Gustine gets $3.9 million from feds for water projects

More than $69 million in direct funding is headed to the Central Valley and Northern California for federal projects approved by the Appropriations Committee, including a multi-million dollar water project in Gustine.

The City of Gustine will get $3 million to install a 1-million-gallon water tank storage system and booster pump station to replace the current 75,000-gallon tank. The City also will get $950,000 to complete the Water Loop Line Project to build out a safe water distribution system.

"Bringing federal funding back home is one of my top priorities," said Rep. Jim Costa (CA-16), who helped secure the funding for local projects in the Appropriations bill, which was recently signed by President Joe Biden.. "These projects support underserved areas and foster economic development, making a real difference in local infrastructure and providing more opportunity for folks to get ahead. I am proud to have secured funding that will have a profound impact in the daily lives of my constituents. After all, these are hard-earned taxpayer dollars that go to Washington and it's only appropriate that they come back to help people in our district."

The $950,000 for the water loop line will help Gustine have a more stable and safe water distribution system. The majority of Gustine's wells are on the south end of town. For the city to maintain equal water pressure, it has to pump a little more on the south end of town. Completing the water loop line from North Avenue to East Avenue will help help balance it out. The main line comes down North Avenue and stops right around Fifth street or right in front of Gustine High School. The water loop line will continue that line. It will go eastbound down Highway 140 towards East Avenue, and make a right hand turn southbound on East Avenue, and connect about 350 feet down East Avenue with our other water line.

"The water loop line will not only provide us with some redundancy that if we do have a water leak or something we can shut it off and still provide water to the city, but it'll help us normalize an equal or equalize all the water pressure throughout the town, so we won't have to keep high pressure there; whatever pressure we have there will be equal throughout the entire town so that's why it's really important," City Manager Doug Dunford previously stated.

The city has been wanting to finish the project for 18 years but hasn't had the money, according to Dunford. Congressman Acosta reached out and asked what projects would Gustine like to work on and the city sent him a list.

Also on that list was the City's water tower, which has had previous problems with leaks that have been difficult to repair. The funding for a new water tower will not only alleviate those issues, but will hold a much larger capacity.

"The City of Gustine is overwhelmed with gratitude to Congressman Costa for his support of the Million Gallon Water Tank with Booster Pump and the Water Loop Line Project," Dunford said. "Both projects will help offset the needs of the community and meet the citizen's expectations of water quality and processing. Congressman Costa has once again supported the needs of rural America and the farming communities. He has shown that he continues to work for everyone's needs and supports all communities."

Other are projects that are getting funding include:

• $2 million for the Merced County Courthouse Museum to rehabilitate Merced County's most historic building, community gathering place, and educational resource;

• $500,000 for the Los Banos Creek Detention Dam to study whether an existing flood protection reservoir can be expanded.

• $310,000 for First Behavioral Health Urgent Care Center to fund a pilot program to provide up to an additional 900 individuals with mental health services.

• $279,000 for the City of Dos Palos to replace a water clarifier at the city's aging water plant to ensure uninterrupted service for residents.