HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-06-2017 Legislative Committee Meeting Agenda Orange County Sanitation District Monday, February 6, 2017
Meeting of the 8:00 A.M.
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC Administration Building
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Board Room
10844 Ellis Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA
0. (714) 593-7433
AGENDA
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
DECLARATION OF QUORUM:
PUBLIC COMMENTS: If you wish to address the Committee on any item, please complete a Speaker's
Form(located at the table at the back of the room) and submit it to the Clerk of the Board or notify the Clerk of
the Board the item number on which you wish to speak. Speakers will be recognized by the Chairman and
are requested to limit comments to three minutes.
REPORTS: The Committee Chair and the General Manager may present verbal reports on miscellaneous
matters of general interest to the Committee Members. These reports are for information only and require no
action by the Committee.
CONSENT CALENDAR: Consent Calendar Items are considered to be routine and will be enacted, by
the Committee, after one motion, without discussion. Any items withdrawn from the Consent Calendar for
separate discussion will be considered in the regular order of business.
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Clerk of the Board)
RECOMMENDATION: Approve minutes for the Committee meeting held on
December 14, 2016.
NON-CONSENT CALENDAR:
None.
INFORMATION ITEMS:
2. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE (Rebecca Long)
02i06 17 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Page 1 of 2
3. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral)
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS,
IF ANY:
ADJOURNMENT:
The next Legislative and Public Affairs Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday,
March 13, 2017 at 8:00 a.m.
Accommodations for the Disabled: Meeting Rooms are wheelchair accessible. If you require any special disability
related accommodations, please contact the Orange County Sanitation District Clerk of the Board's office at
(714)593-7433 at least 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting. Requests must specify the nature of the disability
and the type of accommodation requested.
Agenda Posting: In accordance with the requirements of California Government Code Section 54954.2, this agenda
has been posted outside the main gate of the Sanitation District's Administration Building located at 10644 Ellis Avenue,
Fountain Valley, California, and on the Sanitation District's website at www.ocsd.00m, not less than 72 hours prior to
the meeting date and time above. All public records relating to each agenda item, including any public records
distributed less than 72 hours prior to the meeting to all,or a majority of the Board of Directors,are available for public
inspection in the office of the Clerk of the Board.
Agenda Description: The agenda provides a brief general description of each item of business to be considered or
discussed. The recommended action does not indicate what action will be taken. The Board of Directors may take
any action which is deemed appropriate.
NOTICE TO DIRECTORS: To place items on the agenda for the Committee Meeting, items must be submitted to the
Clerk of the Board 14 days before the meeting.
Kelly A.Lore
Clerk of the Board
(714)593-7433
Klomaocsd.com
For any questions on the agenda, Committee members may contact staff at:
General Manager James D. Herberg (714)593-7300 iherberafgiocsd.com
Assistant General Manager Bob Ghirelli (714)593-7400 rohirelli0ocsd.com
Principal Public Affairs Specialist Jennifer Cabral (714)593-7581 icabralaocsd.com
Senior Public Affairs Specialist Rebecca Lon 714 593-7444 r1onniciiocsc.com
02/06/17 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Page 2 of 2
ITEM NO. 1
MINUTES OF THE
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Orange County Sanitation District
Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at 4:30 p.m.
A meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by Chair
Sebourn on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at 4:31 p.m. in the Administration
Building of the Orange County Sanitation District.
Chair Sebourn led the pledge of allegiance.
A quorum was declared present, as follows:
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: STAFF PRESENT:
Greg Sebourn, Board Chair Jim Herberg, General Manager
Tom Beamish, Director Bob Ghirelli, Assistant General Manager
Peter Kim, Director Celia Chandler, Director of Human
Lucille Kring, Director Resources
John Withers, Director Rob Thompson, Director of Engineering
Ed Torres, Director of Operations and
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Maintenance
VACANT, Member-At-Large Lorenzo Tyner, Director of Finance &
VACANT, Member-At-Large Administrative Services
Tina Knapp, Deputy Clerk of the Board
Jennifer Cabral
Tanya Chong
Alfredo Garcia
Mark Manzo
Kelly Newell
OTHERS PRESENT:
Brad Hogin, General Counsel
Eric O'Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs
Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources (via
Teleconference)
Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None.
12/14/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 1 of4
REPORTS: The Committee Chair and the General Manager may present verbal reports on
miscellaneous matters of general interest to the Committee Members. These reports are for information
only and require no action by the Committee.
No reports were given.
CONSENT CALENDAR: Consent Calendar Items are considered to be routine and will be enacted,
by the Committee, after one motion, without discussion. Any items withdrawn from the Consent Calendar
for separate discussion will be considered in the regular order of business.
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (Clerk of the Board)
MOVED. SECONDED. and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve minutes for the
regular Legislative and Public Affairs Committee meeting held on
November 8, 2016.
AYES: Beamish, Kim, Kring, Sebourn, and Withers
NOES: None
ABSTENTIONS: None
ABSENT: None
NON-CONSENT CALENDAR:
2. AB 2022 BOTTLING OF GROUNDWATER REPLENISHMENT SYSTEM
WATER (Bob Ghirelli)
Principal Public Affairs Specialist Jennifer Cabral provided an overview of this
item and answered questions from the Committee regarding specifics of the cost
breakdown, types of bottles to be used, and logistics of testing and bottling the
water.
MOVED. SECONDED, and DULY CARRIED TO: Recommend to the Board of
Directors to:
A. Authorize up to $15,000 for the initial testing and bottling of Groundwater
Replenishment System water, with the cost of the bottling and testing to
be equally shared between the Orange County Sanitation District and
Orange County Water District; and
B. Authorize the General Manager to approve the label for the first-run of
GWRS water bottles.
AYES: Beamish, Kim, Kring, Sebourn, and Withers
NOES: None
ABSTENTIONS: None
ABSENT: None
12/14/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2 at
3. APPROVAL OF 2017 LEGISLATIVE & REGULATORY PLAN (Bob Ghirelli)
Principal Public Affairs Specialist Jennifer Cabral provided an overview of this
item indicating that the 2017 Legislative Plan was developed keeping in mind
what industry partners, like the Orange County Water District, California
Association of Sanitation Agencies, Association of California Cities-Orange
County, and the County of Orange, might view as key issues. The 2017
Legislative Plan was developed around three guiding principles: funding
assistance for Sanitation District projects through grants, appropriations, or other
means; maintaining local control over governance of special districts, and other
local entities; and opposing any additional, or redundant, regulatory
requirements.
Staff responded to questions from the Committee regarding what specific
funding/grants we may be seeking in 2017. Director Withers requested that
financial information detailing grants that might be pursued be identified to
establish measurable targets. Staff will develop this information and bring the
information back to the Committee at the next meeting.
Staff also responded to questions regarding whether or not the Sanitation District
has received grants for infrastructure and the possibility of developing a plan for
which project timing would coincide with the availability of funding.
MOVED. SECONDED, AND DULY CARRIED TO: Recommend to the Board of
Directors to: Approve the Orange County Sanitation District 2017 Legislative &
Regulatory Plan.
AYES: Beamish, Kim, Kring, Sebourn, and Withers
NOES: None
ABSTENTIONS: None
ABSENT: None
INFORMATION ITEMS:
4. LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE (Rebecca Long)
Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources, provided an update on Water Resources
Development Act (WRDA) legislation, which includes the Water Infrastructure
Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act. Mr. Sapirstein also provided a brief
overview of WRDA legislation as it currently stands, including funding programs
for water supply and alternative recycling programs, drought provisions, and
water education.
Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA), provided an update on activities
in the State government over the past month and indicated that legislation has
12/14/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3 of 4
not yet been seen pertaining to water, with the exception of the water funding
language seen in the parks bond that was introduced in the prior session.
In response to a question from the Committee regarding whether or not the
passage of Proposition 64 will affect wastewater, staff indicated that the passage
of Proposition 64 should not affect wastewater.
5. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral)
No Public Affairs Update was provided.
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA
ITEMS, IF ANY:
None.
ADJOURNMENT:
Chair Sebourn declared the meeting adjourned at 5:00 p.m. to the next Legislative and
Public Affairs Committee meeting, Monday, February 6, 2017 at 6:00 a.m.
Submitted by:
Tina Knapp
Deputy Clerk of the Board
12/14/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE M etin /lace To ad.of Dir.
AGENDA REPORT ItemNumber Item Number
z
Orange County Sanitation District
FROM: James D. Herberg, General Manager
Originator: Robert P. Ghirelli, Assistant General Manager
SUBJECT: LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
Information Only.
BACKGROUND
The Orange County Sanitation District's (Sanitation District) Legislative Affairs Program
includes advocating the Sanitation District's legislative interests, sponsored legislation
(where appropriate) and seeking federal/state funding for projects. Recently, the
Sanitation District obtained grants for the Sludge Dewatering and Odor Control project
(131-101), the GWRS Effluent Reuse Study (SP-173) and the Newhope Placentia Trunk
Sewer Replacement project (2-72).
Staff will provide an update on grant management activities and available resources, in
addition to an update on recent legislative activities.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
• Unified legislative advocacy and public outreach program
• Build brand, trust, and support with policy makers and community leaders
• Maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with neighboring agencies
• Secure outside funding (grants)for recycled water or other capital programs
PROBLEM
The Sanitation District is an environmentally engaged organization which recycles more
than 50 percent of its wastewater. Through the guidance of the Board of Directors, staff
is working to offset the costs of new and available projects by researching available grants
and financing.
Additionally, to help meet the goal of 100 percent recycling, the Sanitation District uses
the byproducts from the wastewater treatment process to produce biosolids and energy
used to help run the two plants in Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach.
Page 1 of 2
Without a strong advocacy program, elected officials may not be aware that the Orange
County Sanitation District is more than a wastewater treatment plant — treating and
sending water to the ocean.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Working alongside our State and Federal lobbyists, staff will track and monitor the
development of future State and Federal funding opportunities through legislative and
administrative action. Sanitation District staff and lobbyists will continue to work closely
with State and Federal agencies to advocate for funding criteria thatwill ensure Sanitation
District projects are eligible and competitive.
Staff will also work with Local, State and Federal officials to advocate the Sanitation
District's legislative interests. To assist in our relationship building activities, staff will
continue to reach out to elected officials, providing facility tours, one-on-one meetings,
and trips to D.C. and Sacramento.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
Capital projects would move forward as planned and funded under our current rate
structure. If we do not work to obtain grants this could be viewed negatively by Local,
State, and Federal elected officials. Legislation could also be passed that negatively
affects the Sanitation District and the wastewater industry as a whole.
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
December 2016 - Staff was directed by the Committee to create a comprehensive
legislative and loan funding matrix to monitor upcoming funding opportunities.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s)are included in hard copy and may also be viewed on-line at the OCSD website
(www.ocsd.coml with the complete agenda package:
• Grant and Loan Funding Matrix
• Federal Update - ENS Resources
• State Update -Townsend Public Affairs
• Legislative Matrix
Page 2 of 2
OCSD's Grant and Loan Funding Tracker 2016-2017
Type of Rcvd Grant/
Name of Grant/Loan Synopsis of Grant/Loan Amount of Grant/Loan Applying Y/N Project/Program Reason Deadline Grant Financing YIN
2016
Prop 1 State Water Resources Control Board provides Authorize$7.12 billion in general obligation No SP-173 Based on the Sanitation District's Capital Ongoing State N/A
funding for the planning,design and construction bonds for state water supply infrastructure Improvement Program(CIP),the Sanitation
of water recycling projects that offset or augment projects.$725 million for water recycling and District does not have projects that fit the
state fresh water supplies. advanced water treatment technology projects. current guidelines.
