Water

Turf Replacement Program 

For information on the City of Kingsburg's Turf Replacement program click here.

NOTICE OF WATER SYSTEM CHLORINATION

The City of Kingsburg will soon begin fully chlorinating its Water Distribution System. The City has been chlorinating at select well sites since April 2020. The chlorination of all well sites in addition to the GAC (Granular Activated Carbon) treatment at two well sites will assist the City Water Distribution System in meeting all Federal and State water quality standards.

Some residents may notice a slight chlorine taste and/or chlorine odor in the water.

Residents on kidney dialysis or those who have other medical conditions should contact their health care providers for more information about increased chlorine levels in their drinking water. Fish and reptile owners should also take necessary precautions. Some people who use water containing chlorine in excess of the maximum residual disinfectant level (MRDL) could experience irritating effects to their eyes and nose. Some people who drink water containing chlorine in excess of the MRDL could experience discomfort. The MRDL for chlorine is 4 parts per million (ppm) the City’s goal is to maintain a chlorine residual level between .5ppm and 1.25pmm well below the MRDL.

If you have any questions, please call the Kingsburg Water Department at 559-897-1066 or contact us by email at pwinfo@cityofkingsburg-ca.gov or visit the City website https://www.cityofkingsburg-ca.gov for more information. The City of Kingsburg is committed to providing clean and safe drinking water for all our residents.

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*IMPORTANT NOTICE*
The City of Kingsburg's annual water supply (6,138 acre-feet) currently exceeds the City's water demands (3,798 acre-feet). Therefore, the City's water conservation standard has been set at 0%. The methodology to support the City's water supply determination is presented below:

Water Fees & Schedules

In 2012, the City Council completed necessary Proposition 218 work to implement a phased approach to increasing water rates. The reason for the increase was to help address an agreement between the City and Consolidated Irrigation District (CID).  Specifically, the City entered into an agreement with CID to help fund recharge facility construction to provide a sustainable solution to offset our groundwater pumping needs.   In 2016, the City and CID completed a joint project that tied the Cole-Slough CID canal to a City owned ponding basin.  This facility has been used significantly during the wet seasons to store water in our ponding basin to improve recharge. 

The rate increases passed in 2012 were enacted with a five-year phased approach, which was set to conclude on April 1, 2017, with the final increase (a rate table has been included for review).  These increases were put in place in conjunction with the payments to be made to CID based upon expected groundwater pumping levels.  In 2014, Governor Jerry Brown instituted an Executive Order requiring water providers statewide to cut consumption based upon a benchmark year of 2013.  Kingsburg was required to cut usage by 36%.  As such, the City enacted a number of guidelines to curb usage, and our residents responded in kind, reducing usage in 2015 (June-December) by 40%, and reducing usage in all of 2016 by 34%. 

In 2017, Council adopted a resolution to allow the rate increase to take effect but delay its implementation to residents by way of Resolution.  This offered a way to reward citizens for their efforts during the most difficult drought months.  Since Resolution 2017-014 was enacted, citizens have kept their water usage levels below historically high years (2013) but have increased usage as compared to 2014-2015.  In addition, legislation regarding groundwater extraction has changed drastically since the passage of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).  As part of SGMA, the City will be required to account for all groundwater pumped by the year 2040.  To accomplish that, the City will be purchasing water through our Groundwater Suitability Agency.  Given the rate increases were originally intended to provide for recharge, it was necessary to enact the final phase of the rate increase approved in 2012 in order to begin funding costs associated with future water purchases.  Those purchases will begin in 2020, pending approval of our sustainability plan garnering approval from the State.

Beginning on August 1, 2019 and taking effect on your August water bill, a flat rate of $1.75 will be added to your base rate.

Outdoor Watering Information

The State of California has amended the mandatory conservation requirements and returned control to each utility provider.  As such, the Kingsburg City Council has provided the following direction as of June 1, 2016: 

Outdoor watering will be allowed three (3) days per week from April - October. 
  • Odd numbered addresses can water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
  • Even numbered addresses can water on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
  • No watering on Monday.
Outdoor watering will be allowed two (2) days per week from November - March. 
  • Odd numbered addresses can water on Tuesday and Saturday only.
  • Even numbered addresses can water on Wednesday and Sunday only
  • No watering on Monday, Thursday and Friday
Additional Rules:
  • No watering between 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on any day.
  • Do not allow water to flow beyond your property line.
  • Automatic shutoff nozzle required for washing vehicles
  • Washing down of driveways or sidewalks is prohibited.
Note: Restrictions do not apply to drip irrigation systems.

Patrol Monitoring

Watering will be monitored by City patrols. Citizens who do not comply with restrictions will be cited and fined without a warning in accordance with City Ordinance Number 91-03.
  • 1st offense - $25
  • 2nd - $50
  • 3rd - $100
  • 4th citation and any subsequent notices $500
Note: These fines will automatically be added to your monthly water bill.

Water Quality Reports



The City of Kingsburg annually publishes the Consumer Confidence Report or Water Quality Report to inform the citizens of Kingsburg about the quality of their water. 
View All Consumer Confidence Reports

In 2012, the City Council completed necessary Proposition 218 work to implement a phased approach to increasing water rates for both resident and non-resident users.  The reason for the increase was to help address an agreement between the City and Consolidated Irrigation District (CID).  Specifically, the City entered into an agreement with CID to help fund recharge facility construction to provide a sustainable solution to offset our groundwater pumping needs.   In 2016, the City and CID completed a joint project that tied the Cole-Slough CID canal (located just east of Madsen Ave.) to a City owned ponding basin just north of the Historical Park.  This facility has been used significantly during the wet seasons to store water in our ponding basin to improve recharge. 

 

The rate increases passed in 2012 were enacted with a five-year phased approach, which was set to conclude on April 1, 2017, with the final increase (a rate table has been included for review).  These increases were put in place in conjunction with the payments to be made to CID based upon expected groundwater pumping levels.  In 2014, Governor Jerry Brown instituted an Executive Order requiring water providers statewide to cut consumption based upon a benchmark year of 2013.  Kingsburg was required to cut usage by 36%.  As such, the City enacted a number of guidelines to curb usage, and our residents responded in kind, reducing usage in 2015 (June-December) by 40%, and reducing usage in all of 2016 by 34%. 

 

The City’s payment to CID is formulaic, including a ramp up over several years, but primarily dependent upon the City’s annual groundwater pumping totals.  In 2017, Council adopted a resolution to allow the rate increase to take effect but delay its implementation to residents by way of Resolution.  This offered a way to reward citizens for their efforts during the most difficult drought months. 

 

Since Resolution 2017-014 was enacted, citizens have continued to keep their water usage levels below historically high years (2013) but have increased usage as compared to 2014-2015.  In addition, legislation regarding groundwater extraction has changed drastically since the passage of the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA).  As part of SGMA, the City will be required to account for all groundwater pumped by the year 2040.  To accomplish that, the City will be purchasing water through our Groundwater Suitability Agency.  Given the rate increases were originally intended to provide for recharge, staff believes it is necessary to enact the final phase of the rate increase approved in 2012 in order to begin funding costs associated with future water purchases.  Those purchases will begin in 2020, pending approval of our sustainability plan garnering approval from the State. 

 

All Proposition 218 requirements have been satisfied, and staff recommends that the Council pass a resolution to begin collecting the final phase of proposed increases ($1.75).  If passed, staff would charge the new rate with the August billing period (June usage).