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Livingston outlines $50M water work plan, flags federal‑to‑state funding uncertainty
Summary
City engineering presented a multi‑year water work plan that includes new wells, arsenic treatment and treatment‑plant expansions. Staff said the program totals about $50 million and that some state‑earmarked funding may be subject to federal budget uncertainty.
City engineers told the May 12 town hall that Livingston has an active multi‑year water infrastructure program that will add wells, treatment facilities and distribution upgrades and that the city is tracking state and federal funding timelines.
Engineering staff showed a water work plan that lists multiple well and treatment projects, including a near‑term Well 8A arsenic treatment plant and two larger centralized treatment‑plant expansions. “When you put these together…you have dollars 50,000,000 in the works right now,” Engineer Mario (presenting engineering) said.
Staff described project timelines and funding sources. Some projects are in construction (Well 8A is under construction and expected to finish by late 2025 or early 2026), other wells are in design or on hold pending negotiations and funding (Well 18, Well 19). The city is seeking a State Revolving Fund (SRF) funding agreement for the largest treatment‑plant package and expects a funding agreement in early 2026, staff said.
Engineers identified unfunded master‑plan work (water master plan estimated at roughly $200,000; updating the water infrastructure map estimated near $100,000) as necessary next steps to translate general‑plan build‑out scenarios into capital needs. Staff summarized the program as a multi‑year effort; the water work plan stretches over the next four fiscal years.
Council and several state and federal representatives in attendance asked whether earmarked state grants (a referenced $27 million award) could be at risk if federal budget or drawdown timing changes. Engineering and city representatives said they are in contact with the Department of Water Resources and state SRF staff and will seek written clarification for the city. “We are in constant contact with our reps in the Department of Water Resources…we just wanna make sure because, yes, we've already expended lots of funds. We're already doing the preliminary engineering,” the engineer said.
Staff urged the public that major water projects involve many phases — preliminary engineering, design, environmental clearance and the state/federal obligation process — and that some federally routed funds require additional NEPA and Caltrans/local‑assistance steps.
No formal decisions were taken at the town‑hall; staff asked for continued coordination with state reps and to return with details on the status of funding agreements.