Prop 84 Administered by the Department of Water $1 million Yes Newhope-Placentia Trunk Sewer OCSD was eligible and applied 7/1/2015 State Yes
Resources and managed by Santa Ana Replacement Project 2-72
Watershed Project Authority(SAW PA).Third
round.
Self-Generation roanlive Program The CPUC's Self-Generation Incentive Program Up to$1.4 million No Aquacitox We reviewed the specifications of the grant Ongoing State N/A
(SGIP)provides incentives to support existing, and the project was not a fit.
new,and emerging distributed energy
resources.The SGIP provides rebates for
qualifying distributed energy systems installed
on the customer's side of the utility meter.
Qualifying technologies include wind turbines,
waste heat to power technologies,pressure
reduction turbines,internal combustion engines,
microturbines,gas turbines,fuel cells,and
advanced energy storage systems.
Project Definition for Pilot and This funding opportunity supports technology The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Yes Aquacntox OCSD Staff applied however,we were 1 013112 01 6 Federal No
Demonstration Scale development plans for the manufacture of drop- Energy envisions awaking multiple financial notified that we did not receive the grant.
Manufacturing of Biofuels, in hydrocarbon biofuels,bioproducts,or assistance awards in the forrn of cooperative
Bioproducts, and Biopower intermediates in a pilot-or demonstration-scale agreements.The estimated period of
integrated biorefinery. performance for the design phase of each award
(PD2133) wall be approximately 1-2 years.
2
WaterSMART Cooperative The purpose of this program is to support Award Ceiling: $100,000 No SARI/Santa Ana River We do not fit within their guidelines:To be 2/15/2017 Federal N/A
Watershed Management established watershed groups in implementing eligible,applicants must be a grassroots,
on-the-ground watershed management projects. nonregulatory watershed group that
Projects should be collaboratively developed by addresses water availability and quality
members of the watershed group,and address issues within the relevant watershed,
critical water supply needs,water quality,and represent a diverse group of stakeholders,
ecological resilience.Plans should ultimately and can promote the sustainable use of
help water users meet competing demands and water resources within the watershed.
avoid conflicts over water.
Cal Recycle Organics Grant The purpose of this competitive grant pragram is $24,000,000 is available for fiscal year(FY) Evaluating Digesters Reviewing grant to see If it is compatible 3/9/2017 State TBD
Program to lower overall greenhouse gas emissions by 2016-17. with our current needs and projects.
expanding existing capacity or establishing new
facilities in California to reduce the amount of
California generated green materials,food
materials,or alternative daily cover being sent to
landfills.
OC Waste and Recycling Fourth Cycle of the Regional Recycling and This is a$3 million competitive grant Evaluating Food waste digestion.Digesters. Held meeting with Waste Management 4/7/2017 County TBD
Waste Reduction Grant.This competitive grant opportunity.Up to$600,000 per Supervisorial potential partner to discuss viability of grant
provides potential partners with grant funding to District is available. and proposed project.
develop sustainable programs that support
compliance with state-mandated waste diversion
goals and promote increased regional recycling
and diversion efforts.
Energy Department Partners with The Energy Department(DOE)and the $22.7 million No Aquacritox/Biosolids OCSD will not currently pursue this grant. Concept papers are Federal N/A
Department of Agriculture for Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Grant focuses on biorefineries(liquid due Feb 6 and full
Integrated Blorefinery Optimization Food and Agriculture(USDA-NIFA)jointly products).The first topic area mentions applications are due
announced$22 7 million to support the biosolids,but the topic is about feed April 3.
optimization of integrated biomfineres(IBR). handling systems,not about biosolids
DOE is providing majority funding with up to
$19.8 million and USDA-NIFA is providing up to
$2.9 million in funding.
Updated 01/30/2017
OCSD's Grant and Loan Funding Tracker 2016-2017
Type of Rcvd Grant/
Name of Grant/Loan Synopsis of Grant/Loan Amount of Grant/Loan Applying Y/N Project/Program Reason Deadline Grant Financing YIN
CA0272 Infrastructure State The purpose of this program is to provide Program funding is available in amounts ranging Evaluating Multiple(possible projects). Might be for smaller projects. Rolling State TBD
Revolving Fund(ISRF)Program accessible low-cost financing to eligible from$50..000 to$25 million,with loan terms for Evaluating the program.
borrowers for a wide range of infrastructure and the useful life of the project up to a maximum of
economic expansion projects.Eligible activities 30 years.
generally include designing,acquiring,planning,
permitting,entitling,constructing,improving,
extending,restoring,financing,and generally
developing eligible facilities within the state of
California.Projects may feature real and
personal property,structures,conveyances,
equipment,thoroughfares,buildings,and
supporting components thereof,excluding any
housing.
WIFIA The WIFIA program accelerates investment in $2 billion No Possible projects: GWRS Final The Sanitation District does not plan to 4/10/2017 Federal N/A
our nation's water infrastructure by providing Expansion,District 6 Trunk Sewer borrow funds to complete projects.The
long-term,low-cost supplemental loans for Relief Project,Headworks Water District might qualify for these loans
regionally and nationally significant projects.To RehabililatioNExpansion and OCSD wall support them if they choose
qualify for funding assistance a project must Headquarters Complex,Site and to do so.
cost at least$20 million.The USEPA has Security/Entrance Realignment,
expressed an interest in projects that deliver Western Regional Sewers—Planning
multiple benefits that might capture water and design and construction
recycling as well as projects that address
sternal and other"large project"needs.
The Water Infrastructure The enactment of the Water Infrastructure Senator Feinstein included$50 million to Yes-0CWD Final Expansion of GWRS(planning, The Sanitation Distract will not be applying TBD Federal N/A
Improvements Act S. 612/Public Improvements Act(S.612/Public Law#114- support construction of projects that have a final design and construction) for grants related to the expansion of the
Law#114-322/WIIN) 322/WIIN)contained important assistance for and deemed feasible study of a recycling GWRS,but will support OCWD in their
water recycling and desalination. project. In securing this new competitive grants efforts to obtain available financing.
program at the U.S.Bureau of Reclamation,
Senator Feinstein highlighted the identification of
several water and wastewater agencies that
would benefit from the assistance. OCSD is one
of these agencies.
The USEPA Leaking Underground The fund addresses petroleum releases from The LUST program receives approximately$100 Evaluating Cleanup of contaminated soils at We will review the grant to determine If it is TBD Federal TBD
Storage Tank(LUST)Trust Fund regulated underground storage tanks. million annually to prevent,detect,and clean up Plant No. 1 a fit for the project.
releases. Assistance is provided through grants.
Eligible activities include removal of tanks and
cleanup of contaminated areas.
US Department of Agriculture The U.S.Department of Agriculture through Its Atotal of$100 million is funded annually and the TBD Reviewing the funding opportunity to We will review the possible funding TBD Federal TBD
health watersheds program offers publicowned opportunity to design a watershed program see If there is a fit for OCSD. opportunity to determine if it is a fit for the
wastewater agencies funding through might offer OCSD with the chance to advance its (Restoration of beaches and Sanitation District.
collaboration with agricultural interests where priority to reduce regulatory burdens. estuaries)
funding would be provided to the agricultural
entity that would contribute to efforts to protect
the watershed and minimize regulatory burdens
on the Point source.
The Department of Energy(DOE), The DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency is likely to A minimum of$20 million to as much as$100 TBD.We will Project Funding Opportunity:Energy We will review the possible funding TBD Federal TBD
USER and USEPA continue to be funded by Congress to support million based upon prior years'budgets.USSR monilorfor production to reduce costs of recycled opportunity to determine if it is a fit for the
such efforts as bogas,biosolids and green could receive as much as$130 million in support possible funding water through innovative technologies Sanitation District.
energy. of the Waler5man(due to increased funding opportunities like Aquacdlox, Innovative water
under WHIN)during the next several years. monitoring technology that can
USSR will issue solicitations for innovative produce efficient real time monitoring
approaches to managing water and water and data analysis,Biogas
treatment through technology and processes. Management and Use Improvements.
The Water Infrastructure As part of the WIIN authorization,the U.S.Army While this is not a direct program opportunity for TBD TBD. Staff will review the possible Reviewing granito see ff it is compatible TBD Federal TBD
Improvements Act(S. 612/Public Corps of Engineers is authorized to work with OCSD(likely an OCWD matter re:water supply, funding opportunity to see what with our current needs and projects.
Law 9114-322/W IIN) local agencies to remove sediment from dams. it may offer opportunities to address stormwater projects would fit within the scope of
and beach replenishment needs and,if so,may the grant.
be a teaming opportunity with OCWD. Actual
funding assistance is undetermined.
Updated 01/30/2017
OCSD's Grant and Loan Funding Tracker 2016-2017
Type of Rcvd Grant/
Name of Grant/Loan Synopsis of Grant/Loan Amount of Grant/Loan Applying Y/N Project/Program Reason Deadline Grant Financing YIN
Smart Cities and Security It is unclear how the incoming administration TBD TBD. Based on Project Funding Opportunity:SCADA If funding becomes available we will Unknown at this time Federal TBD
may revise existing programs that address the funding System and Network Upgrades, evaluate the opportunity.
energy and watereffciency needs. However, opportunities and Seismic Hazard Evaluation(FEMA
the effort to support communities develop OCSD's Mitigation Assistance)
approaches that improve the quality of life in prpectsi
communities might continue to receive funding.
OCSD might be able to leverage such program
assistance to support innovative approaches to
security.Funding may also be available through
Department of Homeland Security to assist
communities to protect against cyber-threats.
Cap and Trade Funding $900 million from the Cap and Trade program $900 million TBD TBD OCSD would not be eligible to apply for the Unknown at this time State TBD
(Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund)was vast majority of this money.While most of
appropriated in the last legislative session. the Cap and Trade spending plan is not
connected to the services OCSD provides,
the funding did include$40 million for waste
diversion projects.Staff and TPA will closely
monitor the development of this program.
2018 Proposed Park Bond $375 million is available for each of the follow $1.5 billion No.If SB 5 N/A Based on the Sanitation District's Capital TBD State No
categories:Integrated Regional Water passes the Improvement Program(CIP),OCSD does
Management(IRWM),Water Recycling legislature and is not have projects that fit the current
Groundwater Sustainability Clean,Safe,Reliable signed by the guidelines.
Drinking Water Governor,it will
be placed on the
stalewtde ballot in
2018.
Integrated Regional Water The next round of the IRWM implementation TBD No.Not at this N/A The projects found in OCSD's CIP do not TBD State No
Management(IRWM)Grant program,administered by the Department of time.The projects match up with IRWM funding prorill and
Program Water Resources and managed by Santa Ana found in the guiding principles.
Watershed Project Authority,(SAW PA),is District's CIP do
scheduled to kick-off in the 2017-2018 fiscal not match up with
year. IRWM funding
priorities and
guiding principles.
Updated 01/30/2017
R ESOIIRCES
MEMORANDUM
TO: Rebecca Long
FROM: Eric Sapirstein
DATE: January 23,2017
SUBJECT: Washington Update
Activities during the past month centered on preparations for the incoming new Administration
and the 115th Congress. The legislative agenda remains Fluid,because of the deference being given
to President Trump who is seeking to install his senior management team. However,several
organization matters have transpired that suggest that OCSD's policy issues of concern should
dominate the policy and political agenda. In an important outcome, OCSD's Representative Alan
Lowenthal was appointed to the all-important Committee on Transportation &Infrastructure with
its responsibility for water infrastructure policy. OCSD had written a letter of support for this
appointment. His appointment helps address the loss of Representative Mimi Walters.Walters
moved from the committee to sit on the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Newly elected
Representative Lou Correa was appointed to sit on the Committee on Homeland Security. Finally,
newly elected Senator Kamala Harris was selected to sit on the Committee on Environment and
Public Works. On this committee,she will have responsibilities over the Clean Water Act,
infrastructure,and Endangered Species Act policy matters.
