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City of Santa Ana proposes larger SA‑1 hydro generator, seeks public input
Summary
City of Santa Ana staff and consultants presented plans to replace an aging 68 kW hydro generator at the John Garver pump station with a new 261 kW inline turbine, said the project should have no significant environmental impacts so far, and asked stakeholders to submit comments by Aug. 2, 2026.
City of Santa Ana staff and consultants on Thursday outlined plans to replace the aging hydro generator at the SA‑1 connection with a larger inline turbine designed to recover energy from treated drinking water and reduce the city's power needs.
Fallon Franklin, senior civil engineer with the City of Santa Ana, said the existing unit has operated since 1985 and “no longer provides the capacity or real reliability required for continued operation,” and that a modern replacement would “significantly increase generating capacity,” reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve system resiliency.
The project would be located at the John Garver pump station, 2401 North Bristol Street, adjacent to Santiago Creek. Matt Vera, the project manager and civil engineer for Tetra Tech, said the plan is to replace the existing 68 kW Byron Jackson hydro generator with a new 261 kW Canyon Hydro Source inline turbine, increasing flow capacity to 13.8 cubic feet per second while using existing pipelines, valves and buildings. Vera said electrical and control panels would also be modernized but “there'll be no new discharge points or no new diversions.”
Vera told attendees the city plans to submit an exemption application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), with the application process target set for November 2026 and construction currently scheduled to start in October 2027 and finish in January 2028.
On environmental effects, presenters said the SA‑1 installation differs from projects that alter streamflows because it operates within the city's treated potable water system. “We really see no foreseen issue with fish and wildlife,” Vera said, and he added that the turbine is manufactured for drinking‑water applications and uses mechanical methods only, so the team does not expect water‑quality impacts.
Joanne DeLane, senior environmental compliance manager at Tetra Tech, described the FERC stakeholder consultation process and emphasized stakeholders’ opportunity to request additional studies. DeLane said recommendations for further study must explain what studies are needed, why they are necessary, and that proposed methods are “widely acceptable and standard practice.” She said stakeholders may also request site visits and will be able to review a draft exemption application during the second stage of consultation.
The project team invited written comments and study recommendations to be submitted by Aug. 2, 2026, via email to info@sa1hydroproject.com or by mail to the address listed for the project (directed to Helen Franklin, 220 South Daisy Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92703). A copy of the presentation and the initial consultation document will be posted on the City of Santa Ana project website.
No formal votes or decisions were taken at the webinar; presenters framed the meeting as part of the first stage of FERC consultation and said subsequent drafts and filings will be shared with stakeholders as the process advances.
