Ontario council weighs $13.5 million Euclid Avenue recycled-water project

Ontario City Council was presented with a recommendation July 7, 2026, to approve a recycled-water pipeline project serving Euclid Avenue, connecting streets and East Riverside Drive, with construction authorized up to $13,545,276 and the broader recommended action totaling $15,228,695.

The agenda called for awarding an $11,778,501 construction contract to All Cities Engineering, Inc., adding a 15% contingency of $1,766,775, and approving related engineering, construction-management, inspection and materials-testing services. The reviewed agenda and staff report document the recommendation; final council minutes or adopted resolutions confirming the vote were not independently verified.

Where the work would occur

The project would install recycled-water mains along Euclid Avenue between Holt Boulevard and 4th Street, with short branches along F Street, Flora Street, B Street, C Street and E Street. It also includes a larger segment along East Riverside Drive between Euclid Avenue and Vineyard Avenue.

The city staff report describes approximately 20,000 linear feet of new recycled-water mains. The state environmental record gives a more precise total of approximately 20,128 linear feet, plus about 300 linear feet of lateral connections. The work would use open-trench construction, with pavement and other disturbed surfaces restored after installation.

The project would also convert approximately 2,440 linear feet of existing potable-water mains for recycled-water distribution. It would not eliminate potable-water use. Instead, the city says the system would reduce reliance on imported potable water.

Costs, grant funding and construction timing

The construction authorization would be capped at $13,545,276, including the All Cities Engineering contract and contingency. The total recommended action would be $15,228,695 after adding professional services: $936,902 for Ardurra Group construction engineering, a $622,422 increase to the AKM Consulting Engineers agreement for construction management and inspection, and a $124,095 increase to the Smith-Emery Laboratories agreement for geotechnical and materials testing.

Ontario’s staff report says the city received a $10 million state grant in 2023 through the State Water Resources Control Board’s Division of Financial Assistance. Qualifying expenses would be reimbursed through the state. The report says there would be no General Fund impact, while additional Water Capital Fund appropriations would be included in a future quarterly budget update.

If the recommended action is approved, the construction term would be 450 calendar days after the city issues a notice to proceed. The reviewed records do not provide a construction start date or a specific lane-closure schedule. Residents, commuters, nearby businesses and schools should look for later project-specific traffic, access and construction notices.

Why Ontario is pursuing the system

Ontario staff describe the project as part of a broader effort to create a more drought-resilient water supply. The system is intended to expand recycled-water service for irrigation and approved industrial uses while reducing the city’s dependence on imported potable water.

The state environmental record identifies Ontario as the lead agency and describes the project as approximately 20,128 linear feet of recycled-water mains, lateral connections, conversion of existing potable mains and open-trench construction. It also identifies temporary construction activity on Euclid Avenue, West F Street, North Vine Street, West Flora Street, East C Street, East B Street and East Riverside Drive.

The city’s environmental review includes a Mitigated Negative Declaration and a mitigation-monitoring and reporting program. The state record lists schools within two miles of the project area, including Chaffey High School, Vina Danks Middle School and Champions at Euclid Elementary, but does not establish specific closures or access effects for those facilities.

Bid protest included in recommendation

The proposed council action also called for rejecting a bid protest filed by Norstar Plumbing & Engineering, Inc., against All Cities Engineering and Big Ben Engineering. The city staff report says Norstar alleged that the two lower bids were nonresponsive because of alleged noncompliance with California public-works contracting requirements.

Ontario denied the protest in a written determination dated April 16, 2026. Staff said the issues raised involved bidder responsibility, including trustworthiness, quality, fitness, capacity and experience, rather than bid responsiveness, and concluded that All Cities Engineering met the requirements for recommendation as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The agenda characterized the protest as without merit. Those are the city’s conclusions, and Norstar’s allegations should not be treated as established violations.

The next practical developments are final council action, execution of the project agreements, issuance of a notice to proceed, construction scheduling and publication of traffic or access information for affected streets.

Sources

• City of Ontario project agenda report
• Ontario City Council agenda for July 7, 2026
• California CEQAnet project record