Camrosa Water District targets self-reliance with proposed FY 2026-27 budget and $4.5m CIP

Camrosa Water District targets self-reliance with proposed FY 2026-27 budget and $4.5m CIPThe California utility is accelerating its shift away from imported State Water Project supplies, backing local groundwater development and critical facility rehabilitations in its latest financial plan.

The proposed FY 2026-27 budget anticipates $34 million in total expenses and allocates $4.49 million for new capital improvement projects.

Key infrastructure investments for the upcoming year include $2.7 million for engineering the rehabilitation of Tanks 3A, 3B, and 3C, alongside $820,000 for Pump Station 1.

The district aims to reduce its reliance on imported water to 38% of its potable supply, driven by rising wholesale rates from the Metropolitan Water District.

In a preceding May meeting, the board awarded a $1.52 million contract to Rovisys for programmable logic controller (PLC) replacements at the Camrosa Water Reclamation Facility.

The Camrosa Water District is reviewing a proposed Fiscal Year 2026-27 operating and capital budget that aggressively targets local water self-reliance to combat the rising costs of imported supplies. Outlined in a June 9 meeting packet, the financial plan projects $34 million in total expenses and $33.2 million in revenues, underpinned by a $4.49 million capital improvement program (CIP) for the upcoming year. A central driver of the district's capital strategy is the escalating cost of imported water from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD), which is projecting an 8.6% wholesale rate increase for the district in 2026. To mitigate this, Camrosa aims to source 62% of its potable water from local groundwater in FY 2026-27, reducing imported supplies to 38% of its portfolio—down from 46% the previous year. The $4.49 million CIP for FY 2026-27 focuses heavily on infrastructure integrity. Major potable water projects include $2.7 million allocated for the engineering phase of rehabilitating three 1960s-era storage reservoirs—Tanks 3A, 3B, and 3C—to meet modern seismic standards and replace deteriorating coatings. An additional $820,000 is earmarked for the rehabilitation of Pump Station 1, while the non-potable system will see $745,000 directed toward replacing the aging Yucca Pump Station. The proposed budget also details significant carryover projects from the previous fiscal year. These include the $2.2 million New University Well project, which will replace a fouled well originally constructed in 1987, and a $1.8 million programmable logic controller (PLC) replacement initiative at the Camrosa Water Reclamation Facility (CWRF). Action on the CWRF upgrades is already moving forward. During a May 26 regular meeting, the board appropriated $1.5 million for the project and authorized the General Manager to award a $1,521,781 contract to Rovisys for the provision, programming, and installation of the new PLC equipment. The district's broader long-term strategy includes an ongoing Integrated Master Plan that will outline a 5-year implementation plan for local water supply alternatives and a 15-year plan for infrastructure integrity. The FY 2026-27 budget is scheduled for final adoption by the board on June 23.