Water Resources
Water Utility
The Water Treatment Department is dedicated to providing a safe and reliable supply of high-quality drinking water for the citizens of Ukiah and their guests. Our highly professional and competent staff monitors demand within the system and matches the output of the sources to meet the demand. On a daily basis, staff monitors disinfectant levels and flow rates. On a weekly basis, they collect samples to be analyzed for microbial contamination, color and odor. On a monthly schedule, they calibrate the instruments that display and record the various parameters that indicate primary water quality. Throughout the year our staff collects water samples to be analyzed for a variety of contaminants. The results of this work ensure the citizens of Ukiah that the quality is at a maximum, better than those required by both the United States Environmental Protection (USEPA) and the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water (DDW).
Water & Sewer Field Operations
Water and Sewer personnel are responsible for the operation and maintenance of the City of Ukiah’s water distribution system and the City’s sewer collection system that includes the Ukiah Valley Sanitation District. Crews respond to service calls for water mains, water services, fire hydrants, and water valves. They also respond to blockage problems concerning the sewer collection system and house service laterals from the main to the sewer line. Collection system facilities are serviced on a routine basis or as necessary.
Water Treatment Information
Water Utility
Nature has given the City of Ukiah a high-quality abundant supply of water. The City of Ukiah’s primary water source is the underflow from the Russian River which is classified as Ground Water under Direct Influence for Surface Water. There are four ground water sources located at various points within the City Limits. These sources exceed the needs of both winter and summer demand serving over 7,000 residential and commercial connections with over 90 miles of water main.
The City has a broad portfolio of water rights which allow the City to shift sources of water as needed.
- Pre-1914 Appropriative Right to divert approximately 2,000 acre-feet annually from the Russian River
- 1954 Appropriative Right to divert approximately 14,480 acre-feet annually from the Russian River
- Capability to divert approximately 4,000 acre-feet of groundwater in the Ukiah subbasin
- Contract with RRFC for 800 acre-feet annually
As recent experience in 2014-2015, as the driest year on record demonstrates, the City has sufficient water available to meet current and future needs, regardless of water year type or hydrology, of areas well beyond the existing City limits. The City or its processor in interest has been supplying water to its residents since the later 1800’s.
Maintenance and Operations
The highly skilled staff of water operations maintain the water distribution system to ensure delivery of clean and safe drinking water with a minimum or no interruption to our customers. Staff monitor demand within the system and matches the output of the sources to meet the demand. A Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system allows staff to effectively operate and troubleshoot the City’s water distribution system by monitoring all pumps, pump stations, and reservoir parameters remotely.
Water Quality and Other Related Reports
- 2022 Consumer Confidence Report (Water Quality Report)
- 2021 Consumer Confidence Report (Water Quality Report)
- 2020 Consumer Confidence Report (Water Quality Report)
- 2019 Consumer Confidence Report (Water Quality Report)
- 2015 Urban Water Management Plan- Draft for
- Public Comment
- 2020 Final Draft Water Rate Study
Recycled Water & Wastewater
One Billion Gallon Event
Recycled Water
The recycled water project known as the “purple pipe project” provides numerous benefits to our community including promoting a vibrant agricultural region, reducing diversions from the Russian River, assisting in conformation to State conservation objectives and improving environmental habitat by providing an alternative source for frost protection.
The Project was designed to be constructed in 4 phases. Phases 1-3 brought the project online by 2019 with the installation 8 miles of pipeline, 66 million gallons of storage, an enlarged chlorine contact basin, and a pumping facility. Phases 1-3 cost $34 million, which was provided by the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) in the form of a low-interest loan and $9 million in grants.
In 2023, the SWRCB awarded Ukiah a $53.7 million grant for the Project’s Phase 4 expansion, which is currently underway. Once completed, it will increase the Project’s capacity to 1,500 acre- feet per year. That additional water will irrigate other important areas including Vinewood Park, Frank Zeek School, Pomolita School, soccer fields, Ukiah High School, the Ukiah Cemetery, Anton Stadium, Giorno Park, Todd Grove Park, and the Ukiah Valley Golf Course.
By providing recycled water for fields and agricultural use, the recycled water project significantly reduces demand on the Russian River, Lake Mendocino, and groundwater resources. That helps meet conservation goals, and improves regional sustainability.
