DATE: September 2, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Honorable President and Board Members
FROM: Utilities Department
2026-027
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AND
CORONA UTILITY AUTHORITY ACTION
SUBJECT:
NEW OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE PROJECT FOR WATER RECLAMATION FACILITY 1 – WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY REGIONAL WASTEWATER
AUTHORITY RECLAIMED DROP STATION PROJECT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks City Council to approve the creation of a new operating and maintenance project titled “Water Reclamation Facility 1 – Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority Reclaimed Drop Station” and authorize an appropriation of $206,800 from the Reclaimed Water Utility Fund to this project. The project will ensure reliable and sustained pressure of reclaimed water from the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority’s treatment plant in Eastvale into the City’s distribution system to support regional water reuse goals.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Authorize the creation of a new Operating and Maintenance Project titled “Water Reclamation Facility 1 – Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority Reclaimed Drop Station.”
b. Authorize an appropriation in the amount of $206,800 from the Reclaimed Water Utility Fund (FD_1567) to the new Operating and Maintenance Project titled “Water Reclamation Facility 1 – Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority Reclaimed Drop Station.”
That the Corona Utility Authority review, ratify, and to the extent necessary, direct that the City Council take the above actions.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The Utilities Department (UD) is responsible for the planning, operation, and maintenance of the City’s reclaimed water system, which is designed to reduce reliance on imported potable water and maximize the beneficial reuse of treated wastewater within the City’s service area. The City of Corona’s reclaimed water system has expanded with three water reclamation facilities, multiple storage tanks, and an extensive network of pipelines and pump stations organized into two primary pressure zones and several subzones to ensure reliable delivery and operational flexibility. The City’s reclaimed water supply is derived from both City-operated treatment plants and from regional partnerships, such as Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority (WRCRWA). WRCRWA is a joint powers authority comprised of the cities of Corona and Norco, Jurupa Community Services District, Home Gardens Sanitary District, and Western Municipal Water District.
The reclaimed water system services a diverse range of customers, including parks, schools, commercial and industrial users, and landscape maintenance districts, which all support municipal operations and community sustainability.
ANALYSIS:
The proposed Water Reclamation Facility 1 – WRCRWA Reclaimed Drop Station Operating and Maintenance Project is a direct response to the City’s strategic objectives for reclaimed water system integration and operational reliability. WRCRWA is currently constructing a reclaimed water pump station at WRCRWA Treatment Plant in Eastvale that will convey reclaimed water to the north and south. The pump station is nearing completion and will then be ready for testing and start up. To facilitate pump testing, the City is installing a reclaimed drop station that will convey water from WRCRWA, through the existing Bluff Street Pressure Reducing Station and into the City’s 833 reclaimed subzone. The City will be utilizing existing infrastructure such as the Bluff Street Pressure Reducing Station and incorporating targeted upgrades, including the retrofit of an existing Bailey valve and installation of 100 linear feet of new 12-inch ductile iron pipeline.
The technical design of the project reflects best practices for reclaimed water system integration. The retrofit of the Bailey valve to function as a relief valve is intended to sustain upstream pressure and allow for controlled relief into the pond line, thereby preventing pressure surges and ensuring system stability during pump testing and routine operations. Operationally, the project is expected to improve the City’s ability to manage variable flows from WRCRWA and accommodate future increases in reclaimed water supply.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Approval of the recommended actions will result in an appropriation in the amount of $206,800 from the Reclaimed Water Utility Fund (FD_1567) to the newly created Water Reclamation Facility 1 – Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority Reclaimed Drop Station Operating and Maintenance Project. There is sufficient working capital for the recommended actions.
The breakdown of the request is as follows:
Task Estimate
Bailey Valve Retrofit and Installation $68,000
Pipeline Design $15,000
Pipeline Labor $75,000
Pipeline Materials $30,000
Total $188,000
Contingency (10%) $18,800
Grand Total $206,800
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15301 of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that “operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time of the CEQA determination” and is therefore exempt from CEQA. This action involves repair and minor alterations to an existing facility. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: CARLOS DE LEON, PROJECT COORDINATOR
REVIEWED BY: TOM MOODY, UTILITIES DIRECTOR