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Harder Announces $750,000 Federal Investment for Water Treatment Plant for Turlock, Ceres

June 20, 2019

WASHINGTON – Representative Josh Harder (CA-10) announced $750,000 in funding from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation for a new water treatment plant and transmission main line to the cities of Ceres and Turlock. The new plant is part of a joint project between the Stanislaus Regional Water Authority, the Turlock Irrigation District, and the cities of Turlock and Ceres, and will make available an additional 5,600 acre-feet of water. In response to the state's Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), water users will be forced to rely less on groundwater, making this investment even more crucial.

"Farmers and folks who live in Ceres need access to a consistent and reliable water source – and that's just what this project will provide," said Rep. Harder. "Bringing home federal funding for water projects is one of my top priorities, and this is just the first of several investments I'm working on."

Currently, the Cities of Ceres and Turlock rely on groundwater as the sole source of drinking water. The new water treatment plant will draw water from the Tuolumne River, diversifying the city's water portfolio by creating a new surface water supply and reducing pressure on groundwater pumping. In addition to the expected 5,600 acre-feet of water which will be made available once the project is complete, there is an option to expand capacity in the future.

Rep. Harder is a leader on water issues in the Central Valley. His first bill, the SAVE Water Resources Act, provides an all-of-the-above approach to confronting the Valley's water challenges. The bill recently received a hearing and is one step closer to becoming law. Rep. Harder also worked to secure over $14 million in federal investments for four local and regional water projects in a recent funding bill.