UT1063 - Well No. 53
Summary
SCH Number
2026100323
Public Agency
City of Ontario
Document Title
UT1063 - Well No. 53
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/9/2026
Document Description
The Ontario Municipal Utilities Company (OMUC) is proposing the installation and operation of a new groundwater production well in the 1,212-foot pressure zone to increase the reliability of its water supply system. The proposed project consists of drilling, construction, operation, and maintenance of a new groundwater well identified as Well No. 53 (hereinafter referred to as the “Project”). Well No. 53 is proposed to be drilled to a depth of approximately 1,000 feet below ground surface (bgs). The well will be equipped with a 600 horsepower (hp) electric motor and designed to produce a maximum of 3,500 gallons per minute (gpm). The well will include a standby backup diesel generator. The wellhead will be constructed inside an approximately 2,000 square feet (SF) split-face concrete masonry unit well building. The maximum height of the well building will be 20 ft. The well building will include an office, an electrical room to house the electronics to operate the well, and a room housing the 0.8% chlorine generation system, which will store salt in a brine tank. Once produced, the chlorine will be introduced into the pumped groundwater prior to the water entering OMUC’s potable water system. The chlorine generation system is enclosed in a fiberglass tank that will include 110 percent secondary containment. Other Project Site improvements include an asphalt driveway for access from Doubleday Avenue and asphalt around the well building. A pipeline will be constructed from the well head to the City’s existing water pipeline and in Doubleday Avenue. For security purposes, the Well No. 53 site will be enclosed with either a metal fence or a solid wall. Access to the site will be via a locked gate from Doubleday Avenue.
Contact Information
Name
Thomas Frank Palmieri
Agency Name
City of Ontario
Job Title
Senior Associate Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency / Project Applicant
Phone
Email
Location
Coordinates
Cities
Ontario
Counties
San Bernardino
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
Dupont Avenue and Doubleday Avenue
Zip
91761
Total Acres
2.4
Parcel #
APNs 021-123-217, 021-123-218, and 021-123-219
State Highways
I-10, I-15 and SR-60
Airports
Ontario International Airport
Township
1S
Range
7W
Section
25
Base
SBBM
Other Location Info
The Well No. 53 site is located on the southwest side of Doubleday Avenue, approximately 950 feet (ft) west of the intersection of Dupont Avenue and Doubleday Avenue in the City of Ontario, San Bernardino County. The Well No. 53 site is an approximately 2.4-acre dedicated easement on vacant parcels (APNs 021-123-217, 021-123-218, and 021-123-219) currently owned by the Ontario International Airport Authority (OIAA) and is hereinafter referred to as the “Project Site.” The Project Site is located within Section 25, Township 1S, Range 7W, San Bernardino Base and Meridian.
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
15332. In-fill Development Projects
Reasons for Exemption
The Project meets the five qualifying criteria for the Class 32 Infill per CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 because:
(a) The Project is consistent with the applicable general plan designation and all applicable general plan policies as well as with applicable zoning designation and regulations.
The Project Site has a The Ontario Plan 2050 land use designation of Industrial (IND) and is zoned Specific Plan (SP). The Project Site is located within the California Commerce Center Specific Plan (CCCSP) and has a CCCSP land use category of Light Industrial. Public utility facilities are a permitted land use in the CCCSP Light Industrial land use category
(b) The proposed development occurs within city limits on a project site of no more than five acres substantially surrounded by urban uses.
The Project Site is surrounded by existing Industrial uses and recently entitled industrial projects.
(c) The project site has no value as habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species.
Based on the analysis in the: 1) Biological Constraints Analysis and Burrowing Owl Habitat Assessment Report for Ontario Well No. 53 Project; 2)Survey for Crotch’s Bumble Bee on the approximately 3.23-acre Ontario Well No.53 Project site, Ontario, CA; 3) First Year Focused Survey for Delhi Sands Flower-Loving Fly (Rhaphiomidas terminates abdominalis) on a 3.23-Acre City of Ontario Well Site No. 53 In Ontario San Bernardino County; and 4) the implementation of drilling specifications, the Project Site has no significant value as habitat for endangered, rare, or threatened species.
(d) Approval of the project would not result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality.
As evidenced by the findings in the Air Quality/ Greenhouse Gas Analysis for the Well No. 53 Project for Ontario Municipal Utilities Company, (UT-1063) and the Preliminary Drinking Water Source Assessment and Protection (DWSAP) Documents for City of Ontario Well No. 53, construction and operation of the Project would not result in any significant effects regarding air quality or water quality. The Project is located within an Industrial area without sensitive uses present and the Project Site maintenance and operation will be integrated into the City's existing routine and would therefore not result in any significant effects relating to noise or traffic.
(e) The site can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services.
The Project site can be adequately served by existing essential utilities and public services. Utilities are present to serve the Project and no expansion or extension of utilities or public services are required.
County Clerk
San Bernardino
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
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