The following summarizes areas of interest to OCSD.
Trump Appointees Signal Willingness to Review Mandates
It is clear that the Trump policy priorities will focus on how best to modernize the regulatory
agenda. As a starting point,one of the President's first actions involved an order for a regulatory
freeze. This means that any rulemakings in process (and guidance) are on hold for the foreseeable
future. The appointment of Scott Pruitt to become the next USEPA Administrator buttresses the
view that business as usual at the agency will not be the situation. Instead,we expect a focus on the
costs and benefits of federal programs and regulations will be a priority for the new leadership. To
this end, one of the first actions may be a decision to revoke the Waters of the U.S. rule (clean water
rule).
ENS Resources,Inc.
110114-Street,N.W.
Washington,D.C.20005
Phone 202.466.3755/Telefox 202.466.3787
Page Two
During Pruitt's Senate confirmation hearing, Pruitt expressed support for infrastructure assistance
and a clear priority to refocus the agency to address air and water policy and program needs. It is
unclear whether this support will translate into more than support for the Trump infrastructure
policy that would emphasize public private partnerships to rebuild wastewater and water
infrastructure needs. Nonetheless,it is a positive sign that infrastructure needs continue to be
highlight by both the new leadership and congressional committee membership.
House Approves a Trio of Regulatory Reform Measure
Within days of convening Congress,the House leadership made good on its pledge to address
burdensome rulemakings. In a series of votes,the House passed three regulatory reform bills. The
first amends the Congressional Review Act, allowing Congress to bundle a series of regulations for
disapproval,rather than passing time consuming individual resolutions of disapproval. The
measure would also address any rules that are issued within the last year of an administration's
tenure in office, addressing what is euphemistically termed midnight rulemakings. The second bill
provides that for any rule or guidance under development,a new process would be mandated to
allow for enhanced input from stakeholders and require additional evaluation by the Office of
Management and Budget prior to publication of a final rule. And last, a measure to address any rule
that would impose between$100 million and $1 billion in economic impacts to the economy would
require a formal approval by Congress prior to becoming effective. In each instance, the bills were
approved along party lines. Senate action on the three bills is unclear. Sixty votes are required for
passage. It is uncertain whether a Senate almost evenly divided at 52-48 would be able to cobble
together eight votes to ease passage of any of the bills without some modifications.
Infrastructure Policy
The prospect for a new federal policy on infrastructure remains strong given recent statements
from President Trump. However,the effort to address health,immigration and tax reform casts
doubt on the timing for action on infrastructure policy. Recent statements from senior
congressional staff,and the leadership,suggest that any policymaking is unlikely to occur until later
this summer at the earliest. Nonetheless,the House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over
infrastructure,including water,are expected to dedicate time on how best to fashion a policy over
the next few months before formally developing policy options.
ENS Resources,Inc.
110114-Street,N.W.
Washington,D.C.20005
Phone 202.466.3755/Telefox 202.466.3787
T ^ WNSEND
TPA
To: Orange County Sanitation District
From: Townsend Public Affairs, Inc.
Date: January 20, 2017
Subject: Legislative and Public Affairs Agenda Report
The Legislature returned to the Capitol on December 5, 2016 to be sworn into office, officially
kicking off the 2017-2018 legislative session. On that day, the first day bills can be introduced,
legislators introduced 113 bills and 23 resolutions. Since then, that number has grown to 396 bills
and 54 resolutions.
Below is a list of key upcoming deadlines in the Legislature:
February 17—Last day to introduce a new bill
April 6—Spring Recess begins
April 28— Last day for policy committees to hear and report fiscal bills to fiscal committees
In regards to new committee leadership, Senate Pro Tern Kevin De Leon and Speaker Anthony
Reardon have announced their 2017 committee chair assignments. While the Senate has
announced their full committee membership,the Assembly has only announced committee chairs.
This will be particularly important, since the members and chairs of committees could potentially
be in their position for up to 12 years due to the new Proposition 28(2012)term limits. Committee
hearings are expected to start after the bill introduction deadline on February 17. Below is a
snapshot of the chairs of various Senate and Assembly committees for 2017:
Committee Chair(Senate) Chair(Assembly)
Senate Appropriations/Assembly Senator Ricardo Late (D— Los Assemblymember Lorena
Appropriations Angeles) Gonzalez (D—San Diego)
Senate Budget and Fiscal Review/Assembly Senator Holly Mitchell (D— Los Assemblymember Phil Ting (D—
Budget Angeles) San Francisco)
Senate Governance and Finance/Assembly Senator Mike McGuire (D— Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-
Local Government Healdsburg) Curry (D—Winters)
Senate Natural Resources and Senator Bob Hertzberg (D— Los Assemblymember Eduardo
Water/Assembly Water, Parks, and Wildlife Angeles) Garcia (D—Coachella)
Senate Natural Resources and Senator Bob Hertzberg (D—Los Assemblymember Cristina Garcia
Water/Assembly Natural Resources Angeles) (D— Bell Gardens)
Senate Environmental Quality/Assembly Senator Bob Hertzberg (D — Los Assemblymember Bill Quirk (D—
Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Angeles) Hayward)
Southern California Office•1401 Dove Street•Suite 330•Newpod Beach,CA 92660•Phone(949)399-9050•Fax(949)476-8215
State Capitol Office•925 L Street•Suite 1404•Sacramento,CA 95814•Phone(916)4474086•Fax(916)444-0383
Federal Office•600 Pennsylvania SE•Suite 207•Washington,DC 20003•Phone(202)546-8696•Fax(202)5463555
Northern California Office•300 Frank Oga sa Plaza•Suite 204•Oakland,CA 94612•Phone(510)835-9050•Fax(510)835-9030
Page Two
The Governor is also having a busy January, as he recently announced his $179.5 billion fiscal
year 2017-2018 budget proposal. He will also deliver his annual State of the State address on
January 24, where he will build upon his budget proposal and outline additional priorities for the
State in 2017, as well as give thorough insight into the fiscal health of the State.
Governor's 2017-2018 Proposed Budget
On January 10, the Governor released his proposed budget for the 2017-18 Fiscal Year. The
proposed budget anticipates that the overall State economy, which has been growing steadily for
the last several years, will grow at a much slower pace in the upcoming year. According to the
Administration's forecast, if corrective action is not taken, the FY 2017-18 budget would have a
$1.6 billion budget deficit, as well as deficits of$1 to $2 billion in the following three budgets.
Overall, the Governor's January Budget proposes General Fund spending of$122.5 billion in FY
2017-18, which is $200 million lower than FY 2016-17. Proposition 98 spending on K-14
education, which comprises the largest portion of the budget, is projected to grow by$2.1 billion,
for a total spending of$73.5 billion. The budget also contains$178 million for one-time efforts to
combat the impacts of the continued drought. Of this $178 million, $91 million will go to the
Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and $53 million will be used to aid local agencies in
the removal of dead or dying trees that pose a risk to public safety.
In order to address the potential budget deficit in FY 2017-18, the Administration is proposing
$3.2 billion in corrective actions. If the Legislature adopts these actions, the budget will contain
a $1.6 billion reserve in FY 2017-18 and will be balanced into the future. The key components of
the corrective actions proposed by the Administration include:
• Adiust the spending level of Proposition 98— The Proposition 98 funding level is
determined based on the level of State revenue and the Governors' budget proposes
funding only the minimum Proposition 98 guarantee. This action,while still resulting in an
overall growth in Proposition 98 spending, will result in $1.7 billion in savings in FY 2017-
18.
• Recapture unspent one-time funds—The FY 2016-17 budget contained significant levels
of one-time spending, and many of these one-time allocations have not yet been
spent. The Administration proposes savings of$900 million by recapturing some of these
one-time allocations. The two largest of these allocations is the $400 million in affordable
housing money that was to accompany the Governor's "by-right" housing proposal and
the $300 million that was allocated for modernization of state office buildings in
Sacramento.
® January 2017 Report 2
Page Three
• Limit spending growth—The Governors budget proposal calls for limits on spending for
programs that would otherwise be funded, if the General Fund was in a stronger
position. The Administration anticipates that it can save $600 million by limiting spending
on programs. The Governor is proposing to pause rate increases for child care, as well
as to phase out the Middle Class Scholarship program by not extending the scholarship
to any new students.
In addition to the corrective actions outlined above, the Governors January Budget proposal
contains numerous policy proposals and funding adjustments.
A few brief items to highlight include:
• Cap and Trade— The Governor's January Budget proposes spending $2.2 billion in cap
and trade proceeds on various programs. However,the Administration acknowledges that
the cap and trade auction proceeds for the past several auctions has been well below
forecasted levels. The Administration believes that this, in part, is due to the uncertainty
surrounding the future of the cap and trade program. In order to address this issue, the
Administration will be putting forth legislation, which will require a 2/3 vote, to extend the
cap and trade program beyond its current 2020 sunset date. The Administration has
indicated that it will not appropriate the $2.2 billion in proposed cap and trade spending
until the Legislature has acted on the cap and trade extension legislation.
• Federal Uncertainties— The Governors Budget acknowledges that there are numerous
uncertainties that accompany the change in Administration in Washington DC. These
uncertainties could have a significant impact on California and the State budget. For
example, the FY 2017-18 budget contains $800 million for the State's portion of Medi-Cal
expansion from the Affordable Care Act. This $800 million assumes that the federal
government will continue to provide a 95% funding level, as was set forth in the
ACA. Should Congress act in a way that modifies the funding provisions of the ACA,then
California could be responsible for a significantly higher level of funding. The Governors
budget acknowledges these federal uncertainties, but given that the President-Elect has
not even been sworn in to office yet, does not include specific provisions to deal with these
uncertainties. Instead, Governor Brown has indicated that he will wait until the May Revise
to evaluate what actions, if any, have been taken in Washington DC, and how those may
impact the State budget.
® January 2017 Report 3
Page Four
Since the Governor released his proposed budget,the Legislature has begun the task of gathering
information and evaluating the proposals contained within the Governor's budget. The Assembly
and Senate Budget committees will conduct informational hearings during which the Department
of Finance will provide an overview of the proposed budget. Afterwards, the Assembly and
Senate Budget Sub-committees will hold a series of hearings over the coming weeks to evaluate
specific proposals within the budget. In mid-May the Governor will introduce his May Revise,
which will contain updated revenue and expenditure forecasts for the Legislature to evaluate and
act on by June 15. TPA will continue to track the 2017-2018 fiscal year budget and keep the
District informed.
Drought Update
The 2017 water year officially began in October 2016. Despite increased rainfall and snowpack
compared to the same months in previous years,California remained locked in drought conditions
for the remainder of 2016. However, large storms in Northern California in January 2017 have
begun to reverse drought conditions. According to the US Drought Monitor, more than 40% of
California is no longer experiencing drought conditions. This improvement to water resources in
Northern California is a good sign for the future of the State's water resources, however certain
areas of Central California and Southern California remain under serious drought conditions.
Despite the lingering drought, there are signs of Central and Southern California drought
conditions improving. In just over a week, the amount of the State that was classified as being
within an "exceptional drought' has decreased from 18 percent to 2 percent. Additionally, Sierra
snowpack has been measured at 161 percent of normal. This snowpack is a major source of
water for Central and Southern California.
Long Term Water Conservation Measures
On January 17, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)hosted a public workshop to
solicit feedback on the existing emergency water conservation regulations. In addition, the
SWRCB sought feedback on a draft report from five state agencies that was released in
November which recommends an extension of current drought regulations. SWRCB staff started
the workshop by presenting to the Board and audience about the State's updated hydrologic
conditions.They admitted that although recent storms have relieved much of the State of drought
conditions,there are still areas of the State that are abnormally dry or have depleted groundwater
resources. In addition, they stated that if the State received no more rainfall for the rest of the
water year (October 2016 — September 2017), we would be just below historical average.
