There’s plenty of local interest in the South San Joaquin Irrigation District Surface Water Connection Project.
Constructing of a 4.5-mie pipeline from the existing SSJID surface water transmission pipeline at the five-corner intersection of Jack Tone Road and French Camp Road would greatly benefit the City of Ripon’s water distribution system.
The estimated cost for the project is $15.5 million, which consists of pipeline and pump station construction coupled with the design and necessary permits and documentations.
City Administrator Kevin Werner provided a status update on the project at Tuesday’s Ripon City Council, listing that among those benefits would be:
• Groundwater conservation through “in-lieu” recharge.
• Diversification of water sources to extend the life of Ripon’s existing water wells.
• Renewable energy usage and energy savings.
In recent years, the City of Ripon has explored the possibility of connecting to the SSJID South County Water Supply Project to supplement its own municipal water supply with treated surface water.
Ripon serves water to some 16,000 residents along with businesses and industries located within the city limits – the city’s potable water supply is currently all groundwater wells.
The infrastructure for such a project requires significant funds to complete, Werner noted.
“After years of submitting grant applications, the City of Ripon secured a legislation earmark of $3.8 million through the Environmental Protection Agency Community Grant Program,” said the staff report.
Recipients of the Community Grants were required to complete certain statutory and regulatory requirements prior to the EPA awarding of the funds.
Included was Basecamp Environmental preparing the California Environmental Quality Act or CEQA Initial study along with the Environmental Information and Documentation, as required by the EPA.
The CEQA Initial Student and EID found that environmental impacts included the existing public right of way on each side of Jack Tone Road – needed for the installation of the pipeline and all necessary valves, from French Camp Road to River Road – and an area of up to one-half acres on the north (private property in the area of French Camp Road and Jack Tone Road) and south (Mistlin Sports Park) ends of the project for the pump station location.
At this time, the exact location has not yet been determined.
Werner said that the CEQA Initial Study Mitigated Negative Declaration for the Project is ready for public review, with any and all comments to be reviewed and incorporated as necessary to the final ISMND to be presented before the Ripon City Council for review.
The staff report added that it’s not clear how long it will take the EPA to complete the review coupled with the funds to be awarded.
In addition to completing the EPA Community Grant requirements, staff is working on the following task related to the project:
• Negotiating an operating agreement with SSJID and the cities currently participating in the South County Water Supply Project.
• Finalizing project design and cost estimates.
• Evaluating funding options and impacts on utility rates.
• Applying for an encroachment permit for work in the San Joaquin County right of way.
• Applying for a construction general permit through the State Water Resources Control Board.
The breakdown of cost for the pipeline and pump station was presented to elected leaders at the recent 2023 Strategic Planning meeting.
