Advancing Sustainability in Petaluma: Rainier Avenue Recycled Water Pipeline Completed

The City of Petaluma continues to make significant progress on its long-term effort to expand the community’s recycled water system—an essential strategy for protecting groundwater resources and improving drought resilience. As part of the city’s commitment to maintaining sustainable groundwater levels, the Petaluma Urban Recycled Water Expansion includes constructing at least 6,500 feet of new pipeline to bring recycled water to additional customers, landscaping and city facilities. Using recycled water for irrigation and other approved uses helps reduce demand for potable supplies, conserving thousands of gallons of drinking water each year.

A major portion of this work took place in late 2025 along Rainier Avenue, timed in coordination with other utilities, paving and traffic calming construction work. This pipeline will help offset groundwater pumping by delivering recycled water to nearby landscaping areas, particularly during dry years when groundwater supplies are stressed. The Rainier Avenue work is now complete.

• Trench excavation and pipe installation began in late August and reached substantial completion in October.
• Crews installed the recycled water main along the Rainier corridor, including trenching, pipe placement, tees, and appurtenances needed for future system buildout.
• Pipeline segments were fully installed, backfilled, and repaved, maintaining safe public access throughout construction.
• Service connections and tie-ins progressed between Maria Drive and Rushmore Avenue, including tapping the new main, navigating existing utilities, and upgrading associated service components.

A Collaboration Supporting Groundwater Sustainability

This project is funded in part by a Groundwater Sustainability Plan Implementation Grant from the California Department of Water Resources. The partnership between the City of Petaluma and the Petaluma Valley Groundwater Sustainability Agency is advancing local water resilience by expanding recycled water use and reducing demand on groundwater supplies.