Indio Water Authority presents 2025 capital improvement projects; commission finds proposals consistent with general plan

The City of Indio Planning Commission on May 28 reviewed a capital improvement program presented by Ray Trejo, general manager of the Indio Water Authority, and voted to find the proposed projects consistent with the City of Indio General Plan.

Trejo told commissioners the list of eight notable projects for the coming fiscal year includes smaller tank replacement at Plant 2 (near Monroe south of the I‑10), multiple well rehabilitations, chromium‑6 treatment upgrades at facilities that exceed new state limits, reservoir interior rehabilitation at the authority’s headquarters near 40th and Jackson, interconnections for emergency transfers with neighboring systems, and a major transmission pipeline along Avenue 50 between Jefferson and Madison.

Staff and the authority emphasized rehabilitation over replacement where feasible: Trejo said drilling a new well now would cost about $5,000,000, while rehabilitating an existing well costs roughly $500,000–$700,000 and can extend the well’s useful life by a decade or longer.

On chromium‑6, Trejo said some facilities are just above a new state level and will require treatment upgrades; he described those projects as necessary to comply with state requirements. He also described three proposed wellhead treatment locations and a reservoir rehabilitation that replaces internal components to extend service life.

Trejo described a regional transmission project that will construct roughly an 18‑inch ductile iron loop on Avenue 50 between Jefferson and Madison to improve southside system pressure and reliability. He said the lowest bidder, Jones Brothers, has received a notice to proceed to acquire pipe materials and that the authority is targeting a July 1 notice to proceed with construction. Trejo estimated active construction disturbance in the alignment could run July–October, with typical pipeline traffic control (lane access maintained, flaggers, detours as needed) and staged 800‑foot construction segments; he said the street would not be fully closed but would experience summer‑season disturbance for about three months.

Commissioners asked questions about the pipeline schedule and traffic impacts; Trejo said the authority planned to wait until after local festivals to begin work and that night work would be used for tie‑ins when possible. A planning staff member reminded the commission that the commission’s role was to determine general plan consistency, and that approval of capital projects and related contracting would occur through separate processes, including city council review where required.

Commissioner action: the commission moved and seconded a motion to adopt the planning resolution finding the projects consistent with the general plan (planning resolution no. 2109). The roll call showed Commissioners Santos, Ortiz and Frantz voting yes and the motion carried.

The Indio Water Authority presentation and commissioner questions occupied the meeting’s action‑item segment; no members of the public addressed this item during the hearing.

Looking ahead, the authority indicated the Avenue 50 pipeline work is expected to begin in July subject to material availability, with the authority coordinating traffic control and neighbor interconnections during construction.