By JACKIE TAYLOR | August 12, 2026

Water

The city of Pleasanton is one of many cities facing issues with their water system. The city is paying off a $3.7 million bond issue that updated much of the water system, lines, and more in 2015 – that bond is one of four the city is paying for – but water is a necessity.

McGrawCenter.org reported, “Neglected water infrastructure is a national plague. By one estimate, U.S. water systems need to invest $1 trillion over the next 20 years. Meanwhile, federal funding for water infrastructure has fallen 74 percent in real dollars since 1977 and low-interest government loans haven’t filled the gap.

“President Trump campaigned on a promise to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure, but his budget would actually reduce federal aid for water projects. It eliminates a $498 million loan program that helps rural communities fund water projects. And it adds only $4 million, or less than half a percent, to the State Revolving Funds, considered one of the government’s most essential and successful funding programs for local water projects. That means the revolving fund for drinking water, which got $863 million last year, would have its lowest budget in real dollars since it began in 1997, according to the Congressional Research Service.”

After Kansas City media was called concerning the pump issue at East Lake, airing Pleasanton’s dirty laundry for the world to see, there are more consequences than making the mayor look bad or city council or whatever the thought was.

Now, I received a call from a resident who is trying to sell his property. His valuation went up where he is paying approximately $5,800 per year on property taxes. The water issue hit and his realtor told him to pull his house off the market for a while. Between high property taxes and Kansas City metro knowing the city has a pump problem – selling real estate, according to his agent, was a no go.

MrGrawCenter.org continued with their article, “The need to fix the water infrastructure problem is urgent for many of the nation’s 50,000 community water utilities. Broken or leaking pipes can contaminate water, flood streets, disrupt businesses and require expensive emergency repairs. Outdated treatment plants have trouble filtering out potentially harmful chemicals. Old pipes can leach dangerous levels of lead into drinking water. Some communities have higher lead levels than Flint, Mich., where a confluence of bad decisions and coverups led to widespread lead poisoning.”

The city pool has been closed. When a public pool becomes a drain such as it is, tough choices need to be made. The pool was losing approximately 14,000 gallons per day into a pit under the pool building. Questions from concerned citizens asked how big the sink hole could be under the pool.

Further, water issues are forcing one of our biggest employers and services within Pleasanton – the school, to make choices to secure alternative water sources if Pleasanton loses the last pump and water becomes even more precious than it is.

The district superintendent commented that watering their football field for a month would use less water than the pool used in two days.

Enter the 1,100 residents of Pleasanton, most of whom are connected to the city’s water system. Each one trusting that the water is safe to drink, and available. My own dad, 92-years-old, drinks bottled water to avoid issues with water quality, clarity and availability.

How many people on fixed incomes can’t buy bottled water?

The city has lost its way.

There is no continuity of systems; one council enacts things; another council enacts things and forgets what the first one enacted. It’s like a ship with no rudder. Council people and mayors come and go. What a city needs is a clerk/manager that is in for the long haul to keep long-term plans moving in a positive direction.

Right now, Pleasanton has a council that is approximately six-months old. They have new ideas; they don’t know the history – and there is no one at the helm that can lead the ship for the duration.

Who pays the price? The residents of Pleasanton – both renters and property owners – but, especially property owners as they will carry the brunt of the cost in getting aging infrastructure back up to par.

It’s a tough road the city is on; no one wants to pay taxes, but taxes are now a necessity as grants seem to have dried up. Bonds, loans, etc. are piling up and as infrastructure ages – more bonds, loans, etc. will be required. Pleasanton is about to the end of the borrowing cycle; they have four General Obligations bonds already, five is the limit. And the majority are on long-term payoffs with minimum payments being made. That means interest piles up, principal goes unpaid and the city gets into worse and worse financial situation.

It’s not one man’s fault; there are many factors at play in why the city is faltering. Peel the onion and dig into what is going on – long-term, not just the last six months.

The city is in a precarious position; it needs immediate direction and leadership from all involved.