Monterey County Approves $1.24 Million Engineering Design Contract for San Lucas Water System

SAN LUCAS, Monterey County, Calif. — A proposed $1,239,469 engineering design agreement for the San Lucas public water system is on the Monterey County Board of Supervisors’ October 27, 2026 agenda. The proposal would authorize Ardurra Group, Inc. to design public-water-system improvements for this small, unincorporated South County community.

Why safe drinking water is urgent in San Lucas

Important public-health context: the county’s detailed staff report says San Lucas had been subject to two “Do-Not-Drink” orders dating to 2011. The engineering project is meant to work toward a reliable supply of clean drinking water. The county places the preliminary planning-level cost of the overall project at approximately $23 million—far greater than this design-only contract.

The report also identifies $2,051,752 in congressional earmarks from federal FY 2024 ($959,752) and FY 2026 ($1,092,000), which county staff expected to flow through the EPA Community Grants Program. An earmark or design agreement does not mean all construction costs are covered. Residents should follow current county and water-system notices about the safety of their own water; do not treat a design award as clearance to drink tap water. Anyone affected should confirm present restrictions with the water supplier or local public-health authority before changing water-use practices.

The county legislative detail now shows Status: Passed; final action October 27, 2026, while the full meeting minutes remain in draft. This refers to authorization of design services—not the completion or funding of the entire water system. Read the official board item and staff report. Significant public-health and financing context added October 27, 2026.

What the money would pay for

Under agenda item A 26-457, Ardurra would provide professional design services for county Project No. 8415. The initial contract period would run from October 27, 2026 to October 26, 2029, with options for two additional one-year extensions.

The proposed maximum design contract is broken down by fiscal year: $228,249 in FY 2026–27, $634,178 in FY 2027–28 and $377,042 in FY 2028–29. The proposal would also allow qualifying amendments up to 10% of the original amount, bringing the possible cumulative ceiling to $1,363,416.

What residents should know

This is a design-services contract proposal—not an announcement that a new water system has been built, that tap water quality has changed or that construction is fully funded. San Lucas residents should watch for the executed agreement, engineering milestones, environmental and construction approvals, and separate decisions about any eventual operation or customer charges.

San Lucas is an unincorporated community in southern Monterey County, so the Board of Supervisors rather than a San Lucas city council oversees county-level decisions. California58 is publishing this report for South County readers through King City News while identifying the affected community accurately.

Primary source: Monterey County Board of Supervisors, item A 26-457 (October 27, 2026), board report and draft contract.

UPDATE — October 29, 2026: The official Monterey County legislative record now lists item A 26-457 as Passed, with final action October 27. The Board authorized a design-services agreement with Ardurra Group, Inc., for the San Lucas Public Water System, County Project No. 8415, with a base maximum of $1,239,469 and conditional amendments up to an overall maximum of $1,363,416. This approves professional design services; it does not mean water-system construction is complete or that customers are connected. Official board action and agreement file.

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