Hi-Desert Water District recently broke ground on the second phase of a ten-year wastewater infrastructure construction project that will connect an additional 1,991 households, or about 5,400 people, to sewer services. The long-anticipated expansion of the Yucca Valley sewer collection system is required by the State to comply with a Septic Discharge prohibition and marks a significant investment in public health, environmental protection, and infrastructure modernization for the community.
According to the Hi-Desert Water District General Manager, Tony Culver, this would not be possible without a grant from the State Water Resources Control Board – Clean Water State Revolving Fund.
When the collection system is finished later this year, it will transport an additional 210,000 gallons per day of Yucca Valley’s wastewater through 32 miles of new pipe to the water district’s Wastewater Treatment and Water Reclamation Facility. The facility was constructed in 2020 and is the first centralized plant in the area to treat the valley’s wastewater. Since 2016, the facility, the new collection system, and the first phase of the project have received $248 million in financial assistance from the State Water Board.
The expansion is part of Phase 2, extending vital sewer service to several high-density neighborhoods currently relying on septic systems. The first part of the project began in early August and will continue through November 2025, concluding with final paving and restoration. The entire project will take about 12 months to complete.
“This groundbreaking marks a major milestone in our commitment to build a modern, sustainable sewer system for Yucca Valley,” Culver said of Hi-Desert Water District. “By expanding our infrastructure now, we’re ensuring environmental compliance.”
The water district’s new collection system will be funded almost entirely through a $103 million grant from funds allocated by the Governor and the Legislature for wastewater infrastructure in the 2021 Budget Act. The State Water Board also provided funding for a phase of the project—totaling over $145 million—through a $138 million low-interest loan, secured by an assessment district, and $750,000 grant from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, and a $7 million grant from Proposition 1 funding for private property connection assistance for groundwater protection. The low-interest loans from the State Revolving Fund for Phase 1 help keep wastewater rates for all residents more affordable over time, while protecting the groundwater.
When the Phase 2 Sewer project is complete, property owners must connect to the new collection system within six months at their own cost. The District estimates that the state wastewater infrastructure grant is saving individual property owners over $30,000 in avoided assessment costs for the sewage collection system. Low-income property owners may qualify for assistance from the Section 504 Home Repair Program through the United States Department of Agriculture.
The project is being completed in sections to minimize community disruption while efficiently deploying construction crews and resources.
The Phase 2 Sewer project and partnership with the State build upon the success of Phase 1, reinforcing Hi-Desert Water District’s mission to deliver safe, reliable, and environmentally sound water and wastewater services to the community.
Maps and information on Phase 2 of the project can be found on the District’s webpage at www.hdwd.com/phase2sewer for regular updates, maps, and construction alerts. More information about the Division of Financial Assistance is available on the state water board’s website https://www.waterboards.ca.gov/water_issues/programs/grants_loans/srf/.
Photo credits: Grand Breaking Ceremony for Phase 2 of Hi-Desert Water District’s wastewater infrastructure construction project. Photos courtesy of Hi-Desert Water District
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