Clean drinking water is essential to public health, community stability, and self-governance. How it is built, managed, and sustained says as much about values as it does about infrastructure. For tribal nations across the state, water infrastructure has long been inseparable from questions of sovereignty, self-determination, and long-term stewardship. At Big Valley Rancheria in Lake County, water treatment offers a quiet but clear example of what’s possible when infrastructure is built through partnership.
The Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians now operates a groundwater treatment system that serves roughly 1,400 residents and produces up to 100 gallons of clean drinking water per minute. The system addresses naturally occurring groundwater conditions, including iron, manganese, ammonia, and corrosivity. While those technical details matter, the deeper story is how the project came together and who remains in control.
The system was developed in partnership by Cadiz Inc. Rather than relying on a standardized municipal design, the project reflects choices made by tribal leadership around durability, adaptability, and long-term governance. The result is infrastructure that functions as a permanent public asset under tribal ownership.
Water systems are not static. Regulations evolve, and community needs change. Planning for that reality was central to the design at Big Valley Rancheria. The treatment facility uses modular, vertical filtration vessels that can be reconfigured over time to address different contaminants without rebuilding the entire plant. That flexibility allows the tribe to respond to future standards or shifts in demand while protecting its original investment.
Ben Ray III, CEO and Tribal Administrator for the Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians, has emphasized that adaptability was key. The same system can treat a range of contaminants at different flow rates, supporting long-term planning rather than short-term fixes.
Reliability was also a priority. The system’s automated backwashing process allows filtration to continue without interrupting water production. That means no service outages during maintenance, something that directly impacts daily life across the Rancheria. Lead operator Leon Fred has noted that the process is so seamless it often goes unnoticed, a sign that the system is doing its job quietly and consistently.
For Tribal Chairman Flaman McCloud Jr., the project represents more than upgraded equipment – It is an expression of water sovereignty. Control over water infrastructure allows the tribe to make decisions rooted in community values, long-range planning, and responsibility to future generations. The completed facility supports homes, public buildings, and community services while reinforcing tribal authority over critical resources.
ATEC Water Systems has worked with tribal nations since 2008, partnering with a dozen communities, including tribes across California, the Pacific Northwest, and Canada. Its systems are American-made, designed for long service life, and supported through pilot testing, installation guidance, and ongoing maintenance. At Big Valley Rancheria, that support took the form of collaboration rather than substitution, with tribal leadership and operators remaining at the center of decision-making.
In California, water stories often surface during drought emergencies or regulatory disputes. Less attention is given to projects that succeed quietly, without crisis or controversy. The Big Valley Rancheria system is one of those projects. As California continues to face growing pressure on water resources, this project offers a practical example of what respectful partnerships can look like. It shows that when tribal sovereignty is treated as a starting point rather than an obstacle, infrastructure can be built to last, serve real needs, and remain accountable to the community it serves..
Written in partnership with Tom White
