The Turlock City Council voted at their Oct. 11 meeting to accept a proposal on the management of the Stanislaus Regional Water Authority’s Regional Surface Water Supply Project that will see the City take an active role in oversight and provide significant cost savings.

This proposal — which will put the SRWA management under the Turlock Municipal Services Director in the City’s organizational chart — was first brought to the SRWA Board of Directors by Turlock City Manager Reagan Wilson at their Sept. 22 meeting and received unanimous support. The board will vote on the contract later this year.

“I am proud of the collaboration between the cities of Turlock and Ceres to ensure we will realize further savings for our ratepayers,” said Wilson. “We have created a plan to save $850,000 in operating costs, translating into lower rates for taxpayers than originally projected. I am honored to have the unanimous support of council as we move forward in this process.”

This project will divert, treat and deliver drinking water to both Turlock and Ceres. Further, it creates a diversified regional water supply, allows for drought water management, improves water quality, and helps to replenish groundwater supplies. The construction activities and status updates of the project are updated regularly on the Stanislaus Regional Water Authority website.

“This vote represents a historic moment in Turlock’s history,” said Mayor Amy Bublak, who serves on the SRWA Board of Directors, representing Turlock with Vice Mayor Pam Franco. “Our steadfast commitment to ratepayers while providing a long-term, reliable drinking water supply for both cities is reflected in this decision. The City Manager has created an outstanding plan to move forward, allowing Turlock greater oversight and control.”

Construction of this project is slated for completion in early 2023 and is expected to be operational (delivering water to both cities) by the middle of the year.