Faced with aging assets, regional growth and stricter environmental mandates, the city of Chino, California, is balancing strategic planning with smart technology, proactive maintenance and a spirit of regional collaboration.
With a zero sanitary sewer overflow record, a sustainable rate study in the works and a focus on GIS-based asset management, Chino’s Public Works team is building the foundation for a resilient and resource-efficient future.
High-growth zone
Located at the nexus of San Bernardino, Orange, Los Angeles and Riverside counties, the city of Chino is strategically positioned as a desirable hub for Southern California businesses, commuters and families. Its 30 square miles of generally flat topography have seen explosive residential and commercial development in recent years, with the population projected to climb from 95,000 to over 140,000 in the next 10 to 15 years.
That growth is especially evident in the city’s Preserve community on its southern end, where new homes and businesses are rising on what was once dairy and agricultural land. As annexations continue and county pockets are absorbed, the city’s public works department is faced with the task of transitioning many legacy septic areas to sewer service — a process made more urgent by California state mandates requiring connection to public sewer systems if within 200 feet of a sewer main line.
“In Chino, we’re seeing population growth as well as an expanding service area,” says Hye Jin Lee, M.S., PE, director of Public Works. “That means more miles of pipe, more maintenance, more planning and more opportunity to get it right.”
Smart solutions
While newer developments enjoy PVC pipelines and modern infrastructure, older portions of the city still rely on a mix of vitrified clay and concrete sewer pipes — some as old as 40 years. These aging assets are increasingly prone to failure. Concrete in particular has been deteriorating rapidly under the effects of hydrogen sulfide eating away at pipe walls.
“We’ve had cases where crews were jetting the lines and pulling out chunks of concrete,” says Keith Martinez, Public Works service manager. “The gases cause corrosion at the crown of the pipe and also break through the sides.”
To get ahead of the issue, Chino is planning a comprehensive citywide CCTV inspection of its entire 271-mile sewer system over the next five to six years. With a goal of collecting consistent, system-wide condition data, the effort will help prioritize rehabilitation and lining projects and support the development of a sustainable capital improvement plan and financing through a right-sized rate structure.
Main to the line
In 2023, the City Council enacted a landmark change to its sewer lateral ownership policy: The city would now assume responsibility for laterals from the main to the property line. The shift was driven by increasing resident hardship in securing qualified contractors and affording repairs within the public right-of-way.
“We saw too many residents struggling to find someone who could perform the work properly and do it safely,” says Lee. “It made sense for the city to take on that responsibility.”
Each time a rehab project is undertaken, laterals are now inspected and replaced or rehabilitated to the property line, complete with a new clean-out. It’s a move that not only supports residents, but also improves the overall health and reliability of the system.
Proactive mindset
To complement its systemwide CCTV initiative, Chino has begun upgrading its inspection and data management capabilities. The city is migrating from CUES’ Summit software to GraniteNet and has appointed its first full-time GIS technician solely dedicated to Public Works.
“We want to be able to link condition data to spatial data and visualize asset health across the city,” explains Lee. “Overlaying sewer, water and pavement conditions allows us to coordinate projects and limit disruption by doing everything in one mobilization.”
This strategy will also support the city’s asset management goals. Chino is in active discussions with ESRI about leveraging its platforms to integrate GIS, condition scoring and future capital improvement project tracking. A strong data foundation will ultimately support smarter decisions, better budgeting and a more resilient utility network.
Sustainable funding
To fund these long-term initiatives, Chino has begun a new rate study focused on sustainability. The previous study expired in 2022, and the city sees this as an opportunity to align revenues with the costs of rehabilitation, expansion and technology upgrades.
“It’s all about balance,” Lee says. “We want to keep rates affordable for residents, but we also need to ensure we can invest in the infrastructure that makes life here possible.”
Green parks
Water conservation has long been a priority in drought-prone California, but Chino has found ways to stay green without drawing on precious potable water supplies. The city uses recycled water from the Inland Empire Utilities Agency to irrigate 41 parks — representing over 260 acres of green space, including the 140-acre Ayala Park, a regional gem with 1.6 million annual visitors.
“Recycled water isn’t subject to the same conservation mandates,” says Lee. “That means we can maintain safe, healthy recreation areas for families year-round — even in the height of a drought.”
Chino also earns potable water credits for providing recycled water to agricultural users, a nod to the city’s agricultural roots. And by using recycled water rather than pumping groundwater, the city preserves limited aquifers for critical domestic use.
Chino has embraced technology to take its conservation even further. Most city-maintained parks are equipped with UGMO wireless soil sensors, which track salinity, temperature and weather conditions to fine-tune irrigation schedules. “They automatically shut off the sprinklers if rain is coming, saving thousands of gallons,” says Martinez. “It’s been a game changer.”
