WASTEWATER DIVISION
MANAGE
OPERATE
AND
MAINTAIN
Provide operation & maintenance of wastewater
facilities for the purpose of treating, reclaiming, &
utilizing wastewater and its by-products in accordance
with federal, state & local requirements.
To manage the City’s
water supply and water
rights for the benefit of
present and future
residents of Bakersfield
to ensure the orderly
regulation and
distribution of Kern
River water, including
the preservation and
augmentation of
the groundwater
supply.
WATER DEPARTMENT
WATER RESOURCES DIVISION
WASTEWATER DIVISION
Water
Department
Department Mission Statement:
The mission of the Water
Department is to holistically
manage the City's water portfolio
to provide safe and reliable
access to water for the City's
beneficial uses in an
environmentally sensitive manner
that is responsive to regulatory
requirements.
Fiscal Year 2025-26
Proposed Budget
Actual Adopted Proposed Increase / Increase /
Costs Budget Budget (Decrease) (Decrease)
2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 in Dollars % Change
Expenditures
Personnel Services 9,977,431$ 11,306,040$ 11,837,525$ 531,485$ 4.70% Operations 44,105,820$ 51,953,416$ 60,192,226$ 8,238,810$ 15.86% Capital Outlay 32,894$ 155,250$ 150,000$ (5,250)$ -3.38% Capital Projects 18,108,788$ 19,604,446$ 29,645,000$ 10,040,554$ 51.22% Debt Service 14,503,593$ 14,571,139$ 14,571,139$ -$ 0.00% Fund Transfers 358,200$ 4,184,700$ 1,419,668$ (2,765,032)$ -66.07% Total Expenditures 87,086,726$ 101,774,991$ 117,815,558$ 18,805,599$ 18.48% Funding Sources
River & Agriculture Water 15,541,464$ 6,444,400$ 11,895,873$ 5,451,473$ 84.59% Domestic Water 31,757,415$ 34,504,020$ 37,142,602$ 2,638,582$ 7.65% Water Connection Fees 786,315$ 765,000$ 1,550,000$ 785,000$ 102.61% Sewer Service Plant #2 16,785,360$ 15,400,050$ 16,270,495$ 870,445$ 5.65% Sewer Service Plant #3 24,890,748$ 23,245,542$ 24,239,314$ 993,772$ 4.28% Sewer Connection Fees 7,988,319$ 5,803,725$ 6,572,633$ 768,908$ 13.25% Less Revenue for Other Dept (6,745,903)$ (7,578,315)$ (8,354,044)$ (775,729)$ 10.24% Total Funding Sources 91,003,718$ 78,584,422$ 89,316,873$ 10,732,451$ 13.66% Proposed Budget FY 2025-26
River & Ag
Goals
Manage the City’s water supply and rights for current and future residents, regulate Kern River water, augment
underground supplies per the City’s Water Resources
policy, oversee the Kern River Levee District for flood control, maintain storm water basins, manage water
contracts with local agencies, implement a storm water
management program as required by the California
Regional Water Quality Control Board, and support the
Kern River Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
Accomplishments
Managed the Kern River flows during 2024, diverted
over 690,000 acre-feet to protect property and life.
(City Council Goal 5)
Maintained and rehabilitated over 184 storm water
recharge basins and repaired a segment of the
equestrian trail. (City Council Goal 3)
Replaced approximately 134 concrete panels along
the Carrier and River Canals. (City Council Goal 3)
Performed emergency maintenance to remove sand
from the Bellevue Weir, McClung Weir and Wilson
ditch area for safety and public health reasons. (City
Council Goal 3)
Budget Changes and New Proposals
• Salaries - This increase is due to the Civil Engineer III being moved to River & Ag. • Operations – The $559,299 increase is primarily due to Internal rates, Outside Services (Heavy equipment operator) and Other Professional for the Storm Water Management Plan.
• Capital Improvement Projects decrease is mainly due to fully funded CIP River Canal Weir in FY 24/25. Additional funding for 2800 Acre Basin 12 facility reconstruction, 2800 Acre Basin 1-9 facility construction and Carrier Canal Headgate Reconstruction.
