Rep. Obernolte secures $11 million for CA-08 projects including $663,224 for the Twentynine Palms Wastewater Treatment Facility

U.S. Congressman Jay Obernolte (CA-08) secured $11 million in funding for projects in California’s 8th District that passed the U.S. House of Representatives as part of this week’s major appropriations package. The funds include $663,224 for the City of Twentynine Palms Wastewater Treatment Facility Phase II.

“Twentynine Palms has faced an ongoing issue of wastewater treatment, with the City relying entirely on septic, while the Marine Corps base’s wastewater treatment plant has aged and become in dire need of replacement,” said Rep. Obernolte. “These funds will help the city of Twentynine Palms transition from septic to a wastewater treatment system that will help protect the town’s groundwater resources and enhance the long-term sustainability of the community.”

"On behalf of the City Council and our Twentynine Palms Community, thank you Congressman Obernolte for stepping to the plate for our community. Wastewater Treatment is a large infrastructure need which can ONLY be realized with the support of our federal partners. This is the first step in this journey, and we look forward to additional collaboration to realize this investment," said Twentynine Palms Mayor Daniel Mintz.

The City of Twentynine Palms has been working closely with the Marine Corps Air/Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC) on a joint wastewater treatment facility for several years. While the bases’ portion of the project will be fully funded with military construction funding, this new federal funding will help the city to transition from individual septic tanks at residences and businesses to a city-wide wastewater system. This will both protect the area’s groundwater resources from contamination and provide a means for using recycled water to recharge groundwater.