BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A new project is underway that will expand and modernize the facilities at the Henry C. Garnett Water Purification Plant in Bakersfield.
The project — which has been funded by federal money secured by Congressman Vince Fong — will help equip the laboratories to further monitor drinking water, regulatory compliance testing and new emerging contaminant analysis for one of Kern County’s most important drinking water treatment facilities.
The project will also provide additional laboratory space and new equipment to help meet both federal and state drinking water requirements, improve efficiency and strengthen the region’s water quality testing capabilities.
The plant did undergo some expansion projects several years ago that doubled its treatment capacity. According to a press release from the Kern County Water Agency, the water quality testing labs in the facility were not expanded at the time and are now considered “undersized.”
Wesley Shryock, manager of Improvement District No. 4, said the investment will strengthen the facility’s ability to provide “accurate, timely, and reliable water quality testing” to the communities they serve.
“The laboratory is a critical component of our operations, and these upgrades will ensure we can continue meeting increasingly complex regulatory requirements while protecting public health and maintaining a safe, dependable drinking water supply for the region,” Shryock stated.
Tammy Johnson, board director of the Kern County Water Agency and director of California Water Service, said the project will help provide more “reliable clean drinking water” to Bakersfield residents.
“As utilities and agencies face replacing aging infrastructure, this grant will help offset some of the costs that Bakersfield residents would have incurred to make improvements to the lab,” she said.
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Bill Wulff KCWA board director said investing in the facility in important in the long-term.
“As a former ID4 Manager, I have seen firsthand how critical the Henry C. Garnett Water Purification Plant laboratory is to protecting public health and ensuring safe, reliable drinking water throughout our region,” Wulff said. “This funding will allow us to expand and modernize a laboratory that was designed for a much smaller facility, strengthening our ability to meet evolving regulatory requirements and monitor emerging contaminants. We are grateful to Congressman Fong for recognizing the importance of investing in the infrastructure and scientific capabilities that support the long-term reliability of our regional drinking water supply.”
The Henry C. Garnett Water Purification Plant provides treated drinking water to several water providers serving metropolitan Bakersfield.
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