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Oakley council accepts AQUA Engineering water and sewer master plan, flags $7M in potential projects
Summary
Oakley's council voted to accept a water and sewer master plan from AQUA Engineering that finds current source capacity adequate but lists up to $7 million in water and sewer capital projects (high-priority items ~ $1.2M) including PRV replacements, main upsizings and wastewater blower upgrades.
Oakley City Council voted May 27 to accept a water and sewer master plan presented by AQUA Engineering and to begin prioritizing capital work identified in the report.
AQUA's consultant told the council the recent cattail well increases source capacity sufficiently for the next 20 years and that storage is adequate for that same planning horizon. The firm recommended inspecting the Cottonwood storage tanks, which will be about 60 years old by 2035 and may require replacement or refurbishment.
The hydraulic model identified localized distribution deficiencies: multiple short or dead-end 4- to 6-inch lines that do not meet current fire-flow and pressure requirements. The firm recommended upsizing key mains and looping lines to create redundant flow paths to correct fire-flow shortfalls.
On the wastewater side, AQUA reported the city's membrane bioreactor treatment plant treats roughly 90,000 gallons per day on average and was originally designed for 125,000 gpd. The consultant said the plant's biological capacity will reach design limits around 2029 unless blowers are upgraded; hydraulic capacity increases (via additional membranes) would be required later, with a projection for when hydraulic limits could be reached in the early 2040s if no other changes are made.
AQUA emphasized inflow-and-infiltration (I&I) as a near-term concern: peak monthly flows during irrigation season push the plant toward its permitted capacity. The consultant recommended a targeted I&I study (metering, sewer CCTV, lining or targeted repairs) to identify sources of stormwater/irrigation inflow and to delay costly plant expansion.
Council members pressed on project timing and ownership questions. AQUA said key short-term work includes PRV vault replacement and selected water-main upsizings; high-priority water items were estimated at about $300,000, while the total water program including medium and low priorities was roughly $7 million. Wastewater high-priority needs were estimated at about $1 million.
After questions from council and staff about specific locations and sequencing, a council member moved to accept the study. The council approved the motion by voice vote.
Next steps outlined by staff and AQUA include an I&I study, blower upgrade planning within a 3- to 5-year window, inspection of Cottonwood tanks, and developing a prioritized, fundable CIP schedule for upcoming budget cycles.
AQUA Engineering representative: "Once that [cattail] well was in place, your source capacity was determined to be adequate for the foreseeable future."
