TUD Awarded Nearly $46-million For Water Treatment Plant

Twain Harte, CA – Tuolumne Utility Districts (TUD) receives one of the largest state grant awards for water system consolidation and will bring cost savings to the district and customers.

A $45.6 million State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) grant/loan has been awarded to the district to construct a state-of-the-art 3 million gallons per day (mgd) regional water treatment facility at Sierra Pines in Twain Harte. The Sierra Pines Regional Water Treatment Facility (WTF) Consolidation Project aims to consolidate up to six aging surface water treatment plants, replacing them with advanced technology to ensure enhanced reliability and superior water quality for TUD customers.

“The approval of the $45.6 million funding is a monumental step forward for Tuolumne Utilities District,” stated Jeff Kerns, Board President. “This project not only exemplifies our commitment to providing high-quality water services but also reflects our strategic vision of consolidating and modernizing our water treatment infrastructure.”

The new WTF will streamline operations and enhance water treatment capabilities in the district’s service area by integrating various other TUD water facilities. Centralization of these smaller, often outdated water treatment plants will result in direct and indirect cost savings for both the district and its customers over time. The Sierra Pines Regional WTF will incorporate advanced technologies and standardized procedures, ensuring superior treatment methods, consistent quality control, and significant environmental advantages, including a reduced environmental footprint and optimized resource use.

“Consolidation of multiple systems is a proven strategy to instill resiliency in California’s drinking water systems,” said Joe Karkoski, SWRCB Deputy Director and head of the Division of Financial Assistance. “TUD’s customers have benefited for decades from having their disparate water systems under a unified management and governance structure. With the Sierra Pines plant, TUD continues its laudable efforts to physically tie together these systems, significantly improving their ability to address current and future water supply challenges.”

The Sierra Pines Regional Water Treatment Facility, designed to treat 3 mgd of water, is built to accommodate future growth, allowing for expansion up to 5 mgd. This facility will consolidate additional water treatment plants, including the Monte Grande Water Treatment Plant and Tuolumne Water Treatment Plant. The facility will be constructed on 46 acres at the former Sierra Pines golf course site, including a 25-acre-foot raw water reservoir. This reservoir will provide additional water storage during ditch outages, drought periods, and emergencies.

Don Perkins, TUD General Manager, expressed his gratitude for the funding package, stating, “This funding represents a significant achievement in what has so far been a 16-year-long endeavor, positioning the district to fully implement its long-term water system consolidation vision. The Sierra Pines Regional Water Treatment Facility will be a cornerstone of our water infrastructure, and we are excited to begin this transformative project. Much work remains ahead, but we extend our deepest thanks to all who have contributed to reaching this milestone and to those who will help make this pivotal project a reality.”

The SWRCB funding award, which includes a $27.4 million grant, $10 million zero-interest loan, and $8.1 million low-interest loan, is one of the largest grant awards issued by the state through the California Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Construction on the project is expected to begin in 2026 and be completed by 2029.