Garrett Broughton, Senior Civil Engineer
Shamrock Mobile Home Park Water Service Connection
Authorize the Windsor Water District General Manager to sign a letter of intent to pursue an agreement between the Windsor Water District and the California State Water Resources Control Board to provide water service to Shamrock Mobile Home Park under the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience Program
The recommended action supports the goals of Infrastructure and Livability. Goal Statement: Through a lens of sustainability and innovation, invest in the Town's infrastructure and public facilities to meet the needs of future generations. Goal Statement: Preserve community character by maximizing the use of existing amenities and creating future opportunities that enhance quality of life for all.
Shamrock Mobile Home Park (Shamrock MHP) is located within the Windsor Town limits at 6418 Old Redwood Highway. Shamrock MHP owns and operates an independent small public drinking water system which is sourced by a single well installed in 1972. The well water contains arsenic in concentrations which are greater than the California Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL); thus, Arsenic is removed using an on-site Greensand treatment system capable of handling 85 gallons per minute. The water system operates under domestic water supply permit 02-18-25P-4900723, most recently issued by the State Water Board on October 23, 2025.
The Shamrock MHP water system has approximately 127 unmetered connections which serve a population of approximately 188 residents, a clubhouse, and a swimming pool. The distribution system is comprised of 6-inch asbestos cement and PVC pipe mains with 1.5-inch PVC feeder lines and ¾-inch PVC laterals which run between and among the units. Shamrock MHP management has mentioned that the distribution system is very “fatigued” and they have recently noticed and fixed leaks after they were revealed above ground. Annual water use records indicate, to Town staff, that leaks in the system might still be present.
The State Water Board Division of Drinking Water has notified Shamrock MHP of several system deficiencies; mainly that there is not enough storage capacity to meet maximum day conditions, there is no emergency backup power source to operate during power outages, and there is no backup water source in case of an emergency.
Based on the State Water Board’s findings, and increasing operations and maintenance obstacles, the Shamrock MHP management has vocalized interest in connecting to the Town’s potable water system.
State Water Board staff have also voiced interest in pursuing the feasibility of this connection under the Safe and Affordable Funding for Equity and Resilience (SAFER) Program; and, on April 1, 2026 a representative from the State Water Board presented elements of the SAFER Program to the Windsor Water District (WWD) Board.
Because it resides within the Town’s boundary, Shamrock MHP is eligible to connect to WWD’s potable water system. However, both WWD Staff and Shamrock MHP management would prefer to update the aged on-site water distribution piping prior to connection.
Under the SAFER Program, Shamrock MHP may be eligible to receive funding from the State Water Board to install new on-site piping and construct the connection to WWD’s water system. The funding would include costs of engineering design, construction, construction engineering/inspection, and impact fees.
To enable funding to continue for the feasibility study, design, and construction, WWD must a) provide a letter of intent showing that it is agreeable to the connection, and b) agree to manage the construction project should a final funding agreement between the State and WWD be reached. Under the program, the WWD would procure and pay for construction and construction engineering elements of the Shamrock MHP connection and the State would reimburse the WWD for these costs as well as pay connection fees.
Shamrock MHP could be connected to the WWD with a single master meter; or, with individual meters for each unit. The type of connection desired by Shamrock MHP and WWD staff has not been established.
The anticipated total capacity/connection fee for the 125 small single family residential meters (with two 1-inch non-residential meters) is currently $452,866. The annual water demand is estimated at 31 AFY. Although the latest Urban Water Management Plan projects water supply shortages during future dry year scenarios, in normal water years, there is ample water supply available to meet this demand.
To further pursue a water connection funded by SAFER Program, the State needs assurance from the WWD Board, in the form of a letter of intent, that the WWD is amendable to proceeding with the proposed plan. The letter of intent (Attachment 1), to be signed by the WWD General Manager, would provide the State enough clarity to continue the process of negotiating a SAFER agreement between the WWD and the State. A draft letter of intent is attached. Any agreement would be presented to the WWD Board in a future meeting for consideration.
The total fiscal impact of the proposed amendment will be minor costs to the Water Capital Enterprise Funds in terms of staff time. The engineering, construction, and construction engineering costs of a potential future project would be spent by the Water Capital Enterprise Fund, as they occur, but would ultimately be paid for by the State Water Board.
This project is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with section 15302 because the project involves replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and/or facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity.