Fred Lewis, with Gold Hill Public Works, walks at the city's water reservoir.

Gold Hill City Manager Lily Morgan reported to City Council members Tuesday night that a $1-million infusion could be headed for the city’s ailing water system if Gov. Tina Kotek signs off on a pair of housing-related Senate bills in the coming weeks.

The funding, included as part of the governor’s housing package comprising Senate bills 1530 and 1537, would fund the replacement of a too-small main water line that runs, Morgan said, along the “river end of town,” as well as long-needed improvements and upgrades to water treatment facilities.

Wastewater and water systems, Morgan said, were “heavily neglected” and suffered from deferred maintenance over several decades.

In November, city residents voted to approve Gold Hill’s annexation into the Rogue Valley Sewer Services district, a move that will decommission the city wastewater plant and run an 8-mile pipeline to a treatment plant in Medford. With solutions to the city’s wastewater woes in place, Morgan said the city must now focus on some $5 million in improvements to the water and storm drain systems.

Currently, when repairs must be made or leaks are detected in the water system, residents served by the old main experience reduced pressure and must be issued “boil water notices” for safety. Problems also come up at the water plant, near the city sports park, during power outages as the facility is without a backup generator.

A former state representative who resigned her legislative seat to take over as Gold Hill city manager Dec. 4, Morgan said a new water line would make boil water notices a thing of the past and improve the quality and reliability of the system. Morgan said state Reps. Emily McIntire, R-Eagle Point, and Christine Goodwin, R-Canyonville, endorsed her request at the legislature.

Barring line-item vetoes or other hiccups, Morgan anticipated the funds could be available by summer.

“From what I understand there’s a lot of housing priorities named,” she said.

“So I believe that Gov. Kotek will sign it fairly quickly.”

The Oregon Senate approved SB 1530 and SB 1537 on Feb. 29, and the state House of Representatives did so on Monday. Additional line items that would bring funding to Southern Oregon if approved include:

• $945,000 for the city of Medford to construct a regional stormwater facility to serve the New Spirit Village development;

• $1.65 million for the city of Phoenix to complete water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure improvements and extend water lines to service developable properties;

• $300,000 for the city of Talent for water and sewer system development charges for infrastructure, and for water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure improvements for housing development;

• $1.5 million for the city of Butte Falls wastewater treatment plant and lift station upgrades;

• $1.5 million for the city of Shady Cove for development of the city’s drinking water system.