Major Renovations planned for Wastewater Treatment Plant

The City Council approved long-awaited Renovations on the Wastewater Treat Plant (WWTP). The WWTP is operated via contract with Jacobs Engineering. Jacobs Staff were on hand in the audience and via Zoom to address technical questions by councilors and the Public.

The Resolution for amending the agreement with the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) amends the financial arrangements between the City and the SWRCB. A second Resolution approved amending the City budget for fiscal year 2023-24.

The City Wastewater Treatment Plant is struggling to meet financial commitments of a State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan on major Plant renovations in 2011. The SRF funding has now been reduced to zero percent and exclusively provides cities and counties financial relief for clean water and sewage treatment purposes.

Voters rejected Measure Q ballot referendum for a proposed sewer rate increase in November 2016. A City analysis revealed the Sewer Fund would deplete all reserves and go negative in this year if budgeted operating costs and revenue remained unchanged. Over the past years to present, the City has worked with the State Water Board Division of Financial Assistance (SWRCB) and Regional Water Quality Board to develop a plan to address the shortfall.

The City received an SWRCB Technical Assistance Grant in May, 2021. The amount of the grant was $395,405.

In April, 2022, the Council authorized the City Manager to allocate $370,000 to optimize the Rotating Biological Contactors (RBC) and Digesters. These vital components enhance the sewer process effectively and efficiently, ensuring environmental performance. Here’s what’s also needed to maintain WWTP services:

• Replacement of Membrane BioReactor (MBR).

• Biosolid optimization.

• Primary Clarifiers.

• Thicken/ Gas Holding Tank.

The existing MBR Membrane project was completed in 2022. The City conducted these upgrades as the WWTP equipment was showing signs of inefficiency and risk of damage and ultimate failure if not expediently repaired.

All sewer plant improvements will add almost $560k more debt to the existing indebtedness.

The fiscal impact on the City will be net zero.

The total forgivable loan will increase from $393k to $ 951k.

Both Resolutions, the capital upgrade work and the adjustment to this year’s fiscal budget were approved by unanimous vote. The work begins immediately.