California Adds 2.9 Billion Gallons of Clean Drinking Water Through New State-Funded Infrastructure Projects
Photo Credit: California Governor’s Office
SACRAMENTO, December 3, 2025 (CALIFORNIA NEWS TODAY) — California state government, the State Water Resources Control Board, and local water agencies have announced eight infrastructure projects across California designed to expand clean water access, improve wastewater systems, and enhance the state’s ability to manage extreme weather.
The projects, which were completed or broke ground this fall, add an estimated 2.9 billion gallons of drinking water per year to California’s supply. According to the state, the improvements will support more than 1 million residents through upgrades that include wastewater treatment modernization, groundwater cleanup, recycled water production, and desalination of brackish river water.
According toGovernor Gavin Newsom, the statewide effort reflects the need to adapt water systems to climate volatility.
“We’re dealing with hotter, drier, wetter, more volatile weather all at once — and California has to stay ahead of it. That means continuing to harden and modernize our water systems so 40 million people can count on a reliable supply in the face of these extremes. I’m proud of the investments we’re making, and we’re not slowing down. We’re going to keep advancing the projects, the storage, the recycling, and the infrastructure upgrades that ensure every community has stable, safe water access for the long haul,” said Newsom.
The projects were supported by nearly $590 million in grants and low-interest loans, including funding from the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds. The State Water Board reported that it invested $2 billion in new projects during the past fiscal year and has provided more than $11 billion in assistance since 2019.
“As we build the water and wastewater infrastructure California needs to prepare for a hotter, drier climate with more extreme weather, state investment is accelerating projects in large towns and cities, as well as small, rural communities. Major state and federal infrastructure commitments in recent years have enabled the board to offer significant levels of grants and low-interest financing that keep vital projects affordable. The board will continue to act as the engine for distributing these investments year on year, so communities will have the water they need in the future,” said Esquivel.
Overview of Water Projects Announced by the State
• Irvine – PFAS Removal:
A new treatment system will serve 38,000 people by removing PFAS chemicals from groundwater, funded in part by a $2.8 million state grant.
• San Luis Obispo – Wastewater Upgrade:
A $140 million low-interest loan supported upgrades to the city’s Water Resource Recovery Facility, improving service for 46,000 residents.
• Monterey – Recycled Water Expansion:
The new Advanced Water Purification Facility adds 2,250 acre-feet of recycled water per year, supported by a $15 million state grant.
• San Francisco – Weather-Resilient Facility:
A $112 million loan funded completion of the new Headworks Facility at the Southeast Treatment Plant, serving 623,000 people.
• San Mateo – Wastewater Treatment Improvements:
A $552 million expansion of the San Mateo Wastewater Treatment Plant, including a $137 million state loan, increases capacity for storm events and reduces the risk of overflows affecting 160,000 residents.
• Antioch – Brackish Water Desalination:
A $60 million state loan supported construction of a plant capable of producing up to 6 million gallons of drinking water per day for 110,000 residents.
• West Lake Tahoe – Drinking Water Reliability:
A $19.7 million loan enabled completion of a regional water treatment plant now supplying drought-resilient drinking water to 5,400 residents.
• Yucca Valley – Wastewater Collection System:
A $103 million state grant supported new sewer infrastructure to connect approximately 5,400 residents.
The state reported that the projects align with Governor Newsom’s broader strategy to expand water storage, modernize water transport systems, and capture runoff during increasingly intense storm events. Ongoing planning efforts include the Sites Reservoir Project and the Delta Conveyance Project.
For more information about statewide water infrastructure initiatives, visit www.build.ca.gov.
Source: California Governor’s Office