Furthermore, it was reported by SWRCB staff that the State's snowpack is currently 75 percent
of average in April.
® January 2017 Report 4
Page Five
Following the staff presentation,the Board opened the floorfor public comments. Representatives
from around the State spoke of drought conditions in their District and presented their ideas to
the Board. The overwhelming majority of all public comment captured the following themes:
• The SWRCB should let the existing emergency conservation regulations expire in
February 2017.
• Monthly reporting to the State is ok with water utilities if the data collection works.
• The State is no longer in an "emergency', therefore continuing to refer to the drought as
an emergency risks the credibility of both local utilities and the State, potentially impacting
their ability to persuade water users to conserve in the future when necessary.
• Conversations should be focused on long-term sustainable solutions to future droughts
and drought conditions.
The SWRCB will now collect and analyze the public comment provided during the public
workshop and release updated draft regulations in the next couple of weeks. The SWRCB plans
to adopt these new regulations during their February 7 Board Meeting.TPA will continue to update
the District on the rollout of any new water conservation regulations.
State Water Use: November 2016
In the month of November, California urban water suppliers reduced their water use by 18.3
percent when compared to November 2013, a decrease of 0.8% from October 2016. The State
Water Resources Control Board has also stated that conservation levels for communities that
certified they did not need state-imposed mandates has remained significant since the amending
of the regulations in May 2016. Without state-imposed mandates, 44 percent of urban water
suppliers representing approximately 13 million people reported water savings above 20 percent.
In November:
• Statewide water savings for November 2016 was 18.8 percent (86,793 acre feet or 28.3
billion gallons), a decrease from October 2016's 19.6 percent savings, and a decrease
from November 2015's 20.2 percent statewide savings (30.9 billion gallons). November
2016 water savings are nine percent lower than November 2015 savings.
• Cumulative statewide percent reduction for June 2015 — November 2016 (18 months) is
22.6 percent, which equates to 2,347,125 acre-feet(764.8 billion gallons).
• Statewide average residential gallons per capita per day (R-GPCD) for November 2016
was 76.6 gallons, below the 89.8 R-GPCD in October 2016 and slightly above 75.6
RGPCD reported for November 2015.
® January 2017 Report 5
Page Six
Priority Legislation
SB 163 (Hertzberg 2015-2016)— Wastewater Treatment.,Recycled Water
SB 163 would have required, on or before January 1, 2033, the beneficial reuse of at least 50%
of treated wastewater that the NPDES permitholder would otherwise discharge though ocean or
bay outfalls relative to the inflow to the treatment plant.Additionally, the bill would make it a waste
and unreasonable use of water for urban water suppliers to not take the available treated
wastewater. Senator Hertzberg has indicated that he will not be pursuing any version of SB
163 in the 2017 legislative session. He is still interested in recycling ocean discharges;
however, he will be focusing primarily on Proposition 218 in the next year.
® January 2017 Report 6
Ill
Bills of Interest
Proposed Federal Legislation 2017-2018
(H.R. 5) Goodlatte (R) Regulatory Accountability Act of 2017. Provides for a new regulatory processs to Passed House along Watch No supporters of note for
allow for stakeholder input in the development of regulations. A new process would party lines and referred OCSD
add a requirement for agencies to provide advanced notice of proposed rulemakings to the Senate 238-183
and also ensure that the Office of Management and Budget reviews any final rules to
ensure that costs and benefits align to deliver value from the rulemaking.
(H.R. 21) lase (R) Midnight Rules Relief Act of 2017. Provides for Congressional review of regulations Passed House along Watch No supporters of note for
issued in the final year of an Administration through bundled resolutions instead of a party lines 238-184 and OCSD
single resolution for each rule reversal. referred to Senate
(H.R.26) Collins(R) Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2017. Provides for a Passed House along Watch No supporters of note for
requirement that Congress review any rulemaking that would impose an economic party lines 237-187 and OCSD
cost between$100 million and $1 billion to the economy. referred to Senate
(H.R.23) Valadao(R) Gaining Responsibility on Water Act of 2017. Provides for increased water Referred to the House Watch No supporters of note for
transfers from federal Central Valley Project and revisions to Endangered Species Act Committees on OCSD
environmental water mandates. Agriculture and Natural
Resources
(H.R.465) Gibbs(R) To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to provide for an integrated Referred to Committee Watch No supporters of note for
planning and permitting process, and for other purposes. Provide authority to on Transportation and OCSD
local agencies to develop integrated plans to manage stonnwater and wastewater Infrastructure
control needs based upon identified priorities to improve water pollution control
activities in a cost effective manner. As drafted primary benefit to CSO systems.
r�T
ffman (D) Water Conservation Rebate lax Parity Act.To amend the Internal Revenue Code Referred to House Watch No supporters of note for
of 1986 to expand the exclusion for certain conservation subsidies to include Committee on Ways OCSsubsidies for water conservation or efficiency measures and storm water and Means
management measures.
OCSD
Bills of Interest
Legend:
ACC-OC-Association of California Cities, Orange County
LOCC-League of California Cities
NYC-Not Yet Considered
CASA-California Association of Sanitation Agencies
NACWA- National Association of Clean Water Agencies
CSDA-California Special Districts Association
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE M etin /lace To ad.of Dir.
AGENDA REPORT Item Item Number
3
Orange County Sanitation District
FROM: James D. Herberg, General Manager
Originator: Robert P. Ghirelli, Assistant General Manager
SUBJECT: PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
Information Only.
BACKGROUND
Staff will provide an update on recent public affairs activities.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
• Unified legislative advocacy and public outreach program
• Build brand, trust, and support with policy makers and community leaders
• Maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with neighboring agencies
• Listen to and seriously consider community inputs on environmental concerns
PROBLEM
Many Californians are not aware of the Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation
District) and the important work we do to keep the environment clean by using the
wastewater byproducts to create energy, water recycling, and the use of biosolids.
Additionally, they are not aware that more than 50 percent of the wastewater is recycled
and used to replenish the Orange County Groundwater Basin.
In general, the community and businesses do not realize that when they improperly
dispose of waste into the sanitation system, it can negatively affect the work we do and
the quality of water we supply for the Groundwater Replenishment System.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
By providing tours, community outreach education and general communication via the
Sanitation District's Website, Social Media outlets and mainstream media, we can inform
the community, local agencies, and businesses on the What2Flush program, energy
production,water recycling, biosolids and our source control program. This in turn results
in a better quality of wastewater.
Page 1 of 2
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
If we do not educate the community, local agencies, and area businesses about the
Sanitation District, we lose an opportunity to educate thousands of people about our
plants, source control and the wastewater industry.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
January 2016
Activity # # of Guests
OCSD/OCWDTours 9 273
OCSD Tours 3 122
Speaking Engagement 1 100
ATTACHMENTS
The following attachments are attached in hard copy and may also be viewed on-line at the OCSD website
(wwwocsd.com) with the complete agenda package:
• Outreach Calendar January 2016
• Media Clips January 2016
Page 2 of 2
OCSD Outreach Report - 112312017
Date Time Organization/Event Location Purpose Attendee Contact
01/05/2017- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom WestCoast Univ. Nursing Ann Crafton Tour Guide Cheryl Scott
Tour. 18 guests.
01/09/2017- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom Brea Olinda HS Tour. 35 Paula Zeller and Randy Cheryl Scott
guests Kleinman Tour Guides
01/10/2017- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom Brea Olinda HS Tour. 35 Paula Zeller and Randy Cheryl Scott
guests Kleinman Tour Guides
01/11/2017- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom Brea Olinda HS Tour. 35 Dickie Fernandez and Cheryl Scott
guests Xuan Nguyen Tour Guides
01/13/2017- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom Estancia HS Tour, 30 Lisa Frigo Tour Guide Cheryl Scott
guests
01/17/2017- 900- 1200 Plant Tour Boardroom Dana Hills High School, 2 Mark Esquer and Jaime Cheryl Scott
tours 50 students Malpede Tour Guides
01/19/2017- 900- 1100 Speaking Engagement IECOC Industrial Environmental Chris Stacklin Speaker Cheryl Scott
Coalition of Orange County
01/19/2017- 900- 1100 Plant Tour Boardroom Tustin HS Tours. 52 guests Dickie Fernandez and Cheryl Scott
Xuan Nguyen Tour Guides
01/20/2017- 1300- 1500 Plant Tour Boardroom OCHCA tour. 6 guests. Chris Stacklin Tour Guide Cheryl Scott
01/24/2017- 900- 1200 Plant Tour Boardroom Dana Hills High School, 2 Nasrin Nasrollahi and Cheryl Scott
tours, 50 students Christie Shiang Tour
Guides
1/23/2017 12:44:49 PM
OCSD Outreach Report - 112312017
Date Time Organization/Event Location Purpose Attendee Contact
01/26/2017- 1300- 1500 ACCOC Conf. and Tour Boardroom ACCOC Tour Jim Herberg Tour guide Cheryl Scott
01/27/2017- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom Fairmont Prep Academy Kelly Newell and Xuan Cheryl Scott
HS Chinese Delegation Nguyen Tour Guides
Tour. Approx. 50 guests
01/31/2017- 900- 1130 Plant Tour Boardroom New Employee/Open tour Ann Crafton Tour Guide Cheryl Scott
1/23/2017 12:44:49 PM
Monthly News Clippings
G�JN�V S A N I TgT�Oy
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Q
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January 2017
OCSD Public Affairs Office
Table of Contents
GWRS...................................................................................PAGE 1
December 2, 2016
What California can learn from Canada about Water Treatment
By: Tara Lohan
Water Deeply
December 14, 2016
Nation's largest Water Recycling Plant Expanding in Orange County
By: David Gorn
The California Report
HUMAN INTEREST....................................................................PAGE 10
November 29, 2016
California Department of Toxic Substances Control calls for input on
next potential Priority Products
The National Law Review
December 5, 2016
Governor announces appointments to Regional Water Quality
Control Boards
By: Theresa McGaffic
Association of California Water Agencies
December 19, 2016
What's smelling up beach cities air?
By: Lily Leung
Orange County Register
TWITTER POSTINGS................................................... ..............PAGE 20
FACEBOOK POSTINGS..............................................................PAGE 28
Water Deeply
December 5, 2016
Water Deeply
What California Can Learn from Canada About
Water Technology
It's not only drought-stricken areas that have developed new
technologies and processes for increasing water quantity and
quality, as a recent delegation from Ontario to Southern
California has shown.
Written by Tara Uhan Published oast Dec.2,2016
Oa
age County Water District's groundwater tollabora ion on wa was one ofthe plares visited by a recentdelegationJrom Ontario,Canada that
came ro Southern California[ojoster more rotlahoranon on water[echnologies.Chris CarLson,AP
Californians hear a lot about the lessons they can learn from other areas that have coped with
water scarcity,like Israel's development of desalination or how Australia handled its
Millennial Drought,which lasted more than a decade.
1
But not all water issues come down to scarcity.And that's why looking north to Canada could
also provide some inspiration when it comes to technologies to treat water(and ways to save
energy in the process),tools for finding and fixing leaks, faster processes for testing water and
software for analyzing important water data.
Jon Grant is the manager for research atWaterTM,a non,a an accelerator for water t"hnaiagy in Ontaria,Canada.(WaterT")
Earlier this month, a delegation from Ontario visited Southern California to showcase
Canadian companies working in the water field and to continue collaboration with like-
minded researchers in the U.S.Jon Grant,manager for research with WaterTAP,was along
for the trip. WaterTAP is a nonprofit accelerator for water technology companies in Ontario.
Grant recently spoke to Water Deeply about what Canadians and Californians can learn from
each other when developing water technologies.
Water Deeply: What prompted your delegation to visit California?
