A Message From Andy Fecko

At PCWA, collaboration is key to a reliable water supply—both for today and in the future, especially with the long-term challenges of a changing climate. By working with partners like City of Roseville and City of Lincoln, CA , San Juan Water District , and the Nevada Irrigation District , we’ve secured access to multiple water sources—enough to support planned growth as well as emergencies.

This collaboration, and the actions of our customers to conserve water over the spring and summer, have been key to addressing the ongoing water delivery challenges caused by a Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) infrastructure failure at Lake Spaulding. Lincoln, for example, reduced its dependence on PCWA water deliveries by using more groundwater. Roseville and SJWD used existing water connections to temporarily deliver water to PCWA, helping reduce our reliance on PG&E’s supplies. And when we asked customers to conserve 20 percent, their response made a significant difference.

Creating a system that provides flexibility in meeting demands from multiple water supplies requires foresight and long-term planning. The construction of the American River Pump Station built in 2007 is a prime example. This $76.4 million facility provides year-round access to water from PCWA’s Middle Fork American River Project, playing a critical role in meeting customer needs this summer—the hottest on record in Northern California.

Looking ahead, more collaborative projects are in the works. In 2025, we will begin construction on the Ophir Water Treatment Plant, in partnership with the City of Lincoln. This project will initially treat 10 million gallons of water daily, meeting the needs of 10,000 families in western Placer County , including Lincoln. As our communities grow, so will its expected output. Eventually, the Ophir plant will be able to treat 30 million gallons of water per day.

Another partnership project, the Roseville-PCWA Cooperative Pipeline, will provide reliable water access upstream of Folsom Reservoir during drought. A 14-mile pipeline and pumping facilities will tap into PCWA Middle Fork Project water sources, delivering water directly to Roseville’s treatment plant in Granite Bay.

We are also focused on two additional regional projects—RiverArc and the Sacramento Regional Water Bank—both of which are designed to secure long-term water reliability in a changing climate. These are envisioned to provide the flexibility to shift between surface water and groundwater according to available supplies. This is known as “conjunctive use,” which allows us to coordinate and optimize use of each water source.

RiverArc, for example, will use an existing water diversion facility near the Sacramento International Airport - Sacramento County Department of Airports to convey excess Sacramento River water inland through a new pipeline to a new treatment plant for residential and commercial use. The Sacramento Regional Water Bank will store excess surface water in our groundwater aquifers so that it’s there during dry years.

These projects not only secure reliable water for our customers but also help protect our rivers and watersheds, preparing us for whatever challenges the future may bring. If you want to know more about our long-term planning efforts and potential future climate scenarios, you can visit PCWA’s website and click on the “American River Basin Study” link.