Small Water System Support Yields Critical Improvements in Banning by San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency Jun 5, 2024 Member Submitted News BEAUMONT – In its latest gap funding effort, San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency (SGPWA) will aid High Valleys Water District (HVWD) as the water retailer upgrades essential infrastructure along Twin Pipes Road. These improvements ensure adequate fire flows, maintain consistent pressure throughout the system, and facilitate the construction of new homes on vacant property. HVWD received Proposition 1 Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWM) grant funds through the Department of Water Resources (DWR) in January 2024. The project will include upgrading the approximately one mile of existing two-inch pipeline mains to eight-inch, installing hydrants every 500 feet, and connecting 12 new meter connections to the newly realigned main along Twin Pipes Road. “We are happy to continue supporting small water systems like HVWD through our gap funding assistance,” SGPWA Board President Mickey Valdivia said. “Their work ensures stability and water security for the Pass area. This partnership is beneficial for the whole region.” SGPWA’s gap funding program enables small water systems to use state funds when they lack financial reserves to handle the up-front costs of accepting grants. Contractors, for example, need to be paid at the time of construction while grant reimbursement can be stalled for more than six months. SGPWA’s gap funding ensures steady progress on vital infrastructure strengthening the region. HVWD is part of a series of successful gap funding partnerships, starting with Cabazon Water District in 2022. In March, the SGPWA Board of Directors agreed to provide $10.2 million in gap funding assistance to South Mesa Water Company (SMWC) for the County Line Pipeline Replacement Project. This work was integral to the County Line Road Project, a joint effort between SGPWA, SMWC, and the San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District (SBVMWD). The County Line Road Project will recharge up to 1,500 acre-feet of State Water Project water in the Calimesa area for the Yucaipa Sustainable Groundwater Management Agency — enough to serve about 18,000 people a year. HVWD expects to complete the project along Twin Pipes Road by the end of 2024. Learn more at www.sgpwa.com. About San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency Formed in 1961, SGPWA is a State Water Project (SWP) Contractor that serves a 225-square-mile area of western Riverside County. The service area includes the cities of Calimesa, Beaumont, and Banning, and the communities of Cherry Valley, Cabazon, and the Banning Bench. In addition to importing SWP water from Northern California to augment local groundwater sources, the Agency builds local system infrastructure, participates in water transfers, partners in statewide water projects and collaborates on regional water reliability and conservation efforts.