Jon Grant: There has been a lot of collaboration between Canadian companies and Southern
California companies on developing innovative solutions to work with municipalities in both
places. Building on that,the Canadian government wanted to showcase the best of the best
technologies and introduce them to potential collaborators on the research, implementation
and partnership sides.
Water Deeply: Where did you visit?
Grant: We visited San Diego, Orange County and Los Angeles and met with utilities,
companies and researchers. We met with one of the leading global technology evaluators and
scouts to find out what's on top of mind for them.
2
Water Deeply: What companies from Ontario were
you showcasing?
Grant: We were really there to showcase what we have and learn about local issues.We're not
going to solve everything; we're looking for solution companies as well.
We're not a technology company,we're an incubator and accelerator, and some of the
companies we showcased were an innovative groundwater replenishment system that
incorporated a number of types of membranes, including some from Canada, and a polishing
step with UV treatment from a Canadian company.
Water Deeply: What are the most important water issues
in Ontario?
Grant: Like many parts of the world,we have hundred-year-old pipes and aging
infrastructure, so it's difficult to assess what we have and the condition they are in.That's led
to a lot of innovative technology companies figuring out leak detection and
condition assessments.
We also have various types of pollutants in our water, and we've had to become efficient in
using energy to treat the water and then move it from one place to another so it can get to the
people who need it.
The bulk of Ontario's population is on the Great Lakes, and it was fairly polluted in the 1940s,
5os and 6os because of industrial activity. We had to get really good at cleaning our water.
Toronto was using a process called super chlorination in the 6os —they were one of the first
plants to use it.
A lot of technology that spun out of that has led to innovation around treating water. ZENON
was created out of McMaster University by a professor there and became a leader in reverse
osmosis membrane technology and really revolutionized how we treat water. It was
purchased in 2oo6 by GE to form the backbone of GE Water. The reason it was so innovative
was it treated the water very well and with a 30 percent energy savings.
Around z000,we had an issue in Walkerton, about two hours outside of Toronto,where they
found E.coh in the water, and seven people died and thousands more were harmed.A lot of
policy regulation came out of that, and also innovative technologies.As a direct result of that,
one company developed a"real-time"E.coli test that takes 18 hours instead of 72 hours in
the lab.
We've had our issues and that's where opportunity comes from.That's why it seems that this
drought is also a great chance for California to become super efficient in water use.
Water Deeply: Were there certain places you visited in California
that you found informative or inspiring?
3
Jon Grant: Orange County's Groundwater Replenishment System was one. From what they
were saying, it's the most innovative plant of its kind in the world and I believe them. It is
spick and span, and the process and treatment train they had developed was very innovative.
The way they had presented it and sold the project to the public is great—it got buy-in from everyone.
It's showing how they can fight saltwater intrusion and replenish groundwater resources.
These types of processes are something we can bring into Ontario. I found it to be quite innovative in
the way they were combining a bunch of different types of technologies—plus the water tasted great.
We don't reuse water as much in Ontario. We do have one large municipality that has no direct access
to the Great Lakes or any lakes and they use groundwater and have to be efficient. There is a lot we
can learn from what's happening there in Orange County.
Water Deeply:And what can Californians learn from your work in Ontario?
Grant: We have some really cool optimized processes. Some of the companies like Aquatic
Informatics has cutting edge software for understanding what is going on in the system. Other
companies are helping with network infrastructure. Where that is implemented well they are finding
good results. One of the biggest losses of water is through the network system. If we can save water
that is getting out of the plant and not getting into people's homes, that's saves a ton of water. It saves
the cost to treat it and the electricity to pump and move it.
Water Deeply:As an incubator, how to do help developing companies?
Grant: It depends on the size of company and the type of the company. We're like a part-time coach,
part-time cheerleader and part-time psychiatrist. We're there to give them honest feedback in terms of
who to target,how to target and to work with them on pitch decks in the early stages for fundraising or
to support the pilots. Our goal is usually to have a pilot in Ontario—win at home so you can
win abroad.
We also work a lot with them on collaborating with researchers and companies abroad. Most
companies are looking for partners abroad. We work quite closely with the EPA's water cluster
initiative,working with them to support their companies entering our markets and to help our
companies get to their markets.
Water Deeply: What new technologies or companies do you find most exciting right now?
Grant: Lots, depending on the stage. A lot of people say investing in the water sector is very difficult
because it takes a long time. But the further away you from actually treating potable drinking water,
the faster you can grow.
The data analytics companies and the sensor companies are really interesting. On the sensor side, a
company called Real Tech, it—in real time—monitors what's in your water, and they found that can
really help with not only water quality issues in municipal systems, but also for industrial systems it
can help optimize processes and save a lot of money.
4
Another company called MANfECH has had a lot of success in their real-time COD [chemical oxygen
demand] monitoring. They took the time from two boors to 15 minutes to get a detection. I think one
of the case studies showed they saved a pulp and paper mill $10,000 a day.
Of the analytics companies we are seeing,there is a company called WatrHub, they are a Microsoft
and an Apple guy who realized that water was an issue and they wanted to take their computer
programming skills to bring that bear.
All these big data companies are really exciting—we are going to be able to understand more
effectively how we can solve water and that's really the goal—the end user is the water,we want to
keep that clean. We want to have enough of that, so that it can be used by farmers, industry,
human beings.
5
The California Report
December 14, 2016
The California Report
Nation's Largest Water Recycling Plant Expanding in Orange
County
By David Corn
December 14, 2016
California's prolonged and ongoing drought has at least one positive outcome. It has prompted water
officials across the state to quickly develop new sources of water—and one of those new sources is
flushed water.
The Orange County Water District is leading the nation in wastewater treatment to replenish
groundwater supplies—and that project is expanding now, designed to eventually supply water to 2.4
million people, about 40 percent of all water needed in Orange County.
The success in turning used water into drinking water in Orange County is being copied across the
state, according to David Sedlak, a professor at UC Berkeley and co-director of the Berkeley Water
Center,which monitors the state's water policy and progress.
"Water agencies in California have been watching Orange County for years now," Sedlak said.
The state has set aside $1 billion for water recycling, including treating wastewater to drinking water
standards. The Santa Clara Water Authority and San Jose consulted with Orange County officials, and
they're now leading the way in Northern Califomia. A huge"toilet-to-tap" effort is being planned by
the city of Los Angeles,which could eventually top Orange County's output.
Almost every water district in the state is planning some kind of wastewater-to-drinking-water effort
now, Sedlak said, and that kind of rapid progress is unprecedented.
"When you think about the normal glacial pace with which water infrastructure projects usually get
built,"he said, "things are moving at a lightning pace in California."
Nowhere quicker than Orange County,which currently processes 100 million gallons of wastewater a
day. When the expansion is completed in 2022, that number is expected to climb to 130 million gallons
6
a day. The district uses reverse osmosis and filtering technology to exceed state standards for drinking
water, and then it pumps that water underground to refill its groundwater basin and aquifers.
That additional underground step accomplishes a number of things. By refilling the groundwater basin,
there is less danger of the subsidence problem afflicting the Central Valley, where groundwater
pumping has caused the land to sink as much as 2 inches a month. Filling the aquifers also keeps
saltwater intrusion from the ocean away from freshwater supplies.
And pumping it back underground might filter the water even more, and help keep the famous"ick
factor"out of the conversation.
Water flows into Anaheim Lake,where it will be recharged into the Orange County Groundwater
Basin. (Courtesy Orange County Water District)
In Orange County,all water flushed by residents will eventually become drinking water. And that's in
the cards for much of the rest of California, said UCLA water policy researcher Madelyn Glickfeld.
"It's going so quickly," she said. "I think pretty soon all of the water we have in sewer treatment plants
is going to be recycled."
Obviously,water officials have been prodded by the drought,now entering year number six in
California. Recent rains have eased some of the problems for northernmost areas,but federal officials
(NOAA) estimate 87 percent of the state is still in drought,with over half in severe drought.
The state cut water allocations again this year. This time districts are getting 20 percent of contracted
water, which is better than last year's 10 percent allocation but still much less than most districts need.
Glickfeld said districts don't want to rely on that water.
7
"At the Water Replenishment District of Southern California,their goal is to stop importing water,"
Glickfeld said. "And they think they can."
1
l '
Reverse osmosis membranes at the Groundwater Replenishment System. (Courtesy Orange County
Water District)
Of course, getting new sources doesn't mean much without cutting water use. Districts also are
expanding programs to conserve water.
"This is not naturally a verdant area,"said Gary Gero, the new chief sustainability officer in Los
Angeles County. He said Southern California may be ahead in wastewater recycling,but it's behind in
water conservation.
For one thing,he'd like to switch out those expansive Southern California lawns for low-water
landscaping. He said climate change is expected to increase the severity of California's droughts, so
we will need more conservation, to go along with more wastewater recycling.
"I'm an all-of-the-above sort of person,"Gera said. "We have to preserve every drop of this resource.
So we do need to change our relationship to how we think about water and use water."
If you think about it, all water is recycled water, said Orange County Water District engineer Mehul
Patel.
Patel said his problem is, he doesn't have enough of it. "We still need more,we would like more," he
said.
8
Patel said the setup in Orange County could actually process more wastewater, if they had it. They
tried to get wastewater from other districts,but they wanted to keep it for their own wastewater
recycling efforts.
And that leads to an interesting development in wastewater, Patel said:
"Right now wastewater isn't seen as a resource,"he said. "But it could become a resource to the point
where people may actually fight over it or the pricing of it. And people will be arguing over who has
rights to that wastewater."
And that's the future,he said—where water districts may be bidding against each other to acquire
flushed water.
9
The National Law Review
November 29, 2016
The National Law Review
California Department of Toxic Substances
Control Calls for Input on Next Potential
Priority Products
Tuesday,November 29, 2016
On November 15, 2016, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSQ held a
webinar to provide an update on its progress and seek input from stakeholders regarding the selection
of the next set of Priority Products under the Safer Consumer Products Regulations(SCPR). A
recording of the webinar will be uploaded by DTSC to its workshops web page when available.
The webinar is the first step in implementing DTSC's 2015-2017 Priority Product Work Plan. In the
webinar, DTSC identified three areas of interest:
• Potential Aquatic Impacts and Continued Uses of Nonylphenol Ethoxylates and Triclosan;
• Potential Health and Safety Impacts of Chemicals in Nail Products; and
• Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in Carpets, Rugs, Upholstered
Furniture, and Their Care and Treatment Products.
Background documents with supporting information and specific questions from DTSC are available
on CalSAFER, DTSC's information management system for the SCP program (see links under
individual topics below). Stakeholders are invited to submit comments through Ca1SAFER to respond
to DTSC's documents and/or share their own information. If a stakeholder believes a comment
contains confidential business information, the stakeholder should contact DTSC directly rather than
submitting through CaISAFER.
Background on SCPR and Priority Products
A proposed list of three initial Priority Products was published in 2014. DTSC also published a 2015-
2017 Priority Product Work Plan, which describes potential product categories from which Priority
Products may be selected over the next three years. DTSC believes the Work Plan will allow it to
implement stakeholder outreach earlier in the decision-making process. DTSC hopes information from
stakeholders can be used to narrow the products that may be identified as Priority Products.
10
Nonylphenol Ethoxylates and Triclosan in Certain Cleaning Products, Clothing, and Personal Care
Products
DTSC states it selected the potential aquatic impacts and continued uses of nonylphenol ethoxylates
(NPE) and triclosan as a focus area because the topic encompasses product-chemical combinations that
fall under DTSC's policy priority on water quality. One of five policy priorities outlined in DTSC's
2015-2017 Priority Product Work Plan, the policy priority on water quality includes products that
"contain chemicals that may impact water or have been detected in water quality monitoring."