On the residential side, Chino has deployed advanced metering infrastructure to help residents track their usage and detect leaks. While many homeowners haven’t yet adopted the accompanying mobile tools, the city has launched outreach and education programs to increase engagement.
One of the most innovative is Chino’s upcoming Resident Engagement Academy, a citywide educational series aimed at helping residents understand how each department functions, including the often-overlooked role of Public Works.
“Most people often think of potholes first, but our work goes far beyond that,” says Lee. “We manage water, sewer, lighting, trees, parks, essentially, everything that supports daily life.”
Managing stormwater
Chino’s position at the bottom of a regional watershed and near the Santa Ana River makes it susceptible to flooding during heavy rain events. With increasingly intense storms becoming more common, the city is moving decisively to mitigate risk.
A master drainage plan is already in progress, including the design of two major conveyance channels that will reduce inundation risk in low-lying neighborhoods. Manholes are also receiving attention, particularly in these areas, with crews sealing problematic covers and evaluating structures for H2S corrosion and I&I vulnerability.
The city is also exploring regional partnerships for stormwater capture and recharge. “Land is so expensive now that it’s hard to dedicate space for new recharge basins,” Lee says. “But we’re working with local partners (i.e. Chino Basin Water Conservation District) to make sure we still replenish our groundwater and protect water quality.”
Mutual aid
When disaster strikes, Chino responds. As a participating agency in the Inland Empire Utilities Agency’s mutual aid network, the city has both received and provided emergency assistance during sewer line failures and major backups.
“We got a call at 2 a.m. one night and were first on the scene to support a neighboring agency’s trunk line failure,” says Martinez. “By sunrise, there were crews and Vactor trucks from multiple agencies on-site working as one team.”
Chino goes beyond participating in mutual aid by taking a leadership role. In 2024, the city took the initiative to host the annual regional training for partner agencies, a task historically managed by IEUA. Their hospitality, hands-on coordination and professional turnout earned praise from across the region and inspired other agencies to step up and host future events.
“That event started something really beautiful,” says Lee. “It fostered collaboration, built trust and proved how much we can accomplish when we train and respond together.”
Whether responding in emergencies or planning ahead, Chino continues to demonstrate what it means to be a proactive, fully engaged community partner.
Regulations and resilience
Regulatory demands continue to increase for cities across California. Chino is updating its Sanitary Sewer Management Plan in response to recent state orders, aligning documentation and workflows to reflect best practices in asset management, emergency response and environmental compliance.
“Learning all the new acronyms and procedures has been a steep curve,” admits Martinez. “But it’s helping us get better and helping other agencies, too.”
The Public Works team is also working with consultants and regional peers to ensure compliance efforts don’t just meet minimums, but contribute to real operational resilience.
Strong culture
Chino’s Public Works success story is as much about people as it is about infrastructure. With a team of 127 employees, many of whom have served the city for over two decades, the department benefits from a rare level of institutional knowledge and dedication.
“We have an incredibly experienced crew,” says Martinez. “Some of our folks have been here 20, 25, even 30 years. They take pride in the city and really care about doing things right.”
This culture of commitment extends to mentoring younger staff. As seasoned operators prepare for retirement, Chino has prioritized knowledge transfer and cross-training across divisions. The city has also embraced ongoing professional development, including CWEA certifications and specialized training sessions offered in partnership with IEUA and regional agencies.
“It’s a family atmosphere here,” Lee adds. “We work hard, but we also make sure we support each other and create an environment where people want to stay.”
Environmental stewardship
Beyond regulatory compliance and water savings, Chino’s approach to infrastructure is rooted in a broader commitment to environmental health and community well-being. For example, by prioritizing sewer lateral replacements and proactive manhole maintenance, the city is minimizing inflow and infiltration that could otherwise contribute to overflows and environmental discharge during storm events.
“We haven’t had a single SSO in over a year,” Lee notes with pride. “That speaks to our proactive maintenance strategy and attention to detail.”
The city is also working with regional water agencies on long-term planning for climate resilience. That includes discussions around urban stormwater reuse, drought-tolerant landscaping in future park designs, and even the potential integration of green infrastructure into public spaces.
“It’s all interconnected,” says Lee. “Parks, stormwater, sewer and sustainability — they don’t exist in silos. We’re always looking at the big picture.”
Pearls of wisdom
Asked what advice they’d give other cities, Lee and Martinez are aligned: Start early, plan ahead, and collaborate widely.
“Think big, start small, but be strategic,” says Lee. “Data is power. If you don’t know what you have, you can’t manage it.”
And don’t go it alone, Martinez adds. “Your neighboring agencies are valuable partners. Share knowledge, tools and people. It makes everyone stronger.”
In Chino, those principles are put into practice every day. Through proactive planning, responsible stewardship and neighborly collaboration, the city demonstrates that the infrastructure of tomorrow starts with decisions made today.
