Water authority to provide improved water service reliability and regional coordination on water supply and infrastructure
Press release from the Ukiah Valley Water Authority:
Willow County Water District has voted to join the recently formed Ukiah Valley Water Authority, a joint powers authority that has become the regional entity responsible for providing safe, reliable, and cost-effective water services for 9,100 connections in the Greater Ukiah Valley. The Water Authority was formed in early 2024, and already includes Millview County Water District, Redwood Valley County Water District, and the City of Ukiah.
Councilmember and UVWA Board Member for the City of Ukiah Doug Crane said, “The Greater Ukiah Valley has a broad portfolio of water rights, including our members’ surface and ground water, as well as the City of Ukiah’s recycled water system. By integrating our collective access to water and enabling delivery of those resources across our entire community. We can finally break down the barriers to efficient resource use that have hobbled us for so long. This expanded collaboration is critical given that PG&E is in the process of decommissioning the Potter Valley Project, which will greatly curtail our regions access to water. Now more than ever we need to work together to share, protect, expand and efficiently utilize the Greater Ukiah Valley’s water supply. Strong regional cooperation is essential for our shared future, and I am very glad to see Willow join us.”
Across the state, water districts have been facing increasing difficulty in maintaining reliable water supplies during drought years. Additionally, outdated infrastructure is hard to maintain or update when the rate base is too small. Instead, the state is encouraging consolidation of water districts and providing grant funding to pay for new infrastructure that is needed to connect systems and improve water mobility.
“For decades, we have witnessed volatility in our water resources in the region, with drought conditions and state regulations threatening our water supplies,” said Jerry Cardoza, UVWA Board Member for Millview County Water District. “But now we will be able to work together across a larger geographic area to achieve efficiencies and secure a more reliable water future.”
The Ukiah Valley Water Authority is currently conducting an assessment of existing infrastructure for the member water districts and will determine what capital projects are needed to address gaps and create connections to bring water from where it is available to where it is needed. Then the Water Authority will pursue grant funding to support infrastructure upgrades, such as pipeline extensions and interties, storage tanks, wells, or booster stations.
“We need to make significant improvements and updates to the aging water infrastructure that has serviced Redwood Valley customers for more than 40 years,” said Adam Gaska, Board Member for Redwood Valley County Water District. “Joining the Water Authority will provide more resources and access to grant funding to help address these long-standing needs.”
The Water Authority was formed based on a commitment to shared values of: Reliability, Efficiency, Sustainability, Transparency, Oversight, Representation, and Equality. The joint powers authority will now be positioned to act on behalf of the greater Ukiah Valley, protecting its water interests, leveraging resources, and positioning the region for smart, sustainable growth.
The next meeting of the Ukiah Valley Water Authority will be held on November 7, 2024. Starting in January 2025, customers from Millview and Redwood Valley will see transitions in their billing format. Certain aspects of administration for Willow, such as billing, will occur several months later as billing systems are integrated.
Water Authority administration will be managed by the City of Ukiah’s Water and Customer Service staff. More information is at https://cityofukiah.com/uvwa/.
