Summary

Best Road Mutual Water Company was a small, struggling water system serving the neighborhoods of Heatherwood Estates and Foxhill Circle on the eastern side of Hollister. It had long-term issues regarding water quality and reliability with multiple ongoing violations, boil water notices, and emergency conservation requirements. Through coordination with Sunnyslope Water District, San Benito County, CA Department of Water Resources, San Benito County Water District, LAFCO, and CA Division of Drinking Water, Sunnyslope consolidated Best Road Mutual to provide safe and reliable potable water.

Design & Grant Funding

Best Road Mutual contracted with Wallace Group Engineers to evaluate DDW compliance options and recommended applying for consolidation grant funds. They were awarded a $2.25 Million grant from CA Department of Water Resources to implement the consolidation with Sunnyslope. This included costs for the design, permitting/environmental, construction, and project administration & management. Wallace Group then worked closely with Sunnyslope staff to design and manage the project.

Construction

The construction contract was awarded to Specialty Construction Inc. for approximately $1.6 Million. To implement the consolidation, a new water main had to be constructed in John Smith Rd from Sunnyslope's existing pipelines in Fairview Rd to Heatherwood Estates Dr where it could connect to Best Road Mutual's existing system. This pipe would be part of a new Foxhill Pressure Zone specifically for serving Best Road Mutual and large public parks and landscape areas near Fairview Rd. This new pressure zone would only be served with well water, since much of Best Road Mutual lies outside SBCWD's Zone 6 boundary for imported surface water. Piping improvements were required at Sunnyslope's Well #5 to feed the new Foxhill Zone. Once fully connected, the old Best Road Mutual wells were destroyed. Water service to Best Road Mutual began in July 2025 and the project was fully completed in October 2025.

Wallace Group was hired to perform construction management services and grant administration throughout the whole project. 

Matching Fund Projects

The DWR grant had a 33% matching fund requirement, equaling about $1.2 Million. The matching funds are being provided by Sunnyslope to implement reliability projects for the Foxhill Zone such as upgrades to Sunnyslope's Well #5 for future Cr-VI compliance, blending station near Lessalt for more uniform water quality, and emergency backup power generation.