On August 22, 2022, the California Department of Water Resources announced the Madison Community Services District will receive a $3.8 million award to help rehabilitate the 60-year-old drinking water system in the rural town of Madison, located in Yolo County. The funding will help replace the existing water distribution system to ensure the community has a reliable supply of water during current and future droughts. Yolo County partnered with the Madison Community Services District (CSD) to submit the grant since the CSD has limited staff and funding.

"Yolo County is dedicated to partnering with local districts to help ensure our small rural communities have a safe and reliable source of drinking water," said Angel Barajas, Chair of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors. "We are grateful to the State of California for recognizing Yolo County and the community of Madison's need for financial assistance for this important work."

Madison is a disadvantaged community of approximately 560 permanent residents and 300 seasonal farmworkers. Since Yolo County directs growth to cities to protect agricultural land and encourage compact development consistent with state land use planning principles, small rural communities such as Madison need additional resources to support critical public infrastructure. The aging Madison community water system lacks an appropriate structural foundation and does not meet fire standards. The poor construction results in frequent fractures in the system, seriously disrupting the community's water supply.

Yolo County will continue to work with the Madison Community Services District to secure the remainder of funding needed for the $7.1 million project from other sources. Yolo County is currently working with other small communities to apply for funding to improve water supply and quality. Earlier this year, the Yolo County Office of Emergency Services received $559,500 from the Small Community Drought Relief Program to implement a dry well assistance program.

For more information on the Madison CSD, visit the Yolo County Community Services District webpage.