PLEASANTON — The search for clean water wells in Pleasanton is in full swing, with significant progress expected to be made by this summer, according to city officials.

The city this month began drilling at Del Prado Park, the first of several sites being explored to find safe, potable water underground. During a Pleasanton City Council meeting on Tuesday, officials said that workers are wrapping up drilling at Del Prado and will soon be moving on to drill at the Tennis and Community Park, and then Hansen Park.

Mayor Jack Balch called a discussion of the city’s water system Tuesday a “sobering” moment, as officials discussed the health and effectiveness of Pleasanton’s water system.

He expressed surprise when officials explained that an audit shows Pleasanton loses about 679,000 gallons of water per day, or an average of 30.9 gallons a day for each of the city’s 22,0000 water customers.

Officials said that amount of water loss is what the state allows, however Pleasanton is expected to improve that rate to about 18 gallons per day.

The drilling comes after PFAS chemicals, or polyfluoroalkyl substances, were found in 2019 in the city’s well water. The long-lasting chemicals are commonly found in things such as non-stick pans and flame retardants and take extensive amounts of time to break down. By 2022, the city shut down all three of its wells, and this year began looking for new ones. The city now buys all of its water from Alameda County’s Tri-Valley water agency, Zone 7, and distributes it on its own.

A city feasibility study on the possible new wells is expected to come out as early as April, and Pleasanton could start designing a new regional well system by the beginning of the summer.

Additionally, the city has a contingency plan designed for rehabilitating the contaminated wells, if the new wells also prove unsuitable for city use.

Pleasanton is also making improvements to its water infrastructure, budgeting $19 million for the new wells and water booster turnout projects, with the most expensive projects being $10 million for a new booster station and the replacement of water main lines along Stoneridge Drive and Sunol Boulevard.

The new booster station is expected to improve water pressure for Pleasanton residents at Turnout 4, which was built in 1980 and at its peak performance pushed out 4,500 gallons per minute. It now does below 1,000 gallons per minute, according to the city. The new station should meet future demands of up to 5,200 gallons per minute, officials said.

The City Council is expected to hold discussions this summer about water rates, following a controversial 30% rate increase in November 2023. A public hearing is tentatively planned for Oct. 7.

“When we’re talking about increased water rates, people are getting anxious again,” Councilwoman Julie Testa said during Tuesday’s council meeting.

Another increase to water rates is expected to go into effect Jan. 1, 2026.