DTSC states NPEs and triclosan are of particular concern because of the ease of their entry pathway
into the drinking water system, identification of their presence in the water system, and the persistent,
bioaccumulative, and/or toxic nature of certain of their transformation products. Additionally, DTSC
states that NPEs and triclosan are used in multiple types of products and thus potentially have broader
consumer exposure than other chemicals on the Candidate Chemicals list that may have aquatic
impacts. Other factors cited by DTSC in including aquatic impacts of NPEs and triclosan as a focus
for selecting the next set of Priority Products include recommendations by various institutions,
including the City of Palo Alto, the Orange County Sanitation District, and a science advisory panel on
Chemicals of Emerging Concern in California's aquatic ecosystems convened in 2010 by the Southern
California Coastal Water Research Project; regulatory restrictions imposed in other jurisdictions; and
market forces such as Walmart's request to suppliers to phase out use of NPEs and triclosan from their
products.
DTSC's background document does not list specific NPE chemical substances, although all NPEs
referred to in the background document are listed on the Candidate Chemicals list. DTSC also
identified potential products that may contain NPEs or triclosan, including laundry detergent,
commercial and household cleaners, dish soap, soaps, deodorants, and cosmetics.
DTSC's questions for NPEs and triclosan stakeholders (see page 5 of the background document) seek
information on the following:
• NPEs in cleaning and clothing products;
• Triclosan product uses,removal, and substitution;
• Aquatic hazards and detections of NPEs and triclosan; and
• Other Candidate Chemicals or products
Comments on the background document and list of questions must be submitted by February 28, 2017.
Stakeholders also are invited to participate in future roundtable meetings and public workshops held by
DTSC. A survey is available on Ca1SAFER that gives stakeholders an opportunity to state what
meeting and workshop dates would be helpful and provide information on their area of expertise.
Survey responses must be submitted by November 30, 2016. DTSC currently plans on holding a
meeting/webinar on January 11, 2017, roundtable meetings during the first week of February 2017,
and a traditional-style public workshop on February 23, 2017, in Sacramento, CA.
11
Certain Chemicals in Nail Products
DTSC states it selected nail products based on its long-standing interest in the specific product
category dating back to 2011, when DTSC tested nail products claimed to be free of formaldehyde,
toluene, and dibutyl phthalates and found that some products contained one or more of those
chemicals. Other factors include exposure potential to salon workers, pregnant women, and children;
public interest and market and regulatory phase-outs; and recently passed bills by the California
legislature designed to improve the health, safety, and education of nail salon workers.
DTSC's background document discusses formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, and triphenyl
phosphate, and lists other Candidate Chemicals as possible chemicals to be identified when selecting
Priority Products. The exact Candidate Chemicals under consideration have not been specified yet,
however.
DTSC's questions for nail products stakeholders seek information on the following:
• Chemicals in nail products -- chemical presence, functional use, hazard traits, endpoints, and
exposure information;
• Alternative ingredients in nail products marketed as "green," "safer," or "free" of specific
chemicals;
• Product formulations and manufacturing information; and
• Initiatives by manufacturers of nail products to improve their chemical safety.
Comments on the background document and list of questions must be submitted by February 28,2017.
Stakeholders also are invited to participate in future roundtable meetings and public workshops held by
DTSC. A survey is available on CaISAFER to provide stakeholders an opportunity to state what types
of meetings and workshops would be helpful and provide information on their area of expertise.
Information from the survey will help DTSC to better understand its stakeholders and how to engage
more effectively. Survey responses most be submitted by November 30, 2016. DTSC plans on holding
public workshops and/or stakeholder meetings in mid-January to mid-February.
PFASs in Carpets,Rugs,Upholstered Furniture, and Their Cue and Treatment Products
DTSC states it selected PFASs in carpets, nags, upholstered furniture, and their care and treatment
products as a focus area because of DTSC's concern about their environmental persistence.
DTSC states it is focusing specifically on the use of PFASs in carpets, rugs, upholstered furniture, and
their care and treatment products since these products are relevant to most people and PFAS-
containing textile products may especially impact sensitive subpopulations such as children, who may
play on carpets, and workers in carpet stores.
DTSC states its decision to focus on PFASs also is supported by existing actions taken by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including its voluntary 2010/2015 Product Stewardship
Program to reduce emissions and product content of perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA) and its precursors
and related higher homologue chemicals, and its published Significant New Use Rules (SNUR) related
to PFASs, including one in 2013 that requires companies to report all new uses of certain PFOA-
12
related chemicals as part of carpets or to treat carpets. DTSC further believes a market shift is
underway to use less hazardous, shorter-chain PFASs or remove PFASs from products altogether.
DTSC's background document does not include a list of PFASs that DTSC is considering because the
entire class of chemicals is currently being considered as a focus for the Priority Products program.
DTSC's questions for PFASs stakeholders seek information on the following:
Biobased and Renewable Products Advocacy Practice Group Bergeson& Campbell,P.C.
Practice Group
BRAG helps members develop and bring to market their innovative biobased and renewable chemical
products through insightful policy and regulatory advocacy.
Renewable chemicals are emerging at a fast pace, paving the way for new, innovative, and sustainable
biobased products. A coalition of companies and trade associations committed to enhancing the legal
and regulatory positioning of biobased products formed the Biobased and Renewable Products
Advocacy Group (BRAG) to address issues specific to biobmed chemical products and, in particular,
the...
info@braginfo.org
202-833-6580
www.lawbc.com
13
Association of California Water
Agencies
December 5, 2016
Governor Announces Appointments to Regional Water
Quality Control Boards
Submitted by Teresa McGaffic on Mon, 12/05/2016 -4:34pm
4 Nfto
:�
Own N
Water Boards
Gov. Jerry Brown recently announced 13 appointments to regional water quality control
boards across the state.
Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board
Brown appointed Raji Brar of Bakersfield and Daniel Marcum of Fall River Mills. Brar is the
owner and operator at Countryside Market and Restaurants, and has served as a member of
the Arvin City Council. Marcum is a farm advisor emeritus at the University of California
Cooperative Extension since 2013, and previously served as a farm advisor for 37 years.
Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
Brown reappointed Monica Samaniego Hunter of Los Osos, an incumbent since 2005. Hunter
is director of research at PAST Foundation, was previously central coast watersheds program
manager at the Planning and Conservation League Foundation, and has worked for several
environmental and academic organizations.
14
Colorado River Basin Regional Water Quality Control Board
Brown reappointed Thomas Davis of Rancho Mirage, an incumbent since 2007. Davis has
served as chief planning and development officer for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla
Indians since 1997.
Lahontan Regional Water Quality Control Board
Brown reappointed Robert Keith Dyas of Rosamond, an incumbent since 2004. Davis, an
engineer, works for Reserve Systems, and has served in several positions at Edwards Air
Force Base from 1984 to 2012, including environmental engineer and civil engineer.
Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board
Brown appointed James Famiglietti of Sierra Madre and Cynthia Guzman of Los Angeles.
Famiglietti has been senior water scientist at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory for the
California Institute of Technology since 2014, and a professor at the University of California,
Irvine School of Physical Sciences and at the University of Texas at Austin Department of
Geological Sciences. He has also served as a member of the Santa Ana Regional Water
Quality Control Board from 2014 to 2016. Guzman is a senior associate at Estolano, LeSar,
Perez Advisors and earned a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the
University of California, Los Angeles School of Public Affairs.
North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
Brown appointed Hector Bedolla of Healdsburg and reappointed Geoffrey Hales of Eureka.
Bedolla is a vineyard manager at North Pacific Vineyard Management and has served in
several related positions in agricultural management and science. Hales, a water board
incimubent since 2006, is a geologist at McBain Associates and previously, at Kleinfelder
Inc., Busch Geotechnical Consultants and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board
Brown appointed Lana Ong Peterson of Orange and Daniel Selmi of Newport Beach, and
reappointed William Von Blasingame of Irvine. Peterson is senior public affairs
representative at Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center and held several positions for
15
Cox Communications. Selmi has been a professor of law at Loyola Law School since 1983
and was previously deputy attorney general at the California Department of Justice, Office of
the Attorney General. Von Blasingame, a water board incumbent since 2013, has been a
member of the finance committee of the OneOC Board of Directors since 2011. He was
senior vice president and general manager of Caribbean Operations at Mirant Energy
Company from 2005 to 2007 and held several positions at Edison Mission Energy from 1986
to 2005, including vice president and chief financial officer of the Asia Pacific Region.
San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board
Brown appointed Jayne Battey of Half Moon Bay. Battey has been facilitator for the Women
in Business Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business since 2013 and owner at
Miramar Farms since 2012. Previously she was director of land and environmental
management at the Pacific Gas and Electric Company and executive director at the Pacific
Forest and Watershed Lands Stewardship Council.
The appointments require Senate approval. Board members receive compensation of$250
per diem.
16
OC Register
December 19, 2016
ORANGE COUNTY
REGMM
What's smelling up beach cities' air?
Dec. 19,2016 12:00 a.m.
By Lily Leung Staff Writer
Periodically and unpredictably,mysterious chemical-like fumes drift into Rhonda Wain wright's home
not far from Huntington Beach Central Park.
The noxious odors have induced headaches,burning of the eyes and throat,nosebleeds and vomiting,
she says. Even her dog and two cats have retched during the malodorous episodes that"about knocks
you on your knees,"Wainwright said.
Roughly 10 miles away in coastal Seal Beach,resident Susan Perrell reports suffering similar foul
odors. Perrell,an environmental adviser to an oil and gas company, also describes a petroleum-like
stench that can be intense enough to"knock you over."
Their experiences are far from isolated.
Last month, air-quality regulators saw a spike in such complaints in the Huntington Beach and Seal
Beach area. Over several consecutive days, the South Coast Air Quality Management District fielded
dozens of calls involving"a nasty egg odor(or a)petroleum odor,"said agency spokesman Sam
Atwood.
Residents also have lodged complaints with fire officials, the gas company and others, seeking help in
pinpointing the source of the smells,which many say have increased in frequency and intensity over
the past two years.
But no one has identified a definifive cause or culprit.
The situation has been"frustrating for residents and difficult for us,"Atwood said.
In response to complaints, the air-quality agency has repeatedly dispatched investigators to the coastal
cities from its Diamond Bar headquarters and Corona, according to residents. But by the time they
17
arrive, the odor usually has dissipated. It's unclear whether the agency has collected any air samples
from those calls.
Over the years, authorities have offered a variety of unsubstantiated theories to explain the odors,
including offshore oil wells, smaller refineries, tanker ships along the coast and naturally occurring
methane"burps" from the ocean floor, residents say. The head of a state oil and gas trade group
suggests the cause of the recent odors are natural.
Typically,residents have been assured by officials that the odors are innocuous.
"I was told the same old story: `It is an offshore release; it won't harm you; there is nothing we can do
about it anyway,"'said Wainwright,referring to responses from the Fire Department.
But several converging factors have heightened neighborhood anxiety in recent weeks and months.
Some people are reporting they've become ill from the odors. And recent high-profile cases of toxic
odors in other Southern California communities—and complaints of sluggish government response—
have increased uneasiness about officials' assurances that the odors don't appear to be a health concern.
Huntington Beach resident Adam Plesniak,who says the odors have caused him headaches, cited the
continuing controversy in Los Angeles'Porter Ranch neighborhood,where residents became sickened
by contaminants from a massive natural-gas leak. Complaints of headaches and nausea were initially
downplayed by authorities,but later prompted evacuations and cleanup of thousands of homes.
"These issues are not remedied without significant community pushback,"said Plesniak,who is
leading an online petition to draw attention to the local odor issue.
In addition to residents,Kelly O'Reilly, an environmental scientist based in the Bolsa Chica wetlands,
reported a particularly intense petroleum odor at her office on Nov. 15.
It was so pungent she immediately alerted a nearby oil operation,which assured her it wasn't the cause
and seemed puzzled about the origin.
