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McFarland mayor urges State Water Board to approve urgent drinking water application and restore wastewater project priority
Summary
McFarland officials told the State Water Resources Control Board the city is relying on a temporary treatment plant to remove nitrate contamination and seeks urgent funding to keep it operating; the mayor also asked to reinstate a $17 million wastewater expansion project onto the priority list.
The mayor of McFarland told the State Water Resources Control Board on March 4 that the city is operating under an immediate drinking-water crisis and asked the board to approve an urgent drinking water application to keep a temporary treatment plant running.
McFarland currently has five wells, the mayor said; three are operating and the city depends on a 50-year well plus a temporary treatment facility installed in 2024 to remove nitrate contamination exceeding safe limits. The mayor said the temporary facility is costing the city about $100,000 per month, roughly $1.2 million per year, and that the cost is unsustainable for the small community.
“I need to turn your attention to another critical matter, McFarland’s wastewater expansion project,” the mayor told the board. He said the city worked with the State Water Board on preliminary design for a $17 million wastewater expansion meant to address growing capacity needs and regulatory compliance, and was later removed from the priority funding list after years of investment and preparatory work. The mayor asked the board to reinstate McFarland’s wastewater project on the priority list to avoid future system failures.
Board Chair Joaquin Esquivel acknowledged receipt of the urgent drinking water application and noted the board has previously approved significant long-term funding for similar needs. He said board staff will continue to be a partner with the community and promised to follow up.
Aaron Brando, chief of staff to State Senator Melissa Hurtado, and others from the Central Valley joined the mayor at the podium to urge board support, citing the Central Valley’s history of water-quality challenges.
In public forum the board does not take immediate formal regulatory action; however, the mayor’s statement formally places McFarland’s funding request and the wastewater priority-list issue on the board’s record and among items staff will follow up on.
