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RIALTO, CA—- In response to the exponential population growth in communities served by the West Valley Water District, the WVWD Board of Directors approved a series of critical water infrastructure improvements for North Fontana residents in Zone 7. By installing new pressure regulation systems and conducting main line improvements, WVWD will be able to better maintain and control the steady flow of water to the area’s residents.
Board President Channing Hawkins stated, “By getting in front of tomorrow’s infrastructure challenges today, we are building a stronger foundation for our community’s future growth. From doubling our water treatment capabilities to enhancing our pipe and pressure systems, our board is actively working with our staff to provide the resources necessary to providing safe, high quality, and reliable water to our ratepayers.”
The project is located in Fontana, west of Citrus Avenue and north of Interstate 15. A new pressure regulation valve, 18 inch pipe fittings, a fire hydrant and connection points for anticipated residential developments and future WVWD projects will be installed at an approved cost of $150,000. When completed, the project will greatly contribute to maintaining reliable, controlled water pressure. Water pressure that is too low causes appliance malfunctions and customer inconvenience; too high, and water is wasted, resulting in excessive water bills. These improvements will thus ensure that water flow is strong enough for smooth living, and controlled enough for high system efficiency.
According to a report last year in the San Bernardino Sun, Fontana may soon overtake San Bernardino as the largest city in the county. Fontana’s population has grown an average of one percent per year since 2010, and grew by 8.3% between 2010 and 2018. To meet the housing and commercial needs of a growing population, developers in North Fontana believe at least 6,000 new water connections will be installed over the next two decades.
Board Vice President Kyle Crowther stated, “In just this past month, we have approved both this project and the vast expansion of the Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility. Our water infrastructure must continue to grow to meet the demands of our growing community. Rest assured that we are all working together to guarantee that our community will enjoy reliable, robust water infrastructure for decades to come.
The pressure regulation and main line improvements follow and supplement WVWD’s expansion of the Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility, which will increase the facility’s treatment capacity by 16 million gallons per day by integrating advanced water treatment technologies. The expansion project will not only allow WVWD to meet unprecedented population growth and rising peak summer usage, but provide the water resources necessary for the replenishment of groundwater levels; by treating aqueduct water from Northern California to meet community needs, reductions in pumping water from the ground can allow groundwater levels to be recover from drought-induced heavier use. Combined, these projects will ensure that there is more than enough safe and sustainable water for generations to come.
