WATSONVILLE — Two new water tanks recently installed at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds — together totaling 130,000 gallons — are big enough to provide water for two days during fair time, should a power outage disable the pumps.
When Santa Cruz County residents take shelter at the fairgrounds during a national disaster — as they did after the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake — the tanks stand ready to provide water.
“This is a huge project for the fairgrounds to have done,” said Santa Cruz County Fair Board Vice President Don Dietrich.
Dietrich praised the Fairgrounds Foundation, which works year-round to raise money for infrastructure upgrades and improvements.
The $200,000 project was funded by a $50,000 grant from the City of Watsonville and a $100,000 grant from the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, said Fairgrounds Foundation Executive Director Jeannie Kegebein.
Funds for the tanks also came from 61 individual donors, Kegebein said.
Workers started the project in the spring.
According to Fairgrounds CEO Dave Kegebein, the fairgrounds gets its water from a well. When the pumps go out, or the electricity goes out, the current reserve tank can keep the water running for just a few hours, he said.
“This is a huge improvement,” he said. “One of many we’re working through.”
