Murky Water

Yuba City water project advances By Ryan McCarthy/Appeal-Democrat - 2011-08-17 15:59:25 A project to provide Feather River water to homes and a school now served by wells that don't meet state water standards moved forward with Yuba City City Council approval to apply for a state grant that would fund the majority of the work. Mayor John Dukes said Tuesday night after the council vote that the state application will include the El Margarita and Wildewood residential developments in the water project. "It doesn't mean that they have to do it," Dukes said of residents joining the new water network that will serve the Country Village mobile home park and Franklin Elementary School. Franklin Elementary paid about $10,000 to install 31 arsenic removal systems this year and the city project has won school support for providing safe, clean drinking water. Many residents of El Margarita and Wildewood have supported the water project, but some raise concerns about required annexation to the city. George Musallam, public works director for Yuba City, said Tuesday that the project is expected to cost about $5 million. His written report to the council noted that if state funds are awarded, the city staff will return with a detailed funding plan for the water project.