Monterey One Water advances coastal pump station relocation despite public pushback

Monterey One Water advances coastal pump station relocation despite public pushbackThe utility's Recycled Water Committee recommended certifying the environmental review for the Coral Street Pump Station electrical relocation, a critical climate resilience project backed by FEMA funding.

The committee recommended certifying the IS/MND to relocate the pump station's electrical equipment to a municipal golf course to protect against sea-level rise.

The project faces intense opposition from residents who favor alternative sites, though those were previously dismissed due to environmental and cultural constraints.

Advancing the project is critical to maintaining eligibility for $3 million in additional FEMA construction funding, following an initial $1 million design grant.

The committee also recommended awarding a $991,960 engineering final design contract to TJC and Associates.

Monterey One Water (M1W) is moving forward with a critical climate resilience project to relocate the electrical systems of the Coral Street Pump Station, navigating fierce opposition from neighboring residents. On July 17, 2026, the utility’s Recycled Water Committee recommended certifying the Initial Study/Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the project, keeping it on track to secure millions in federal grant funding. The existing subterranean pump station, situated along Ocean View Boulevard in Pacific Grove, collects nearly 500,000 gallons of wastewater per day. Because of its coastal proximity, the facility's dry well—which houses critical electrical infrastructure—is highly vulnerable to flooding from storm surges and sea-level rise. A failure could result in a massive sewage spill into Monterey Bay. While the mechanical pumps can operate underwater, the electrical controls must be moved to higher ground. To mitigate the coastal hazard, M1W plans to construct a new electrical building at the Pacific Grove Municipal Golf Course, connecting it to the existing pump station via an underground duct bank. However, the site selection has drawn intense criticism from nearby homeowners concerned about visual impacts, construction noise, and property values. During the meeting, several residents urged the committee to relocate the facility to Esplanade Park or the city's former wastewater treatment plant. Director of Engineering Matt Thompson explained during the meeting that alternative sites were thoroughly vetted but ultimately rejected. Esplanade Park faces biological constraints, including protected cypress trees, and known archaeological resources. Furthermore, a 2012 attempt to site the facility there faced similar threats of litigation. The former treatment plant site would cost approximately 50% more to build and require highly disruptive trenching along Ocean View Boulevard. To appease current golf course neighbors, M1W modified the design to make the electrical vault partially subterranean, utilizing a 10-foot layer of soil situated above bedrock. Timing is a critical factor for the utility. M1W recently secured a $1 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for project design. According to Thompson, the California Office of Emergency Services indicated that M1W is highly likely to receive an additional $3 million for construction if the project stays on schedule. Delaying the project to re-evaluate alternative sites would require starting the environmental review process over, risking the loss of the federal funds. Alongside the environmental certification, the committee recommended awarding a $991,960 professional services agreement to TJC and Associates, Inc. to complete the 100% final design. The engineering team will now include a landscape architect to maximize the screening of the partially subterranean facility. Both the IS/MND certification and the engineering contract will go before the full M1W Board of Directors for final approval on July 27, 2026. The utility aims to award a construction contract by October 2027.