Sac Area Sewer District reports construction progress, new $73 million state allocation for Harvest Water program

Board members heard a quarterly update March 26 on the Harvest Water recycled-water program, including construction progress, grant reimbursements and outreach to growers and residents.

The presentation, led by Harvest Water capital program manager Mike Crooks and APMO representative Joe Filbora, said weather has slowed construction but several pipeline segments and tunnels are complete or under way. Crooks told the board the program has installed 18.3 miles of pipeline out of a 41.4-mile target and expects major pump-station excavation to begin next month. "The rains that have come since December have really hampered progress on pretty much everything," Crooks said.

The update outlined the program's budget and grant status. Joe Filbora said the program has received WSIP (Water Storage Investment Program) invoice reimbursements (invoices 1 and 2 totaling about $23.9 million; invoice 3 approved for $15.7 million) and expects to submit invoice 4 for approximately $84 million. Filbora said the California Water Commission voted March 19 to allocate an additional $73 million to Harvest Water, noting the project was the only one of six selected at this time for that supplemental funding.

Why it matters: officials said the new state funds shrink the program's funding gap and help sustain construction momentum. Filbora added the district is maintaining state and federal advocacy and scheduled a public project tour for water commissioners and state officials on June 18.

Construction details: Crooks summarized active work across the system, including tunneling under Franklin Creek and upcoming tunneling under Union Pacific railroad tracks on the Oak Grove transmission pipeline, pipeline segments on Franklin Boulevard, multiple active pipeline packages in south county, and a mile-long segment on plant property slated to start construction this summer. He said on-farm connection assemblies phase 1 (56 of roughly 120 connections) is out to bid; those 56 connections represent roughly 66% of the program's irrigation demand target. Phase 1 construction is expected to start this summer and complete in early 2027.

Program finance and scope: Crooks said the total program budget is just under $600 million and the construction-only budget is about $380 million, of which approximately 22% has been spent to date. He noted that some major elements (pump station and on-farm connection contracts) have not yet incurred substantial expenditures, which lowers the overall percentage spent. Filbora described an ongoing component called the "eco plan," a long-term set of ecological measures tied to WSIP Prop 1 grant conditions that includes land management, habitat improvements, groundwater-related actions and species protections; some of those costs extend beyond construction timelines.

Outreach and agreements: Filbora and Crooks emphasized extensive outreach to growers, homeowners and businesses, including community meetings, door-to-door notices and a construction-closure map online. As of March 13 the program had 52 signed recycled-water service agreements representing roughly 63% of the summer irrigation-demand goal; officials said many signed agreements are with larger users that will provide the majority of summertime demand. Filbora said the team continues to execute right-of-way and service agreements and expects to secure remaining agreements through the second and third quarters of 2025.

Water quality and regulatory details: In response to a board question, Crooks said recycled water delivered through the program must meet California's Title 22 tertiary recycled-water standards. He described the district's practice of regulating industrial discharges on the front end so plant influent meets required standards.

Upcoming board items: staff said they will return with eco-plan landowner agreement templates, a customer-reimbursement framework for on-farm improvements, requests to increase board-approved change-order allowances for construction contracts, and anticipated bid awards for off-plant pipeline phase 1 in May. Filbora said the CPMO no longer expects to bring a fourth consultant amendment for construction services.

Board reaction: Board members asked about the eco plan's categorization as a soft cost that extends beyond typical capital construction; staff said some eco-plan costs are eligible for grant reimbursement through WSIP but agreed to recheck budget labeling to ensure clarity.

Ending: Staff said they will continue outreach, pursue remaining agreements, and return to the board with the contract and agreement templates and any requested clarifications.