On Saturday, March 18, the West Valley Water District (WVWD) joined government and community leaders to break ground on the Oliver P. Roemer Water Filtration Facility (Roemer) Upgrade and Expansion Project, which will secure the long-term security of WVWD’s water supply by increasing its treatment capacity by 7.2 million gallons per day which is enough to supply water to over 10,000 homes.
The expansion will increase Roemer’s total treatment capacity to 21.6 million gallons per day (MGD) and will upgrade critical facility components. This expansion and upgrade project will provide ratepayers with an even more reliable and cost-effective water supply, ensuring that WVWD will meet rising peak summer demands and future growth. In addition to the infrastructure changes, the expansion will include an education facility to educate ratepayers, local students, and the public on how to use water more efficiently.
“This expansion is a testament to our District’s commitment to making critical investments to ensure long-term water supply reliability and meet the needs of our growing communities,” said WVWD’s Board President Greg Young. “We are thankful to our project partners, District staff, and all those who have made this project possible.”
The groundbreaking ceremony featured local government and community leaders, including:
- Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes
- San Bernardino County Supervisor Jesse Armendarez
- City of Rialto Mayor Deborah Robertson
- Fontana Mayor Pro Tem Peter Garcia
- Fontana Councilman Phillip Cothran, Jr.
“I am proud to support West Valley Water District’s vital endeavor to ensure water resiliency for our future generations,” said Gomez Reyes. “This investment will put the District in an even better position to provide for the needs of our community, while also helping to educate the public on the importance of water and how to take care of it.”
Funding for the project was provided in part by the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) through an agreement with the State Water Resources Control Board. WVWD was able to secure a 1.1% rate on the SRF loan, saving the WVWD and its ratepayers millions of dollars versus the prevailing market rate.