Community Benefits from the Project:
- Almost 90% of the water used by Ukiah is replenished back into the water basin
- Reduces demand on Russian River from 3,000 AFY to 300 AFY
- Supports production of 1,000 AFY by the recycled water facility – enough for more than 2,500 families
- Phases 1-3 support the needs of over 700 acres of ag land, increasing capacity to 1,000 acres with Phase 4
Wastewater
Water that goes down your shower, toilet and sink drain enters our wastewater collection system. Over 93 miles of underground pipes bring this wastewater from homes, businesses, and industry located within the City of Ukiah to the wastewater treatment plant.
The majority of our wastewater runs by gravity through a series of wastewater pipes to the Plant. The remainder of the wastewater, due to elevations that will not allow for gravity flow, must be lifted (pumped) to a location through force (pressurized) mains in the wastewater system that will allow the wastewater to return to a gravity wastewater main.
The Waste Water Treatment Plant underwent a three year, $56.5M improvement project that was completed in 2009. This plant will insure continued compliance with permit requirements and meet future demand growth.
Maintenance and Operations
The recycled water and wastewater system operators are responsible for nearly 8 miles of recycled water, 93 miles of sewer pipe, and 3 wastewater lift stations. Maintenance includes testing, cleaning, leak repair, operational emergency response, general construction, and more.
Drought Resiliency
Responding responsibly to ensure a stable and affordable water supply
With historically low rainfall and the very real prospect of a prolonged drought on the horizon, the City is responding responsibly to ensure ongoing reliability and affordability of our municipal water resources. By virtue of our proactive investments in a diversified water supply the City is well positioned to maintain reliable water service during these dry times.
Managing, delivering, and planning of our region’s water supply
As the largest municipal supplier of water in the Valley, Ukiah is leading by example in taking the necessary steps to achieve and maintain an affordable and sustainable water supply.
We have invested in modernized water infrastructure to enhance sustainability and reduce diversions off the Russian River, while still maintaining service for community needs. Ukiah’s state-of-the-art water recycling plant allows the City to serve approximately 325 million gallons of water to farmers, parks and schools and reduces our reliance on the Russian River by at least 30%. We are utilizing our recycled water capability to serve Oak Manor Park, Riverside Park, and the Ukiah Sports Complex. Relying on recycled water helps protect the environment and reduces the stress on shared regional resources.
In addition, our investments in modernizing our groundwater wells have also allowed us to further reduce our reliance on the Russian River and Mendocino Lake.
How you can help us conserve water and keep Ukiah green
We must also do our part as residents. When we all make small adjustments, we can make a huge difference. Adjustments you can make include:
- Install water-saving fixtures, such as shower heads and kitchen faucets
- Take shorter showers
- Water your lawn and garden only when necessary
- Fill containers of recycled water for outdoor use for free at the water recycling plant
Even though a prolonged drought may be on the horizon, Ukiah has taken steps to prepare. If we all respond responsibly, we will be okay.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operations
The Waste Water Treatment Plant, operational since 1958, serves the City of Ukiah and the Ukiah Valley Sanitation District. It has a current treatment capacity of 2.8 million gallons per day (MGD) of dry weather flow and 20 MGD of peak wet weather flow. Primary treatment removes floating material, oils and greases, sand and silt and organic solids heavy enough to settle in water. Secondary treatment biologically removes most of the suspended and dissolved organic material.
Treatment steps are grit removal, primary sedimentation, secondary treatment (trickling filters), secondary sedimentation, final clarification (advanced waste water treatment facility), sludge digestion (digesters), disinfection, dechlorination, and effluent discharge to the percolation ponds.
The Waste Water Treatment Plant underwent a three year, $56.5M improvement project that was completed in 2009. This plant will insure continued compliance with permit requirements and meet future demand growth.
Gibson Creek Remote Spawning Incubator Project
In the Spring of 2017 the City of Ukiah partnered with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to test a Remote Spawning Incubator (RSI) at the site of the historic Gibson Creek Hatchery. These systems are relatively small and easy to implement in tributary streams. They use the stream’s natural water flow to provide a protected, clean water environment where the fish can develop in preparation for exiting into the wild. The systems have been used for many years in Washington and Oregon to help bolster fish populations; however, California has been slow to adopt the systems.
For the Gibson Creek installation a spring box was installed upstream and connected to a secondary filter barrel which fed into an incubator barrel housing the 6300+ steelhead trout eggs from Warm Springs Hatchery in Geyserville. Once hatched the fry developed in the incubator until they were large enough to swim to the top and exit through the outflow pipe into Gibson Creek. 