"It was not an organic smell,"said O'Reilly,who has worked at the wetlands for about a decade. She
suspects the Nov. 15 odor came from the oil-and-gas industry and"was chemical,"she said.
Huntington Beach Fire Marshal and Division Chief Bill Reardon, a 20-year Fire Department veteran,
said such odor complaints tend to be "cyclic"and that the odors are more of a"nuisance and irritant"
than a serious health concern. Reardon said crews that have responded to such calls haven't seen the
need to evacuate homes or call in bazmat teams.
He does not know the cause of the odors but said the department will continue to respond to
complaints. Reardon also said residents should file complaints with the air-quality management
agency,which has jurisdiction over such issues.
Investigators there have pursued one potential explanation,Atwood said.
Last month,the agency received a call from an offshore shipping company indicating it was about to
depressurize its vessel,which would mean a release of emissions, Atwood said. Thus far,investigators
have been unable to reach the shipping company to further investigate,he added.
18
If the source turns out to be offshore, the regional air-quality agency would not be responsible for
enforcement,Atwood said. Southern California air-quality officials plan to work with the federal
Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Coast Guard to "effectively track down potential sources"
offshore, he said.
Several state and federal agencies contacted by the Register over the past two weeks, including the
EPA, Coast Guard, state Air Resources Board and State Lands Commission, said they weren't aware of
the surge of local odor complaints.
If the source of the odor is within 3 miles of shore, then the Lands Commission,which handles oil and
gas leases, and Coast Guard would handle the complaint, said Don Drysdale, a spokesman for the
California Department of Conservation.
Its Division of Oil,Gas and Geothermal Resources would also be involved if a regulated facility is the
confirmed source, Drysdale added. The division permits and inspects offshore and onshore oil wells.
Records of past inspections and any violation notices involving oil and gas facilities in the area were
not immediately available from the state regulatory agency.
Rock Zierman,CEO of the trade group California Independent Petroleum Association, said oil and gas
operators must comply with more than two dozen air-quality regulations in Southern California.
"These safeguards are in place so that regulators and operators can pinpoint if there is a problem, as
well as role out facilities in cases, like this,where it appears to be naturally occurring causes,"said
Zierman in a statement.
Richard Hart,who has lived in Huntington Beach for about four decades, says he's tired of the finger-
pointing. It seems like `the government doesn't want to deal with it,"Hart said.
Gina Clayton-Tarvin, a Huntington Beach resident and president of the board of trustees of the Ocean
View School District, is familiar with the uphill battle sometimes required for communities to resolve
concerns about air-quality and possible health issues.
She and other board members battled Rainbow Environmental Services, a trash hauler that contracted
with the school district, over complaints of odors, dust and other problems. Eventually the AQMD
cited the company, and the school district ended the contract this year.
The odors reported in Huntington Beach and Seal Beach me trickier to combat.
"It's very hard to organize against a phantom enemy,"Clayton-Tarvin said.
19
Twitter Posts
January 2017
Twitter Posts for Twitter Posts for January 2017
Tweeted 18 times and Retweeted 3 times
OC Sewers @OCSewers
In the midst of all this rain, OCSD staff got to see a
rainbow at our Plant No. 2 facility in Huntington Beach
this morning. #loverainbows
t$OC Sewers @OCSewers 60m60 minutes ago
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
The important thing is not to stop questioning."-Albert
Einstein #Motivation Monday
t$OC Sewers ',ri OCSewers Jan 19
20
Great video from the Leucadia Wastewater District on
what flushable wipes do to their pipes. Remember the 3
Fs! face book.com/LeucadiaWastew . . .
6OC Sewers OCSewers Jan 19
OCSD staff is at the @CASA_CleanWater conference
this week.
WIN CONFERENCE
�r, IIIIdIIIIIIdIIV�II�IIC
County of Orange zOCGovCA Jan 18
County of Orange Retweeted Health Care Agency
It's not too late to get a #flushot! More info @ bit.ly/2iJnGG4. #coveryourcough
County of Orange added,
21
c'(, 6gh
as—
llk: `='U 1
Health Care Agency @ochealth
With a rapid increase in flu activity in#OC, know it's not too late to get a#flushotl More info @
-billy/2iJnGG4. #coveryouroough
eOC Sewers @OCSewers Jan 18
It's Wastewater Word of the Week Wednesday! This
week, we have a word search activity! Have fun!
t$OC Sewers @OCSewers Jan 17
Is this a new way of thinking?
60C Sewers @OCSewers Jan 16
LL
Today we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On this his special day, we
celebrate tolerance, equity and love. #MLK
eOC Sewers OCSewers Jan 16
"Everyone has the power for greatness, not for fame but
greatness, because greatness is determined by service."
-MLK Jr. #Motivation Monday
60C Sewers la�OCSewers Jan 13
Happy #FBF! Today's pic is from 2014 when our then
Chairman & others spoke on the same stage as Gov.
Jerry Brown to talk about water & #GWRS
23
OC Sewers @OCSewers Jan 12
OC Sewers Retweeted ReadyOC
This is always a great reminder! New Year = New Kits.
OC Sewers added,
7155
. ° ' ` •
ReadyOC teadyOC
You won't know where you will be when disaster occurs, so prepare kits for home,work and your car.
OC Sewers @OCSewers Jan 12
Do you care about the #environment and #publichealth? Want to advance your#Career?
Apply for a #job with @OCSewers! _ocsd.com/about-us/jobs/_...
eOC Sewers @OCSewers Jan 9
OC Sewers Retweeted Orange County Water
Happy Anniversary #GWRS! We are proud to be in a partnership with the
@OCWDWaterNews.
OC Sewers added,
Orange County Water @OCWDWaterNews
The GWRS celebrated its ninth anniversary yesterday. Thank you @ocsewers for a great partnership!
ocwd.com/gwm
eOC Sewers 'OCSewers Jan 9
24
"Never give up on a dream because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass
anyway." Earl Nightingale #MotivationMonday
eOC Sewers @OCSewers Jan 7
Here's a great video on people trying recycled sewage water. Would you try it?
.bzfd.it/29HgxUv
Qwha
OC Sewers @OCSewers Jan 7
Good video of the never ending nightmare sewer pros face when wipes get
flushed. vancouversun.com.../wipes-that-arent-really-flushable...
eOC Sewers @OCSewers Jan 5
Great article on how a new law will allow some
Californians to taste test what the astronauts drink.
t$OC Sewers @OCSewers Jan 4
What's happening on Red Hill Ave in @CityofTustin? It's
the OCSD Red Hill Sewer Improvements Project.
ocsd.com/redhill
25
60C Sewers nDOCSewers Jan 2
"You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right." - Rosa Parks
#MotivationMonday
t0C Sewers OCSewers Jan 1
Happy New Year from the Orange County Sanitation
District!
26
Facebook Posts for November 2016
Posted 41 and Shared 3 times
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell October 27 at 2:35pm
Congratulations to Curtis Mason, a Senior Mechanic with OCSD who is retiring after 31 years of service.
Thank you Curtis for all of your hard work and dedication to OCSD over the years.You will be missed.
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell October 27 at 9:38am
Happy#throwbackthursday. Here's a picture of an OCSD employee scrapping the bar screens by hand in
1946.We have machines to do that now!
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell October 26 at 10:02am
It's Wednesday, which means it's time for OCSD's Wastewater Word of the Week!
This week's word is: Surge Towers
The Surge Towers are part of OSCD's conveyance network which allows our treated effluent to safely
enter our Outfall Pipes. OCSD has two surge towers at our Plant No. 2 facility in Huntington Beach which
are located on top of the land portion of the Outfall Pipes in between our large Effluent Pump Stations and
the Ocean Outfall pipes.The Surge Tower that is current...
See More
27
OCSD Facebook
Posts January 2017
Facebook Posts for January 2017
Posted 25 times and Shared 6 times
It
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell 12 mins
In the midst of all this rain, OCSD staff got to see a rainbow at our Plant No. 2 facility in Huntington Beach
this morning. #loverainbows#breakintheweather
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell 41 mins
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning." -
Albert Einstein #MotivationMonday
6
Oranoe County Sanitation District
Published by Jennifer Cabral 17 hra
Friendly reminder during these heavy rainstorms....
Now is NOT the time to being doing laundry and dishes. The sewer system is already working overtime.
Snuggle up and watch a movie instead. Stay dry and warm out there.
28
6
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell 21 hrs
Cool article!
hic.com/.../ uttin -d-c-s-waste.../
Putting D.C.'s Wastewater Treatment to the Microplastics Test
Three Georgetown University students collect water samples we wanted to see how well the largest advanced wastewater
treatment plant in the world filters out...
VOICES.NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COMIBV GREGG TREINISH
le
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell January 20 at 9:01am
Happy#FlashbackFriday! Today's picture shows two OCSD employees checking out the controls for our
Plant No.1 facility in Fountain Valley in 1950. Times sure have changed!#OCSD
Orange County Sanitation District shared Leucadia Wastewater District's video.
Published by Kelly Newell January 19 at 12:10pm
29
This is a great video from the Leucadia Wastewater District on what flushable wipes do to their pipes and
sewers. Remember the 3 Val #what2flush
https://www.facebook.com/LeucadiaWastewaterDistriettvideos/101 58215163160106
Leucadia Wastewater DistrictLike Page
January 16 at 8:19am
As engineers,we like things working smoothly and predictably.We're fighting the good fight against#WelWipes that are
trying to break our system and cause sew...
See More
it
Orange County Sanitation District added 2 new photos.
Pcbished by Kelly Newell January 19 at 10:23am
OCSD staff is at the California Association of Sanitation Agencies conference this week.
,WE
it
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell January 18 at 12:08pm
People may think the drought is over because of the recent rain and snow storms, but that may not be the
case.
http://www.mercurvnews.com/.../califom ia-drought-state-to-k.../
30
California storms: State to keep conservation rules for now
Huge rain and snow storms have eased,if not ended the drought for parts of California,although officials say it is too soon to
drop all conservation rules entirely.
MERCURYNEWS.COM
e
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell January 18 at 9:00am
It's Wastewater Word of the Week Wednesday!
This week,we have a speacial treat: instead of sharing just one word, we have a word search activity you
can print out and complete!
The first five (5) people who post their completed word search on their Facebook page and tag OCSewers
will win a free OCSD What2Flush swag bag!
...See More
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell January 17 at 9:00am
Is this a new way of thinking?
http://www.9andlOnews.mm/.../could-treated-sewage-be-a-tool-...
31
Cotild treated sewage be a tool against sea-level rise?
As a tool against sea-level rise,the idea seems a little counterintuitive:Add water to the ground.
9AND10NEWS.COM
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell -January 16 at 10:00am
The Orange County Sanitation District honors the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. On this his
special day, we celebrate tolerance, equity and love. #MLK
,t
c
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell January 16 at 9:00am
"Everyone has the power for greatness, not for fame but greatness, because greatness is determined by
service."-Martin Luther King#MotivationMonday
it
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell January 15 at 9:00am
Want to know more about the work that we do? Come take a tour. You'll be glad that you
did! htto://www.ocsd.com/residents/tours
#What2Flush
32
_r
Orange County Sanitation District : Come join us on a tour!
OCSD is committed to providing a valuable educational experience that focuses on learning the importance of wastewater
treatment in protecting the public health and...
OCSD.COM
6
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell January 14 at 12:30pm
Have you 'liked'OCSD on Facebook yet? Follow our page for news,fun fads & information about
wastewater treatment!
httos://www.facebook.com/OCSewers
orange County Sanitation District
Pcb fished by Kelly Newell January 13 at 9:00am
Happy#FlashbackFriday! Today's picture is from 2014 when our then Chairman,Tom Beamish and others
spoke on the same stage as Governor Jerry Brown to talk about water sustainability, the California drought
and the Groundwater Replenishment System.
