Historic Downtown Murrieta Sewer Enhancement Project

In historic downtown Murrieta, most properties dispose of their wastewater by individual sewage disposal systems, or septic tanks. Many of these systems are old and deteriorating and may adversely impact the groundwater. Currently Murrieta relies on groundwater as a source of drinking water. The continued failure or deterioration of these septic systems could affect water quality.

If you were unable to attend the Murrieta Sewer Enhancement Open House on Saturday, July 14, please check out the Fact Sheet, Power Point Presentation, and Resident Sewer System Survey that were shared with Open House attendees. The project team is compiling survey results and will send out a revised survey mailing in the next two weeks to property owners who were unable to attend the event. Please keep a look out for it in the mail and send back your surveys to us as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please call Tedi Jackson in Public Affairs at 951.789.5055.

Installing a Public Sewer System
To protect the water supply, Western Municipal Water District, together with City of Murrieta and the County of Riverside Economic Development Agency, proposes installing a public sewer system to replace these aging tanks. The system could prevent approximately 16 million gallons of wastewater a year from being sent to septic systems, protect the groundwater quality and enhance the city’s utility public improvement efforts.

What’s Involved?
Currently, the District’s proposed plans include the installing a sewer main down the following historic downtown Murrieta streets: 1st Avenue, 2nd Avenue, 3rd Avenue, Juniper Street, A Street, B Street and C Street. Once the sewer main is installed, property owners would pay for the property-side connection to the main. In addition, once connected, the owner or tenant would be billed monthly by the District for use of the public sewer system.

Project Funding
The City of Murrieta received a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for $940,000 to fund a portion of the project. However, current property owners who rely on a septic system will be responsible for the cost of connecting to the sewer system and for monthly service fees.

Potential Funding Assistance Available
Project proponents have identified a way for existing property owners to apply for funding to assist with the cost of these sewer system improvements. The Riverside County Economic Development Agency provides funding to rehabilitate homes in this area under specific guidelines. The Home Rehabilitation Program includes grants to qualifying low income residents and deferred loans for non-owner occupied property for the upgrade and preservation of homes within urban communities. These loans can be used to fund the connection from the property to the public sewer system. More information is available on the County web site.

Next Steps
Western Municipal Water District is currently contacting affected property owners to let them know about the proposed project and get their feedback.

Community Open House

Western Municipal Water District along with the city of Murrieta and the County of Riverside Economic Development Agency hosted a community open house July 14 to share project information and inform residents about potential funding opportunities.

For more information please see the open house announcement or call 951.789.5055.