55%

Project Funding Summary

building costs
PROJECTED building COST:  $8,200,000
Costs already paid: $680,238
​

reserves
project related RESERVES (allocated):  $961,016
Regular reserves (Not project-related):  $802,550
Total Reserves available:  $1,763,566
(totals may fluctuate as the district uses non-allocated reserves)

funding gap
BALANCE TO FUND: $5,756,196


​Last updated 03/24/26
Current Status:​

The Plumas Eureka Community Services District continues to actively advance the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) project through final planning, regulatory coordination, and funding development.

Funding & Program Eligibility
  • The project has been confirmed eligible for 100% principal forgiveness (grant funding) under the State Revolving Fund (SRF) Emerging Contaminants Program, based on documented manganese in the water system.
  • The District is also pursuing USDA Rural Development funding, with application coordination currently underway.
  • Multi-source funding coordination is in progress to ensure the most cost-effective financing structure.

Environmental & Regulatory Progress
  • Environmental documentation is being updated and aligned to meet both State (SRF) and Federal (USDA/NEPA) requirements.
  • A CEQA Notice of Exemption (Resolution 2026-51) has been filed and is currently in the required public review period.
  • Section 106 consultation and biological/cultural updates are in progress to support federal compliance.

Waste Discharge & Backwash Management
  • The District is working with the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) to complete the required Report of Waste Discharge (ROWD) for treatment plant backwash.
  • Additional data collection is underway, including:
    • Arsenic, iron, manganese, and aluminum concentrations
    • Total suspended solids (TSS)
    • Discharge volumes and loading calculations
  • A dedicated lift station has been approved as part of the treatment plant design to support backwash handling.

Design & Engineering
  • Final pilot testing was completed and accepted by the State in early 2024, confirming treatment feasibility.
  • Engineering design has resumed and continues to be refined based on updated treatment and site requirements.
  • Coordination between design, regulatory review, and funding agencies is ongoing to streamline project delivery.

Project Timeline (Current Outlook)
  • 2026 – Funding acquisition and regulatory approvals
  • 2026–2027 – Bid solicitation and construction start (pending funding)
  • 2027 – Construction and commissioning
  • Estimated Operation Target: Late 2027
All dates are estimates and subject to change based on funding, regulatory review, and construction factors.

Project Background (Summary)
The Water Treatment Plant project is the result of over two decades of evaluation, testing, and regulatory coordination. The need for treatment was driven by:
  • Changes to federal and state arsenic standards (reduced to 10 ppb)
  • Groundwater conditions where:
    • One well exceeds arsenic limits
    • The other cannot meet system demand alone
While operational strategies (blending and well management) have allowed interim compliance, they do not provide long-term system resilience or redundancy.

Why This Project Matters
The Water Treatment Plant will:
  • Provide long-term regulatory compliance
  • Improve system reliability and redundancy
  • Further improve water quality
  • Reduce dependence on a single well source
  • Support future regulatory changes and community growth

Current Focus
The District is currently focused on:
  • Securing grant funding (SRF + USDA)
  • Completing environmental and regulatory approvals
  • Finalizing design and discharge requirements
  • Positioning the project for construction readiness​​​
On 6/5/25 the Board was asked to choose one of the two options presented on how to handle the backwash from the treatment plant.  Option one was chosen by the Board.  The options, as presented by DOWL Engineering, are shown below.


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