AVEK secures infrastructure grants

“Our Board has supported the aggressive pursuit of grant funding to advance on AVEK’s Strategic Plan goals,” AVEK General Manager Dwayne Chisam said in a press release announcing the awards. “This funding will enable us to increase the utility of our water storage and infrastructure systems, improving water supply reliability and quality while continuing to keep water rates affordable for our customers.”

AVEK received a little more than $880,000 for the South North Intertie Pipeline Phase II project, better known as the SNIP line. This will provide a connection between the new Westside Water Bank and the Quartz Hill Water Treatment Plant.

The 6.5-mile transmission pipeline and high lift pump station will close a major infrastructure gap and allow the agency to move water stored at the Westside Water Bank to other points within the service area, as well as move water from its highest-capacity treatment plant to the northern transmission system.

Completing this line and closing the gap will increase resiliency against drought and other water supply shortages or interruptions, as well as climate change impacts by increasing the efficiency of underground water banking, agency officials said.

This project was requested through the Antelope Valley State Water Contractors Association, a joint powers authority which includes not only AVEK, but also the Palmdale Water District and the Littlerock Creek Irrigation District, the three entities in the Valley which contract directly with the State Water Project for water supplies.

AVEK is required to provide matching funds to the grant.

The entire SNIP Phase II project is estimated to cost $26 million. This grant will be used for preliminary costs such as design. Additional grants will be sought to complete the project, officials said.

The second grant, for $350,000, was awarded to complete a blending intertie at the Rosamond Water Treatment Plant. This project was requested on behalf of the Fremont Valley Integrated Regional Water Management group.

This intertie will allow water from the Westside Water Bank to be mixed with treatment plant water in order to reduce the amount of trihalomethanes (THMs) — chemical compounds that are a byproduct of disinfection — in the water.

This blended water will be used to serve the communities of Boron, California City, Mojave and North Edwards via the same line that serves Edwards Air Force Base.

Because this project will significantly improve water quality in disadvantaged communities, matching funds are not required, and the grant is expected to cover nearly all project costs, officials said.