Century-old Tracy pump station faces critical failures, threatening water supply

A century-old pump station near Tracy, operated by the Byron-Bethany Irrigation District, is grappling with failing infrastructure and power challenges, jeopardizing water delivery to over 6,500 acres of farmland.

“This is an urgent need, and we’ve been working on this as quickly as we can. Unfortunately, we’re not working quickly enough. We have emergencies on top of emergencies right now,” said BBID General Manager Ed Pattison.

The Wicklund Cut Pump Station, built in 1918, plays a crucial role in pumping water from nearby canals to sustain agricultural operations.

However, many of its pumps, aged over 100 years, are no longer repairable because parts are obsolete. The pump failures are exacerbated by the breakdown of the facility’s primary power source, forcing operations to rely on diesel generators.

“We’re operating on diesel backup generators. This is not a normal operation," Pattison said.

Each of the aging pumps lifts water about 20 feet into the canals, supplying farmers downstream. But as the pumps continue failing, Pattison warns the situation could spiral further, citing the rising costs of building a new station.

“Every year that we wait, this $45-million estimated project is becoming increasingly expensive and unaffordable,” Pattison said.

To address this crisis, BBID is seeking state and federal aid to fund a replacement station.

"This is food security. These are our farmers, our communities. Together, we can find solutions to make everybody whole and do this cost-effectively," Pattison said.

Despite their ongoing efforts, the process of securing funds, coupled with the construction timeline, means it could take at least five years to establish a new pump station. Pattison said that's at the bare minimum.

Until then, the district remains committed to maintaining water flow.

“We’ve got staff here 24/7, and we’re going to keep this water flowing,” Pattison said.

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