Actual Adopted Proposed Increase / Increase /
Costs Budget Budget (Decrease) (Decrease)
2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 in Dollars % Change
Expenditures
Personnel Services 2,775,075$ 2,932,115$ 3,100,081$ 167,966$ 5.73% Operations 3,214,556$ 5,016,226$ 5,568,115$ 551,889$ 11.00% Capital Outlay 10,056$ -$ -$ -$ 0.00% Capital Projects 1,133,613$ 4,064,446$ 1,100,000$ (2,964,446)$ -72.94% Fund Transfers 203,200$ 350,600$ 281,875$ (68,725)$ Total Expenditures 7,336,500$ 12,363,387$ 10,050,071$ (2,313,316)$ -18.71% Funding Sources
Revenue 15,541,464$ 6,444,400$ 11,895,873$ 5,451,473$ 84.59% Proposed Budget FY 2025-26
Municipal Water Division
Goals
Operate the domestic water system, ensure high-quality
service, promote conservation, maintain storm water
basins and fire hydrants, manage water contracts with
local agencies, and enforce the storm water
management program as required by the California
Regional Water Quality Control Board. Support the Kern
River Groundwater Sustainability Agency.
Accomplishments
Continued implementation of the City’s residential
water conservation incentive program, offering
expanded rebate program. (City Council Goal 5)
Completed the Front Yard Landscape Project at the
Water Resources Administrative offices to promote
landscaping water savings for City residents. (City
Council Goal 5)
Reviewed and approved 51 water line construction
plans, adding 929 new service connections for
residential, commercial, landscaping, and fire
suppression needs. (City Council Goal 1)
Repaired and maintained 195 fire hydrants.
Conducted 202 inspections of new fire water service
lines for building fire sprinkler systems. (City Council Goal 3)
Budget Changes and New Proposals
• Salaries - The decrease in salaries is primarily due to spreading the attorney across all divisions within the water department and moving the Civil Engineer III to River & Ag. • Operations - Increase of $5,326,077 is primarily due to utilities, Internal Rates, Repair & Maintenance (Badger AMI Meters and Miscellaneous Well Maintenance), water conservation efforts and update to Urban Water Management Plan.
• Capital Improvement Projects increase of $11,348,500 due to PFOS Treatment, TCP Removal, Lead & Copper Service Line Inventory, Corp Yard Infrastructure, Solar Project, and $6,000,000 for South Kern/Old River Mutual Water Consolidation which will be funded by a grant.
Actual Adopted Proposed Increase / Increase /
Costs Budget Budget (Decrease) (Decrease)
2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 in Dollars % Change
Expenditures
Personnel Services 1,691,718$ 1,733,519$ 1,693,602$ (39,917)$ -2.30% Operations 30,779,641$ 35,877,017$ 41,203,094$ 5,326,077$ 14.85% Capital Outlay 17,032$ 101,500$ 100,000$ (1,500)$ -1.48% Capital Projects 3,201,618$ 3,250,000$ 13,700,000$ 10,450,000$ 321.54% Interfund Transfers 40,000$
Debt Service 1,453,528$ 1,500,639$ 1,500,639$ -$ 0.00% Total Expenditures 37,183,537$ 42,462,675$ 58,197,335$ 15,734,660$ 37.06% Funding Sources
Revenue 31,757,415$ 34,504,020$ 37,142,602$ 2,638,582$ 7.65% Proposed Budget FY 2025-26
Wastewater
Goals & Accomplishments
Goals
Operate and maintain wastewater facilities
to treat, reclaim, and utilize wastewater per
federal, state, and local requirements. Plan
for future treatment needs, maximize
renewable energy use, expand recycled
wastewater opportunities, maintain
infrastructure through capital
improvements, monitor industrial waste
discharges, and collect sewer user fees.
Accomplishments
Generated 125 million gallons of tertiary treated
water and recycled 9,283 tons of biosolids onto
Plant 2's Farm.
Wastewater Treatment Plant 2: Completed the Bar
Screen Upgrade project which replaced the two
rake-style screens with mechanical bar screens.
(City Council Goal 3)
Wastewater Treatment Plant 3: Completed the
replacement of the septage processing unit;
completed the replacement of the chemical
dosing skids; and completed the rehabilitation of
the dissolved air flotation units. (City Council Goal
3)
Continued to make progress on upgrading the
programmable logic controllers (PLC) for both
plants. This will be a multi-year effort that
systematically upgrades over a dozen PLCs. (City
Council Goal 3)
Wastewater Division
Budget Changes and
New Proposals
• Salaries
Increase in salaries due to adding
attorney to Wastewater Division
and increase in operator pay.
• Operations
Utilities increase of $1,768,087
Repair & Maintenance increase of
$830,000 from CIP to operating
Other Professional increase of
$400,000 from CIP to operating
• Capital Improvement Projects
increase of $3,701,250 with most
of the cost allocated for Plant 2
due to differed maintenance of
plant.
