MERCED -- People will be able to flush the toilets this spring at the University of California at Merced campus, although the first students aren't expected to arrive until at least August 2005.
Work on sewer and water line extensions to the campus site is progressing on time, City Engineer Dave Tucker said Wednesday.

"They'll have water from the city by the end of April," Tucker said. "They need that water to test all of their facilities, to do the testing on things like air conditioning and sanitary systems."

UC Merced spokeswoman Sheryl Wyan called the work "another sign that things are definitely moving forward toward opening next year."

"We're pleased everything is moving forward and on target for completion," Wyan said.

The university is gearing up for the 2005 opening despite questions over whether the Legislature will approve the necessary funding because of the state's budget deficit.

The city is running the sewer and water lines from G Street across Bellevue Road north to the campus near Lake Yosemite. A fiber optic line to the campus is being installed in the trenches at the same time.

The city is paying for the $5.6 million sewer and water extension project with a loan from the state that the university will pay back to the city.

The city also is installing a water well at the campus, Tucker said.

"A facility the size of the UC is required to have a redundant (water) supply," Tucker said. The new $1.6 million well includes a blockhouse where the water will be fluoridated and chlorinated.

The city water will be put into a 250,000-gallon tank on the campus. The tank will distribute the water to the various users, Tucker said. The tank is designed to deal with high water demands, such as in the morning when students head for the showers. The tank also is intended to serve as a source for firefighting.

"The tank will provide fire flow for seven hours," Tucker said. "Beyond that, they will rely on the city's 16-inch water line."

The university has installed a pressure booster to get the water uphill because the storage tank is at the low end of the campus, Tucker said.

"Everything is going very smoothly."