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Public Works: City says Caldwell has water supply but needs conveyance upgrades; outlines four priority projects
Summary
Public Works reported that Caldwell is not running out of water but identified conveyance issues and four priority projects — PRVs to interconnect pressure zones, replacement of underperforming booster pumps at Well 17, connectivity improvements between zones 3 and 4, and maximizing Well 21 output (with possible arsenic treatment) — to maintain system capacity through 2025.
Public Works Director Rob McDonald told the City Council that Caldwell has adequate aquifer supply but faces conveyance and pressure-zone limitations that require targeted upgrades to maintain service and fire-flow capacity through 2025.
McDonald presented a supply-and-demand evaluation and identified four major near-term projects the city’s consultants recommended: install a pressure-reducing valve (PRV) between zones 2 and 1 to allow controlled bleed and backfeed; replace three booster pumps at Well 17 to restore designed capacity (installed pumps were operating at roughly 690 gpm versus the design 1,450 gpm each); install a PRV to connect zones 3 and 4 for improved interzone support; and maximize the output at Well 21 (including removal of well sleeves and, if needed, adding arsenic treatment to remain below regulatory thresholds). McDonald said these changes would significantly improve fire flow and resiliency across zones.
McDonald emphasized the difference between supply and conveyance: “We are not running out of water,” he said, but staff must manage how water moves between pressure zones. He recommended that developers be allowed to proceed with entitlements and site work but be prohibited from connecting to water until the city authorizes connections, noting building permits could be held until connections are permitted.
Councilors asked about funding and scheduling; McDonald said some water department fund balance will be used and that detailed cost estimates will follow. He and staff said the city is updating master planning documents and working on wastewater collection deficiencies in the north part of town, and that more detailed project budgeting will be included in upcoming budget hearings.
Council thanked Public Works for the analysis and asked staff to return with cost estimates and timelines for the stated projects.
