres officials said they may look for other partners. Unlike Modesto, Turlock and Ceres rely solely on wells for their drinking water and have touted the project as the smart use of a scarce resource.

“We, the cities and TID, have made significant progress on a much needed regional water solution,” TID spokeswoman Michelle Reimers said in an email. “It has taken us almost 30 years to get us to this point and it is unfortunate that after the Water Sales Agreement that was signed this past July that the city of Modesto is now contemplating withdrawing from the project. Regardless of the city of Modesto’s actions, TID remains committed to this project.”

The council meets at 5:30 p.m. in the basement chambers of Tenth Street Place, 1010 10th St.

This story was originally published October 26, 2015 at 5:45 PM.