Looking Into Humboldt County’s Water Infrastructure

Today the North Coast Branch of the American Society of Civil Engineers released a new 2016 Report Card for Humboldt County’s Water Infrastructure to show the state of the water infrastructure across 19 water systems within Humboldt County, California. The report found that today’s water infrastructure earned a good B grade overall, but to keep a good grade, planning must begin today for the infrastructure that is aging and will need replacement over the next 10 years. The report shows that over the next 5 to 10 years, local agencies need to plan for approximately $90 million in investments to maintain the existing system at its current condition.

ASCE was joined by several owners and operators to release the new report; the speakers included:

• Yoash Tilles, P.E. Chair, Report Card for Humboldt County’s Infrastructure
• Cameron Muir, E.I.T, Practitioner Adviser, ASCE North Coast Branch
• Barbara Hecathorn, President, Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District Board of Directors
• George Wheeler, President, McKinleyville Community Services District Board of Directors
• Greg Orsini, General Manager, McKinleyville Community Services District
• Michael Flockhart, Public Works Director, Bear River Band of the Rohnerville Rancheria
• Marcus Drumm, General Manager, Loleta Community Services District
• Mark Lovelace, 3rd District Humboldt County Board of Supervisors

This effort follows the release of the Report Card for Humboldt County’s Transportation Infrastructure  in 2014 which reviewed the area’s transportation needs. Together, these reports provide citizens a clear look at today’s challenges and tomorrow’s needs.