Templeton Community Services District celebrates new drought-resistant water supply project 

–The Templeton Community Services District celebrated the completion of its new drought-resistant water supply project at a ribbon-cutting held on Wednesday, Sept. 25.

The project, called the Upper Salinas River Basin Conjunctive Use Project (US-CUP) captures existing wastewater flows generated within the eastside of the District and will return these flows back to the Meadowbrook Wastewater Treatment Plant (MWWTP). The wastewater undergoes treatment and is then discharged into the river alluvium that contains the Salinas River underflow providing subsequent conveyance to District wells that divert from the underflow downstream.

The project was 20 years in the making. Until June 25, 2019, 60-percent of Templeton’s wastewater was sent to Paso Robles for treatment and disposal, so the community lost an opportunity to reuse that water. “We actually increased our water supply availability by 240 to 300-acre feet per year, so it is a water supply that is reliable and sustainable for the District,” said Tina Mayer, Templeton Community Service District Engineer.

A certificate commemorating the project was presented by Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham’s representative Kristen Handley. Courtney Howard, P.E. Water Resources Division Manager for SLO County Public Works also presented a certificate on behalf of Supervisors’ John Peschong and Debbie Arnold.

The Templeton Chamber of Commerce oversaw the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony.