Planning & Design

Starting around 2010 Sunnyslope began strategizing how large public landscape areas could be irrigated entirely with well water rather than the majority treated surface water delivered through the standard distribution system. By placing landscape demand on their own water distribution system, it lessens the overall surface water demand, saving significant cost long-term. 

Pairing with Developers, SBCWD & Consolidation Systems

Sunnyslope inherited an old pipeline owned by SBCWD that ran from near Sunnyslope's Well 5 to Fairview Road near Old Ranch Road. Sunnyslope required several new housing developments to connect to this pipe and install sections of the parallel water system for landscape in the areas they developed. In 2022, the opportunity arose for Sunnyslope to pair this landscape irrigation system with the consolidations of Best Road Mutual Water Co. and Tres Pinos. Because both those areas are outside San Benito County Water District's Zone 6, they are not eligible to receive treated surface water. However, through an agreement with SBCWD, Sunnyslope may serve them well water from the landscape system. By joining with these consolidated systems, the landscape system inherited the key infrastructure of the Foxhill Tank which creates the Foxhill Zone to pressurize this system. Without the tank, Sunnyslope would have needed a costly hydro-pneumantic tank to pressurize the system. Several improvements were completed at Sunnyslope's Well #5 to facilitate the consolidation and commissioning of the combined system.

Costs

The far majority of the costs associated with this project are borne by the developers who constructed the new homes on the eastern side of Hollister. The portions of the system required for the consolidations of Best Road Mutual and Tres Pinos were paid for through State grants and by the consolidated systems. Operationally, the cost of supplying well water is about $250 per acre foot, whereas the cost of majority treated surface water delivered to residential and commercial customers is approximately $2,000 per acre foot. 

Future Plans

Sunnyslope intends to continue to expand this Foxhill Zone for additional landscape as new developments are constructed on the eastern side of Hollister. Main areas of interest include the properties between Hillcrest and Santa Ana west of Fairview, properties near John Smith Road, and properties between Ridgemark and Tres Pinos. Exisitng landscape areas potentially targeted for connection to this system include Klaur Park, Calvary Cemetary, and Maze Middle School.