Modesto, CA, April 10, 2026 - The City of Modesto is leading groundwater protection efforts in the State of California. This week, City Council approved a $9.4 million state grant that will support the design of new water recharge basins as part of a long-term effort to protect the City’s drinking water supply.
As approved by technical experts from the State Water Board, Modesto’s groundwater improvement project is currently in the design phase and represents the next step in a 20-year strategy to safeguard local groundwater resources.
The goal of the project is to improve the City’s drinking water quality from arsenic and uranium contaminants which are naturally occurring as well as nitrates from human practices. To achieve this, the City will design and construct two new managed aquifer recharge (MAR) basins in addition to three existing storm basins that will be modified to serve as year-round recharge basins. These basins will allow clean water to recharge back into the groundwater system.
The City will then use an innovative pumping strategy at specific City groundwater wells to influence the movement of groundwater and promote mixing of recharge water with groundwater to mitigate contaminant levels over time.
“Our community relies on clean and safe drinking water,” says Will Wong, Director of Utilities for the City of Modesto. “This is a critical investment in the future of our city’s water infrastructure.”
To support these efforts, the City plans to implement the latest data management system software, tailored to this project, to monitor groundwater conditions and make informed operational decisions. Approval of this state grant reflects a proactive approach to managing groundwater resources for the future.
As the project moves through the design phase, it marks an important milestone for the City of Modesto to lead in developing sustainable long-term solutions to safeguard its drinking water in California.
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