The Turlock City Council delayed a vote to move forward with the North Valley Regional Recycled Water Project – a proposal to sell treated wastewater to farmers in Westside Stanislaus by developing what would be one of the largest regional recycled water projects in the nation – Tuesday evening, a project that has been under consideration for years.

“We had some last minute details to iron out between the regional participants,” said Director of Municipal Services Michael Cooke, referring to the cities of Turlock, Modesto, Ceres, and Hughson. “We want everybody to be on the same page before we move forward.”

The roughly $100 million project would help provide a reliable water supply to the 45,000 acres of farmland serviced by the Del Puerto Water District, using treated tertiary recycled water from the cities of Turlock and Modesto that would be pumped to the Westside through the Delta-Mendota Canal. Although the collaborative partnership between Del Puerto and the cities of Turlock, Modesto, Ceres, and Hughson was established through an agreement in 2010, city officials say that the project has been in discussions over the past 20 years.  In 2010 and 2012, feasibility studies were conducted to determine whether the project was possible, while also finding the most viable option to connect Turlock and Modesto’s wastewater treatment facilities directly to Del Puerto’s irrigation users.

Ending a six-month hiatus on the project prompted by issues raised by the Turlock Irrigation District, which argued that the city’s water supply should stay in Turlock, the Turlock City Council voted on June 10 to move forward with the Phase III study.

On Tuesday, the Council was scheduled to consider authorizing an application and allocation of funds in a grant agreement with the State Department of Water Resources. The agenda item is slated to be revisited at the July 8 City Council meeting.