33
it
Orange County Sanitation District shared ReadyOC'S Photo.
in nary 12 at 10:20am
This is a great reminder that you never know when a disaster will occur. New Year= New Kit.
r
G� -diC
ReadvOCLike Page
January 12 at928an
You won't know where you will be when disaster occurs,so prepare kits for home,work and your car.
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell January 12 at 9:25am
Do you care about the#environment and#publichealth?Want to advance your#career?
Apply for a#job with the Orange County Sanitation District!
httix//www.ocsd.com/about-us/obs/ob-openi ngs
Orange County Sanitation District : Job Openings
OCSD.COM
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Orange County Sanitation District shared Brown and Caldwell's Water News's post.
Published by Kelly Newell January 11 a12:08pm
IJ
Brown and Caldwell's Water NewsLike Page
January 10 at 2:14pm
California rm add 3 U billion gallons to parched reservoirs
Sierra snowpack now at a staggering 126% for this time of the year
About 350 billion gallons of water flowed into California's largest reservoirs over the weekend—with more rain on the way
—as the drought winds down in...
MERCURYNEWS.COM
e
Orange County Sanitation District shared Brea Olinda Unified School District's post.
Published by Kelly Newell January 10 al 12:29pm
Thank you to the AP students from Brea Olinda High School for coming and touring our facility today. We
hope that you enjoyed your tour.
F'+
Brea Olinda Unified School District added 3 new photos.Like Page
January 9 at 2:24pm
Thanks to a grant through Orange County Coastkeeoer, Brea Olinda High School AP Environmental Science students got to
tour the Orange County Sanitation District...
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Boost Post
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Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell -January 9 at 12:00pm
Congratulations to Lori McKinley, Senior Environmental Specialist, on her 25 years with OCSD. Before
coming to work for OCSD, Lod earned her bachelor's degree in Biology at Cal Poly University, Pomona.
She then went into a study abroad program at the Uppsala University Limnology Institute in Sweden,
where she had an opportunity to work for a government entity similar to our EPA, sampling and analyzing
lake water samples. Upon her return from abroad, she worked for several ye...
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Orange County Sanitation Distri shared Orange County Water District's post.
Published by Kelly Newell January 9 at 10:35am
Happy Anniversary#GWRS! We are so proud to be partners with the Orange County Water District on this
project.
Oranae County Water District Like Page
January 9 at 8:20am
The GWRS celebrated its ninth anniversary yesterday. Thank you Orange County Sanitation District for a
great partnership! http://www.ocwd.com/gwrs
GWRSIOCWD
GWRS is the word's largest water purification system for indirect potable reuse.The system takes highly treated wastewater
that would have...
OCWD.COM
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Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell January 9 at 9:OOam -
"Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway."
- Earl Nightingale#MotivationMonday
Boost Post
Oranoe County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell January sat 12:00pm
Did you know..'?
OCSD has spent$2.4 million in the past five years on new equipment& more than $300k in one year to
unclog pumps.
Just say NO to "disposable"wipes because they really aren't disposable.#What2Flush
...See More
Home
Join other organizations just like yours in educating the public about what they can do to protect sewer systems,public
health and the environment.
WHAT2FLUSH.COM
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Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell January 7 at 12:00pm
Good summary video of the never ending nightmare sewer pros face when wipes get flushed. Do you
know#what2flush?
hfto://vancouversun.com/.../wi pes-that-arenl-really-fl ushable...
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vp
Don't believe the wipe hype: So-called 'flushable' products clogging pipes, costing
millions
Metro Vancouver has launched a campaign to combat the problem of extra material flushed down toilets,which has been
causing expensive and messy clogs in the...
VANCOUVERSUN.COM
Oranne County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell January 6 at 12:00pm
Here's a great video on people trying recycled sewage water.Would you try it? Do you think it would taste
better than bottled water/tap water?
hftp://bzfd.itt29 HaxUv
People Drink Sewage Water For The First Time
"Better than to tap water any day."
BUZZFEED.COMIBY KATE SOSA
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Oranne County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell January 6 at 9:00am
Happy#FlashbackFdday! Todays picture is of the construction of our Headworks at our Plant No. 1 facility
in Fountain Valley in 1953.#ocsd6Oyears
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Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell January 5 at 8:49am
Great article on how a new law will allow some Californians to taste test what the astronauts drink.
Some Californians Can Drink What The Astronauts Drink: Recycled Wastewater
A new law will allow some Carrfornians to taste test what the astronauts drink. Not Tang. Purled recycled wastewater.
CAPRADIO.ORGIBV AMV QUINTON
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Tanya Chono January 4 at 9:00am
What's happening on Red Hill Avenue in the City of Tustin? It's the OCSD Red Hill Sewer Improvements
Project. If you're out on the road during the day you might see crews continuing to install new clay sewer
pipe 20+feet below the roadway surface. But if you're driving by after you get off of work, you may not see
a thing! That's because at the end of the work day the road is buttoned up and the 3 lanes are re-opened
back up to northbound traffic.To avoid the constructi...
See More
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Orange County Sanitation District shared Brown and Caldwell's Water News's post.
Published by Kelly Newell January 3 at 1:321rm
This is an interesting article.
C
Brown and Caldwell's Water NewsLike Page
January 3 at 10:01am
EPA�Mjjs jjwn on dentists' use of mercury
Mercury from fillings in your teeth can't go down public sewers anymore....
In the waning days of the Obama administration,the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has adopted a rule aimed at
intercepting 99 percent of the...
MCCLATCHYDC.COM
e
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell January 2 at 9:00am
"You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right." -
Rosa Parks#MotivationMonday
Orange County Sanitation District
Published by Kelly Newell January 1 at 9.00am
Happy New Year from the Orange County Sanitation District!
Lip
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ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
Agenda
Terminology Glossary
Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
AQMD Air Quality Management District
ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers
BOD Biochemical Oxygen Demand
CARB California Air Resources Board
CASA California Association of Sanitation Agencies
CCTV Closed Circuit Television
CEQA California Environmental Quality Act
CIP Capital Improvement Program
CRWQCB California Regional Water Quality Control Board
CWA Clean Water Act
CWEA California Water Environment Association
EIR Environmental Impact Report
EMT Executive Management Team
EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
FOG Fats, Oils, and Grease
gpd Gallons per day
GWR System Groundwater Replenishment System (also called GWRS)
ICS Incident Command System
IERP Integrated Emergency Control Plan
LOS Level of Service
MGD Million gallons per day
NACWA National Association of Clean Water Agencies
NPDES National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NWRI National Water Research Institute
O&M Operations and Maintenance
OCCOG Orange County Council of Governments
OCHCA Orange County Health Care Agency
OCSD Orange County Sanitation District
OCWD Orange County Water District
COBS Ocean Outfall Booster Station
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration
PCSA Professional Consultant Services Agreement
POTW Publicly Owned Treatment Works
ppm Parts per million
PSA Professional Services Agreement
RFP Request For Proposal
Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
RWQCB Regional Water Quality Control Board
SARFPA Santa Ana River Flood Protection Agency
SARI Santa Ana River Inceptor
SARWQCB Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board
SAWPA Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority
SCADA Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system
SCAP Southern California Alliance of Publicly Owned Treatment Works
SCAQMD South Coast Air Quality Management District
SOCWA South Orange County Wastewater Authority
SRF State Revolving Fund
SSMP Sanitary Sewer Management Plan
SSO Sanitary Sewer Overflow
SWRCB State Water Resources Control Board
TDS Total Dissolved Solids
TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load
TSS Total Suspended Solids
WDR Waste Discharge Requirements
WEF Water Environment Federation
WERF Water Environment Research Foundation
WIFIA Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act
Activated-sludge process — A secondary biological wastewater treatment process where bacteria
reproduce at a high rate with the introduction of excess air or oxygen, and consume dissolved
nutrients in the wastewater.
Benthos—The community of organisms, such as sea stars, worms, and shrimp, which live on, in, or
near the seabed, also known as the benthic zone.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) —The amount of oxygen used when organic matter undergoes
decomposition by microorganisms. Testing for BOD is done to assess the amount of organic matter in
water.
Blogas — A gas that is produced by the action of anaerobic bacteria on organic waste matter in a
digester tank that can be used as a fuel.
Biosolids — Biosolids are nutrient rich organic and highly treated solid materials produced by the
wastewater treatment process. This high-quality product can be recycled as a soil amendment on
farm land or further processed as an earth-like product for commercial and home gardens to improve
and maintain fertile soil and stimulate plant growth.
Capital Improvement Program (CIP) — Projects for repair, rehabilitation, and replacement of assets.
Also includes treatment improvements, additional capacity, and projects for the support facilities.
Coliform bacteria —A group of bacteria found in the intestines of humans and other animals, but also
occasionally found elsewhere used as indicators of sewage pollution. E. coil are the most common
bacteria in wastewater.
Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
Collections system — In wastewater, it is the system of typically underground pipes that receive and
convey sanitary wastewater or storm water.
Certificate of Participation (COP) — A type of financing where an investor purchases a share of the
lease revenues of a program rather than the bond being secured by those revenues.
Contaminants of Potential Concern (CPC) — Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic
wastewater contaminants.
Dilution to Threshold (D/T) — the dilution at which the majority of the people detect the odor
becomes the D/T for that air sample.
Greenhouse gases — In the order of relative abundance water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane,
nitrous oxide, and ozone gases that are considered the cause of global warming ("greenhouse
effect").
Groundwater Replenishment (GWR) System — A joint water reclamation project that proactively
responds to Southern California's current and future water needs. This joint project between the
Orange County Water District and the Orange County Sanitation District provides 70 million gallons a
day of drinking quality water to replenish the local groundwater supply.
Levels of Service(LOS)—Goals to support environmental and public expectations for performance.
NDMA— N-Nitrosodimethylamine is an N-nitrosoamine suspected cancer-causing agent. It has been
found in the Groundwater Replenishment System process and is eliminated using hydrogen peroxide
with extra ultra-violet treatment.
National Biosolids Partnership (NBP) — An alliance of the National Association of Clean Water
Agencies (NACWA) and Water Environment Federation (WEF), with advisory support from the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). NBP is committed to developing and advancing
environmentally sound and sustainable biosolids management practices that go beyond regulatory
compliance and promote public participation in order to enhance the credibility of local agency
biosolids programs and improved communications that lead to public acceptance.
Plume—A visible or measurable concentration of discharge from a stationary source or fixed facility.
Publicly-owned Treatment Works(POTW)— Municipal wastewater treatment plant.
Santa Ana River Interceptor (SARI) Line — A regional brine line designed to convey 30 million
gallons per day of non-reclaimable wastewater from the upper Santa Ana River basin to the ocean
for disposal, after treatment.
Sanitary sewer — Separate sewer systems specifically for the carrying of domestic and industrial
wastewater. Combined sewers carry both wastewater and urban run-off.
South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) — Regional regulatory agency that
develops plans and regulations designed to achieve public health standards by reducing emissions
from business and industry.
Secondary treatment — Biological wastewater treatment, particularly the activated-sludge process,
where bacteria and other microorganisms consume dissolved nutrients in wastewater.
Sludge— Untreated solid material created by the treatment of wastewater.
Total suspended solids (TSS)—The amount of solids floating and in suspension in wastewater.
Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
Trickling filter — A biological secondary treatment process in which bacteria and other
microorganisms, growing as slime on the surface of rocks or plastic media, consume nutrients in
wastewater as it trickles over them.
Urban runoff — Water from city streets and domestic properties that carry pollutants into the storm
drains, rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Wastewater—Any water that enters the sanitary sewer.
Watershed —A land area from which water drains to a particular water body. OCSD's service area is
in the Santa Ana River Watershed.