Fillmore council approves development funding and design work for Well No. 10 at Dolores State Park

The Fillmore City Council on Jan. 14 approved a series of budget reallocations and a design contract to develop Well No. 10 near Dolores State Park after city consultants concluded an older well (Well No. 5) could not be rehabilitated.

City staff said the council’s action reallocated $35,000 from fund 405 to fund 453 for Well No. 10 development and moved $400,000 within the water CIP (fund 453) to support preliminary design work, hydrogeologic pilot testing and SCADA integration. Willdan Engineering was authorized to proceed with design and demolition work under the approved proposal.

Public works staff told the council wells 7 and 8 operate now with a combined capacity of roughly 3.37 million gallons per day, and the system exceeded pumping capacity several times in 2022. The city lost Well 8 in September 2022, leaving the system operating on a single well and bringing reservoirs within days of usable supply.

A hydrogeologist’s report concluded Well 5 could not be successfully rehabilitated and recommended developing a replacement well in the Dolores State Park area. Staff said the design contract includes hydrogeologic work—an exploratory pilot hole and pumping tests—to estimate likely production and water quality before full construction. One stated objective is to achieve at least the historic production level of Well 5 (about 22,100 gallons per minute, as cited by staff), and to avoid wells that would require new treatment for manganese or other constituents.

Council members pressed staff on timing, community impacts and environmental review. Staff said they expect a categorical CEQA exemption is likely because the work will be done within an existing developed well site and that design work would include noise-mitigation measures; drilling could require 24-hour operations while crews are on site. Staff set an internal goal to have construction completed before the August 2025 peak-demand period, but noted the date is contingent on permitting and contractor scheduling.

Why this matters: City staff described Well No. 10 as critical to reliable water service during peak summer demand; the 2022 capacity shortfalls and the loss of Well 8 made development of a third reliable supply a council priority.

What the council approved: A budget reallocation of $35,000 from water development fund (Fund 405) to Fund 453 for Well No. 10 development; an internal reallocation of $400,000 within Fund 453; and the Willdan Engineering design and demolition proposal to proceed to design and pilot testing. Council voted to authorize staff to return with plans, specifications and a construction timeline after the hydrogeologic pilot work is complete.

Quotes

“We were within four days of usable drinking water in our reservoirs,” a city staff presenter said while explaining the urgency for a new well. (Presentation by city water staff)

“We will most likely host a town hall meeting…to make sure we are communicating 365 degrees of the community that will be affected,” Interim City Manager Erica said, according to the meeting record.

Ending

Council members approved the reallocations and design contract and asked staff to prioritize community outreach on drilling schedule and noise mitigation. The council did not award a construction contract; staff will return with plans, specs and a request to bid after pilot tests and final design are complete.