Select Page

North Bay Aqueduct

northBayAqueductHistory

The North Bay Aqueduct (NBA) is part of the State Water Project (SWP). The SWP has rights to water originating from the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, and it stores water in Lake Oroville. The NBA was envisioned as part of the SWP during the 1950s and 1960s when the SWP was being planned. Initial NBA water service in the SCWA service area went to Benicia and Vallejo. In 1990 the North Bay Regional Water Treatment Plant, serving Fairfield and Vacaville, came on line and was able to treat water from the NBA for these two cities. The NBA cost approximately $83 million to construct.

The NBA is an underground pipeline that runs from Barker Slough in the Delta to Cordelia Forebay in western Fairfield. From the Cordelia Forebay water is pumped to Napa County, Vallejo, and Benicia. Travis Air Force Base is also served off the NBA. The size of the underground pipeline varies from 72 inches at Barker Slough to 54 inches at Cordelia Forebay. The NBA is operated remotely by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR) at the Delta Field Division office near Tracy.

The NBA cannot fully deliver the 175 cfs flow it was designed and contracted for. Pumping tests have shown that the NBA can deliver a maximum of 142 cfs. DWR, SCWA, and Napa County are investigating methods to increase the capacity of the NBA at least to the contract amount of 175 cfs.

To address existing and future environmental issues, water quality concerns, and overall improved water reliability, the NBA agencies are looking at a potential NBA Alternate Intake Project. Please click here to view the North Bay Aqueduct Alternate Intake flier (PDF).

Translate »