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Pixley PUD authorizes USDA predevelopment grant application for wastewater planning; Well 4A work progresses
Summary
Pixley Public Utility District authorized Provost & Pritchard to prepare a USDA Predevelopment Planning Grant application for wastewater treatment plant planning and reported progress on Well 4A construction; estimated planning costs and local match were discussed and the motion passed unanimously.
The Pixley Public Utility District board on Jan. 5 authorized consultant Provost & Pritchard to prepare and submit a U.S. Department of Agriculture Predevelopment Planning Grant application to support planning and preliminary design work for improvements at the district wastewater treatment plant.
District Engineer Maija Madec said design is complete for a related construction grant application and that the state has begun reviewing the documents. On Well 4A, Maija reported that “the well pump and discharge piping have been installed” and that contractors were completing seatrain installation, electrical work and site surfacing; she noted the project is operating under the maximum deadline extension provided by DDW.
The board discussed funding options for more permanent WWTP repairs and Maija recommended pursuing a USDA predevelopment planning grant to pay for engineering reports and preliminary designs. Maija said preparing the grant application would cost up to $3,000 and that the preliminary planning-level estimate for the work is roughly $60,000, which under typical predevelopment grant terms could involve a 75% grant with an approximate $15,000 local match from Pixley PUD. On a motion by Director Jose Moreno, seconded by Director Ramon Cisneros, the board authorized Provost & Pritchard to prepare and submit the USDA Predevelopment Planning Grant application. The vote was unanimous.
The board also heard that the State Water Resources Control Board had assigned a project manager for a separate TCP construction grant application for multiple wells (Well 5, 3A, 4 and 6) and that the district was awaiting the state's review. Operations Supervisor Robert Masters added that a contractor was scheduled to remove an aerator at the WWTP in mid‑January and that a replacement chain had been delivered to the plant.
Next steps: Provost & Pritchard will prepare the USDA predevelopment application per board authorization; staff will continue to coordinate well construction and monitor the state's review of the construction funding application.
