Officials plan to address SLO’s aging water pipeline system

This story originally aired on KCBX.

The San Luis Obispo Whale Rock Commission held its annual meeting on May 8 to discuss the future of the county’s aging water pipeline system.

The Whale Rock Reservoir serves as the main water source for the city of San Luis Obispo, the California Men’s Colony and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. The commission–composed of representatives from each of those entities, reviewed accomplishments from the previous fiscal year and considered long-term infrastructure plans.

Completed projects included spillway drainage repairs, pipeline re-coating, a new generator switch for emergency power and valve replacements.

“We’re trying to squeeze every last bit of life out while looking for those hot spots,” said Whale Rock Supervisor Noah Evans.

Evans, along with deputy director of the San Luis Obispo Utilities Department Mychal Boerman, proposed a three-phase approach to address the pipeline’s condition. The plan includes initial spot repairs, a system-wide inspection in 2028 and a potential full pipeline replacement depending on the outcome of that inspection.

The proposed spot repair targets a 220-foot section of the 15-mile pipeline serving the Dairy Creek golf course. The estimated cost for this segment ranges from $700,000 to $1.2 million. Though the plan was approved in 2022, construction was postponed until 2027 due to ongoing work on the Nacimiento pipeline. Funds for the repair have already been set aside.

At the meeting, the commission approved the 2025–2026 budget, which maintains the Dairy Creek repair fund and allocates spending for pump station electric repairs.

“We’re just, you know, thankful for the Whale Rock Commission supporting the ongoing operations and maintenance of the system that allows us to, you know, deliver water into the city and to the Whale Rock Commission members,” Evans said.

The commission meets annually, with the next meeting scheduled for May 2026.