Water Well Replacement Project

The Vandenberg Village Community Services District is undertaking the Water Well Replacement Project in Lompoc, California, to replace three aging potable water wells (Wells 1B, 3A, and 3B) that have reached the end of their functional lifespan. The project involves constructing three new wells with an expected yield of 800 to 1,350 gallons per minute, including the installation of electrical service, metering, monitoring, and security infrastructure. These new wells will be connected to the existing water distribution system via new lateral connections and replacement pipelines at Well Site 1. The work is located within a 0.76-acre site in the Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve, with temporary construction staging near Exit 702/704 of State Route 1. Construction is anticipated to span approximately 30 months, with a general timeline from July 2027 through December 2029, though specific site preparation and grading are scheduled as early as July 2026. The project must adhere to the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) and various California waste management acts (AB 939, AB 341, and AB 1826), as well as the Construction General Permit for water quality. Environmental compliance is a primary focus, with a Mitigated Negative Declaration adopted under CEQA guidelines to address impacts on biological resources, air quality, and greenhouse gas emissions. Key mitigation measures are specifically required to protect special-status plants and wildlife within the ecological reserve.