Woodland · Yolo County
Protect Woodland’s water quality and environment.
Measure Z is a simple, practical solution that will protect Woodland’s water quality and environment.
What Measure Z does
A simple, practical solution
Some businesses in Woodland rely on old, outdated septic systems that pose a constant risk to our local water Quality. Measure Z would address this problem by allowing neighboring properties to connect to the City’s modern wastewater system, eliminating septic systems that could contaminate groundwater and harm our environment.
By allowing surrounding businesses to connect to the City’s wastewater system, Measure Z will also dramatically reduce the need to pump groundwater from local aquifers, protecting the critical groundwater resources that residents and family farmers rely on.
At the same time, Measure Z would allow private investment to fund the expansion of Woodland’s recycled water system to be used in serving parks, schools, and the cemetery, causing more use of the recycled water and reducing the likelihood that water restrictions would ever need to be imposed on existing residents.
It’s that simple! For clean water and a healthy environment, vote YES on Measure Z!
Cleaner groundwater
Retiring aging septic systems removes a constant risk of contamination near the city’s edge.
Less pumping from our aquifers
Businesses on city water draw far less groundwater, protecting what residents and family farmers rely on.
Recycled water for parks and schools
Private investment funds the expansion, serving parks, schools and the cemetery instead of drinking water.
Questions
Frequently asked
Why is Measure Z Needed?
In 2006, Woodland voters voted to establish an Urban Limit Line to protect open-space and local agriculture from sprawl and overdevelopment. Measure Z would maintain the Urban Limit Line’s key protections while providing a common-sense, environmentally sound update to allow for the limited delivery of City water and wastewater services just outside the line.
What benefit is there to Woodland residents?
Measure Z would allow private investment to fund the expansion of Woodland’s recycled water system to serve our parks, schools, and the cemetery, offsetting potable water use and reducing the likelihood that water restrictions are ever imposed on existing residents.
Does Measure Z protect local water resources?
Absolutely! Measure Z protects the critical groundwater resources that residents and family farmers rely on by reducing the need for several large businesses to pump groundwater from local aquifers.
Measure Z would also protect local water quality by reducing the need to rely on old septic systems that pose a constant risk of groundwater contamination. Instead, businesses would connect to Woodland’s modern wastewater system, eliminating those septic systems and the risk of harm to our local environment.
What would Measure Z do to water and utility rates?
Under Measure Z, new corporate water and wastewater customers would pay for 100% of their infrastructure and utility costs, expanding Woodland’s service base and helping share the fixed operating costs of our utility systems. As a result, Measure Z could stabilize water and wastewater fees for all current Woodland ratepayers.
Would Measure Z result in sprawl and overdevelopment?
No. Measure Z maintains the key Urban Limit Line protections that strictly prohibit new residential development, protecting our agricultural heritage and preventing urban sprawl.
Who supports Measure Z
Supporters
Measure Z is a common-sense win for Woodland’s local economy. By allowing long-standing regional employers to pay 100% of their own utility extension costs, we protect local jobs and expand our commercial utility customer base to help stabilize rates for existing rate-paying businesses and residents, all while leaving our Urban Limit Line fully intact.
Taxpayers shouldn’t have to subsidize corporate utility infrastructure, and under Measure Z, they won’t. This measure requires private commercial investment to cover every penny of their connection costs. Expanding the utility base to share fixed operating costs protects current Woodland ratepayers from bearing the entire burden of municipal system maintenance.
Our community values both environmental stewardship and fiscal responsibility. Measure Z allows existing employers to transition off aging septic systems and groundwater wells on their own dime, protecting our water quality without spending a single dollar of taxpayer money.
Protecting Yolo County’s groundwater and agricultural heritage is paramount. Measure Z offers a responsible solution that eliminates the environmental risks posed by aging septic systems and heavy groundwater pumping, preserving critical natural resources for our agricultural community.
Modern, interconnected water infrastructure is essential for fire safety and emergency response capabilities across our region. We support Measure Z because upgrading local water delivery systems and protecting our municipal utilities makes our entire community safer and more resilient.
Measure Z strikes the exact right balance for Woodland. It delivers significant environmental benefits by protecting our shared groundwater aquifers while maintaining strict protections against urban sprawl and new residential development beyond our Urban Limit Line.
Measure Z is a clear win-win for our city. Private investment will pay to expand our local utility footprint, providing long-term rate stabilization for Woodland families while supporting local employers who have been part of our community for decades.
By allowing neighboring commercial facilities to connect to Woodland’s modern municipal infrastructure, Measure Z directly reduces reliance on local groundwater pumping and safeguards our regional water table for future generations.
Measure Z is strictly limited to existing commercial facilities operating near our borders. It does not alter the Urban Limit Line boundary or allow residential housing sprawl; it simply modernizes how existing business neighbors handle their utility needs.
Measure Z reflects smart regional planning. Allowing established commercial neighbors within one mile of Woodland’s border to access clean, municipal water facilities protects regional aquifers and strengthens our local public utility network.
As public safety professionals dedicated to Woodland’s well-being, we support Measure Z because it strengthens local infrastructure, protects vital environmental resources, and supports economic stability across our city without increasing costs for local taxpayers.
Vote YES on Measure Z to protect Woodland’s environment, secure our water resources, and help stabilize rates.
The measure itself
Read more
Get involved
Join the campaign
Reach the campaign