Actual Adopted Proposed Change
2023-24 2024-25 2025-26 in Dollars % Change
Plant Operations
Plant 2
Personnel Services 1,916,937$ 2,217,122$ 2,442,311$ 225,189$ 10.16% Operations 3,084,168$ 3,735,546$ 4,012,192$ 276,646$ 7.41% Capital Outlay 4,821$ 21,500$ 20,000$ (1,500)$ -6.98% Capital Projects 977,326$ 1,050,000$ 5,320,000$ 4,270,000$ 406.67% Fund Transfers 3,500,000$ (3,500,000)$ -100.00%
Plant 3
Personnel Services 3,593,701$ 4,423,284$ 4,601,530$ 178,246$ 4.03% Operations 7,027,455$ 7,324,627$ 9,408,825$ 2,084,198$ 28.45% Capital Outlay 985$ 32,250$ 30,000$ (2,250)$ -6.98% Capital Projects 5,069,226$ 2,750,000$ 2,025,000$ (725,000)$ -26.36% Debt Service 13,050,065$ 13,070,500$ 13,070,500$ -$ 0.00% Fund Transfers 115,000$ 334,100$ 1,137,793$
Total Expenditures 34,839,684$ 38,458,929$ 42,068,151$ 2,805,529$ 7.29% Sewer & Storm (Public Works Design)
Capital Projects 7,330,954$ 7,660,000$ 7,500,000$ (160,000)$ -2.09% Total Expenditures 7,330,954$ 7,660,000$ 7,500,000$ (160,000)$ -2.09% Sewer & Storm Maintenance
Capital Projects 396,051$ 830,000$ -$ (830,000)$ -100.00% Total Expenditures 396,051$ 830,000$ -$ (830,000)$ -100.00% Total Wastewater Operating & CIP 42,566,689$ 46,948,929$ 49,568,151$ 1,815,529$ 3.87% Funding Sources
Revenue 41,676,108$ 38,645,592$ 40,509,809$ 1,864,217$ 4.82% Revenue to Other Depts (6,745,903)$ (7,578,315)$ (8,354,044)$ (775,729)$ 10.24% Net Plant Revenue 34,930,205$ 31,067,277$ 32,155,765$ 1,088,488$ 3.50% Proposed Budget FY 2025-26
FY 2025-26 Water Department
Personnel Overview
7 FY 2025-26 Proposed Budget
Personnel Changes
No Changes
Water Department
Water Department # of Positions
Water Management 8
Water Engineering 8
Water Fiscal Administration 7
WR-River & Agriculture Operations 17
WR-Hydrographic 3
WR-Domestic Water Operations 6
WW-Sewer Services Plant #2 Operations 9
WW-Sewer Services Plant #3 Operations 15
WW-Sewer Services Maintenance 16
Total FY 2024-25 Full-Time Positions 89
75 79
86 89 89
0 10
20 30
40 50
60 70
80 90
FY 2021-22 FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26
# of Employees - Water Department
Water Resources Wastewater Water Department
Old River Mutual Water
Company & South Kern
Mutual Water Company
Mandatory Consolidation
Matthew Collom, DCA
May 19, 2025
Privileged &
Confidential
Old River
Mutual Water
Company
South Kern
Mutual Water
Company
ORMWC
•Community Water System
serving ~50 individuals through
14 service connections.
•Utilizes a single groundwater
well drilled in 1962.
•From 2011 until at least 2023,
ORWMC has consistently failed
to provide water beneath the
MCL for uranium.
•From 2020 until at least 2023,
ORMWC has consistently failed
to provide water beneath the
MCL for 1, 2, 3-T C P.
•This is a disadvantaged
community.
(MHI $40,200, as of 2019)
SKMWC
•Community Water System
serving ~32 individuals through
15 service connections.
•Utilizes a single groundwater
well drilled in 1959.
•From 2016 until at least 2022,
SKWMC consistently failed to
provide water beneath the MCL
for uranium.
•From 2018 until at least 2022,
SKMWC consistently failed to
provide water beneath the MCL
for 1, 2, 3-T C P.
•This is a disadvantaged
community.
(MHI $31,669 as of 2019)
Current Status – How We Got Here
• 2015: SB 88 is signed into law enabling the SWRCB to compel water system consolidations.
• Nov 2015 – Feb 2019: SWRCB encouraged a voluntary
consolidation, then orders a mandatory consolidation. City opposes via Petition but is unsuccessful.
• 2019 to Present: A variety of entities assist the MWCs:
Current Status - Finance
• City has not sustained any significant financial costs related to this project.
• City is responsible for ‘fronting’ the money necessary to ‘tie the MWCs into City’s municipal water system.’
• This is estimated to be $7.7mil.
• City will enter into a grant agreement (Summer 2025) with SWRCB that will provide repayment by the State of the City’s constructions costs – but not future operation/mateneance costs.
• Failure to consolidate may resulting monetary fines ($1k a day)