Soil drilling and excavation coming to Erwin Lake neighborhood as BBARWA tests groundwater recharge site

Starting around October 22, 2026, engineers from the Big Bear Area Regional Wastewater Agency (BBARWA) will move into the Erwin Lake neighborhood to begin a week of geotechnical field testing at the proposed Greenspot Recharge Project site^[1]. Neighbors should expect daily activity between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., including vehicle noise, drilling equipment, and shallow excavations — though BBARWA says the disruption will be limited, and the work does not mean construction is underway or approved^[1].

What the testing actually involves

Engineers will conduct geophysical surveys, shallow excavations, and exploratory drilling at up to 13 locations across the property^[1]. The goal is straightforward: collect data on local soil and groundwater conditions to help determine how big any future recharge basins might be and where exactly they would be placed^[1].

BBARWA says the footprint will be kept tidy. All excavations and test holes will be filled and leveled on the same day they are opened, crews will apply water to manage dust, and no significant traffic delays are anticipated^[1]. Intermittent vehicle noise during work hours is noted as a possibility in the agency's public notice.

"We know local residents have questions about how the basins would be designed and where they would go," BBARWA General Manager David Lawrence said. "This will give us better data to eventually answer those questions, and we've planned the work to keep disruptions in the neighborhood to a minimum."^[1]

Why the project matters for Big Bear's water supply

The Greenspot Recharge Project, if ultimately approved and built, would capture and purify highly treated local wastewater that currently flows out of Big Bear Valley. That purified water would be returned to the local aquifer — up to 500 acre-feet per year, roughly equivalent to the annual water use of 2,700 valley households^[1]. The project is designed to shore up groundwater supplies during droughts while meeting state and federal drinking water standards^[1].

Where things stand

This field testing is early-phase work only. Final funding and construction have not been approved by the BBARWA Governing Board, and the testing itself is not considered a construction activity^[1]. Depending on what the October surveys reveal, BBARWA may conduct additional temporary infiltration testing later this winter or in spring 2027, with public notices issued before any future field operations^[1].

The agency's announcement reflects only BBARWA's perspective. It does not include comment from Erwin Lake residents who will experience the drilling and vehicle noise, nor from any board members who may have remaining concerns about the Greenspot site selection. Water ratepayers — who would ultimately bear construction and operations costs if the project moves forward — have not weighed in publicly in this announcement.

Residents with questions about the October testing can contact BBARWA at (909) 584-4018 or by email at admin@bbarwa.org (opens in a new tab).