HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11c - 2022 Sewer Master Plan UpdateAccept Sewer Master Plan Update
November 15, 2022
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DATE: November 15, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Paul Cranmer, Public Works Services Director
By: Michael Kwok, Associate Civil Engineer
SUBJECT: ACCEPT THE 2022 SEWER MASTER PLAN UPDATE
Recommendation: Approve
CEQA: Not a Project
SUMMARY
The Public Works Services Department (“PWSD”) is responsible for the operation and
maintenance of the City’s sanitary sewer collection system and utilizes the Sewer Master
Plan to evaluate the condition of the City’s sewer system. The Sewer Master Plan was
last updated in 2006. On May 5, 2020, the City Council authorized the City Manager to
execute a Professional Services Agreement with Tetra Tech, Inc. in the amount of
$196,795 for the preparation of the Sewer Master Plan Update. Tetra Tech, Inc. has
completed the Sewer Master Plan Update, which provides an evaluation of the condition
and capacity of the sanitary sewer system and assists in the development of future capital
improvement projects to ensure the sanitary sewer system meets current and future
wastewater collection demands. It is recommended that the City Council accept the 2022
Sewer Master Plan Update.
BACKGROUND
The PWSD is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the City’s sanitary sewer
system. The City’s sanitary sewer collection system consists of 138 miles of City-owned
pipeline. The PWSD provides wastewater collection for approximately 56,000 residents
within 11 square miles. The City’s sewer pipes are an average of 50 years in age and are
primarily made of vitrified clay. Despite the average age, overall, the City’s sewer system
is in good condition.
Throughout the years, the Sewer Master Plan (“SMP”) has helped identify capital
improvement projects to ensure that the City’s sewer pipes are replaced before they come
to the end of their useful life span, and to identify sections of the sewer system that are
not at maximum capacity.
Accept Sewer Master Plan Update
November 15, 2022
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The SMP is a vital planning tool that evaluates the current state of the City’s sanitary
sewer system. The SMP was originally completed in 1998, was last updated in 2006 and
needed an update. On May 5, 2020, the City Council authorized a Professional Services
Agreement with Tetra Tech, Inc. for the SMP Update. The 2022 SMP Update was
prepared to provide a framework for existing and future sewer system planning. The
Update considers the recommended projects mentioned in the 2006 SMP and the work
accomplished since then. Furthermore, the SMP Update re-evaluates the condition,
capacity, and maintenance needs of the sanitary sewer system, and assists in the
development of future capital improvement projects to ensure the sanitary sewer system
meets current and future wastewater collection demands.
DISCUSSION
The SMP is a vital planning tool that includes the existing sewer system condition, any
existing deficiencies, operation and maintenance practices, and recommendations for
improvements. The 2022 SMP Update provides an up-to-date comprehensive look at the
City’s sewer system using recent planning information, flow rates, and an updated
InfoSewer hydraulic model to assess the City’s sewer system infrastructure needs
through the year 2042. Due to the impacts of the pandemic, various changes in sewer
generation were detected. In general, the increase in the number of people working from
home has resulted in a larger amount of sewage flow from residential land use areas and
a smaller amount of sewage flow from commercial land use areas. The pandemic’s long-
term effects are still unclear at this point, but these effects are likely to continue at a lesser
degree, as working from home (at least partially) will be incorporated as a feature into
many workplace cultures.
The SMP includes strategies for maintaining a reliable quality service level, prevention of
sewage overflows, direction for future projects to be included in the Capital Improvement
Program, and guidance of operational issues including system maintenance, cleaning,
and inspection. The SMP also includes an analysis of how much sewage is generated for
the many different land use types throughout the City, including residential, industrial,
commercial, and open space areas. This information is useful in evaluating infrastructure
improvements, new developments, and the impact they may have on the sewer system.
The 2022 SMP Update focuses on four primary areas:
1. Existing Sewer System Conditions – Focuses on the existing sewer system
infrastructure in terms of demand, capacity, and configuration. An analysis using
the InfoSewer computer model was performed to determine if demands can be
met under various existing and future conditions.
2. Sewer System Deficiencies – Identifies the current and projected deficiencies in
the existing sewer system infrastructure, including pipe segments that may be
over capacity.
Accept Sewer Master Plan Update
November 15, 2022
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3. Operation and Maintenance Practices – Evaluates maintenance needs and
schedules, including equipment needs, manhole easement access, and
“hotspots” that require frequent cleaning.
4. Recommendations for Improvements – Evaluates infrastructure improvements to
accommodate existing requirements and meet future needs. Improvements are
prioritized and conceptual level budgets were established.
Based on the analysis of the system, review of sewer regulatory requirements and
challenges, and discussions with maintenance personnel, various recommendations
were developed for improvements to the sewer system. These recommendations
considered financial constraints and were reviewed to focus on the projects considered
to be the most beneficial and relevant to the sewer system condition, operations, and
continued reliability. In general, the sewer system has been found to be in good condition.
The list of recommended improvements in the SMP Update to be implemented over the
next 20 years were prioritized, with the most critical projects indicated as Priority 1 and
the remaining projects indicated as Priority 2. There are eight Priority 1 projects with a
total estimated cost of approximately $3.2 million, and there are 34 Priority 2 projects with
a total estimated cost of approximately $5.4 million. In addition, various recommendations
were provided regarding the operation and maintenance of the sewer system. These
recommendations include staff training, equipment purchases, and community outreach.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
The SMP Update does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality
Act (“CEQA”) per Section 15061(b)(3) of the CEQA Guidelines as it can be seen with
certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under
CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $200,000 were budgeted in the Fiscal Year 2018-19 Capital
Improvement Program for the SMP Update. A Professional Services Agreement was
issued to Tetra Tech, Inc. in the amount of $196,795, with the total cost based on a
maximum estimated number of hours to prepare the SMP Update. The actual cost for the
preparation of the SMP Update was $158,984.90. The SMP Update provides future
capital improvement program projects and budgets for these projects. The total cost of all
projects proposed in the SMP Update is approximately $8.6 million, which will be
dispersed over a 20-year period. The cost of these programs will be considered in future
sewer rate fee setting discussions; however, they are not expected have a significant
effect on future rates.
Accept Sewer Master Plan Update
November 15, 2022
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a
project and is, therefore, exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act
(“CEQA”); and accept the 2022 Sewer Master Plan Update.
Attachment: 2022 Sewer Master Plan Update