Loading...
The URL can be used to link to this page
Your browser does not support the video tag.
Home
My WebLink
About
04-11-2016 Legislative Committee Agenda
Orange County Sanitation District Monday, April 11, 2016 Regular Meeting of the ` 3:30 P.M. LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC Administration Building AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Conference Room A& B 10844 Ellis Avenue �W Fountain Valley, CA ox rxe Ew�,x (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 Speakers 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 Any items withdrawn from the Consent Calendar for separate discussion will be considered in the regular order of business. 1.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 March 15, 2016. NON-CONSENT CALENDAR: None. INFORMATION ITEMS: 2. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral) 3. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (Rebecca Long) 0411 V 16 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Page 1 of 2 OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS IF ANY: ADJOURNMENT: The next Legislative and Public Affairs Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, May 10, 2016 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 gale of the Sanitation District's Administration Building located at 10844 Ellis Avenue, Fountain Valley, California, and on the Sanitation District's website at www.ocsd.com, 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 Klorefalocsd.com For any questions on the agenda,Committee members may contact staff at: General Manager James D. Herberg (714)593-7300 iherberg co ocsd.com Assistant General Manager Bob Ghirelli (714)593-7400 rohirellifa)omd.com. Principal Public Affairs Specialist Jennifer Cabral (714)593-7581 icabralaocsd.com Senior Public Affairs Specialist Rebecca Long (714)593-7444 rionglatocsd.com 04/11/16 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Page 2 of 2 ITEM NO. 1 MINUTES OF THE LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE Orange County Sanitation District Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. A regular meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee was called to order by Chair Nielsen on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at 8:06 a.m., in the Administration Building of the Orange County Sanitation District. Chair Nielsen led the pledge of allegiance. A quorum was declared at 8:20 a.m., as follows: COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT: STAFF PRESENT: John Nielsen, Board Chair Jim Herberg, General Manager Greg Sebourn, Board Vice-Chair Bob Ghirelli, Assistant General Manager Tom Beamish, Director Nick Arhontes, Director of Facilities Robert Kiley, Director Support Services Lucille Kring, Director Celia Chandler, Director of Human John Withers, Director Resources Rob Thompson, Director of Engineering COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Ed Torres, Director of Operations & Peter Kim, Director Maintenance Lorenzo Tyner, Director of Finance & Administrative Services Kelly Lore, Clerk of the Board Jennifer Cabral Tanya Chong Gregg Deterding Norbert Gaia Alfredo Garcia Rebecca Long Mark Manzo Kelly Newell Lisa Rothbart OTHERS PRESENT: Brad Hogin, General Counsel Eric Sapirstein, ENS (via Teleconference) Cori Williams, Townsend Public Affairs PUBLIC COMMENTS: None. 03/15/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs committee Minutes Page 1 of 5 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. General Manager Jim Herberg notified the Committee of the following: Upcoming trip to Sacramento where the focus will be visits with Senator Hertzberg, Assemblyman Gordon, the Committee on Environmental Safety & Toxic Materials and with the State Water Resources Control Board. Mr. Herberg provided an update to the recent LA Times Article on Deadly Superbugs from hospitals in the Pacific Ocean, which was distributed along with a draft letter of response from local joint agencies. Mr. Herberg also stated that Public Affairs has pushed out the recent Fitch press release which reaffirmed OCSD's AAA Bond rating. Chair Nielsen brought forward the informational items. INFORMATION ITEMS: 6. PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE (Jennifer Cabral) Principal Public Affairs Specialist, Jennifer Cabral stated as a follow-up to the LA Times article, the joint agencies (OCSD, LA City and LA County) are considering their own follow up with social media. Ms. Cabral went on to update the Committee on the following items: KTLA-TV Channel 5, Rich DeMuro's segment on GWRS; 13joint tours with OCWD, eight OCSD tours, and six events reaching 500+ people this month. 7. LEGISLATIVE UPDATE (Rebecca Long) Senior Public Affairs Specialist, Rebecca Long provided an update on legislative related activities including: recent attendance at the CASA conference in Washington D.C.; Legislative key message cards (which were distributed); and Lobby days dates: March 16 to Sacramento and April 20 — 22 in Washington D.C. Vice-Chair Sebourn arrived at 8:20 a.m. Ms. Long provided information of a newly proposed bill SB 885 (Wolk), which is not included in the agenda packet; regarding construction contracts: indemnity. Mr. Herberg stated that due to the time constraints of providing our position to the author, this item will be brought to the Steering Committee for consideration. Ms. Long then updated the committee on two bills: SB 163 (Hertzberg) and AB 2022 (Gordon). 03/15/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 2of5 Cori Williams, Townsend and Associates, provided an update on current and new legislation introduced and stated that Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon was sworn in on March 7 and will focus on the issues of poverty, oversight and participation. Ms. Williams further updated the committee on cap and trade with three billion dollars not yet allocated. Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources updated the Committee on the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) and the proposed cuts to funding for wastewater treatment facilities. He provided information regarding the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) and a possible 20 million dollars in treasury rated bonds for water infrastructure projects. Mr. Sapirstein then updated the Committee on the progress of Senator Feinstein's bill, S. 2533, drought relief policy, current structure and opposition as it relates to OCSD. Mr. Sapirstein stated that he met with the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Committee, to discuss sustainable energy technology such as AquaCritox® and it appears that the committee is supportive. He also stated that tax exempt financing could be at risk in the future. Director Kring and Beamish arrived at 8:41 a.m. 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 Committee meeting held on February 8, 2016. AYES: Beamish, Kiley, Kring, Nielsen, Sebourn and Withers NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Kim 2. PROPOSED CHANGES TO LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE MEETING DATES FOR YEAR 2016 (Bob Ghirelli) MOVED, SECONDED and DULY CARRIED TO: Recommend to the Board of Directors to: Approve the revised calendar of meeting dates for the 2016 calendar year for meetings of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee. 03/15/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 3of5 AYES: Beamish, Kiley, Kring, Nielsen, Sebourn and Withers NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Kim NON-CONSENT CALENDAR: Ms. Long provided a brief introduction to the requested letters of support. 3. SUPPORT SENATE BILL S. 2533 AND CLEAN WATER STATE REVOLVING FUND REQUEST (Bob Ghirelli) MOVED, SECONDED and DULY CARRIED TO: Authorize the Chair to sign letters of support for: A. California Long-Term Provisions for Water Supply and Short-Term Provisions for Emergency Drought Relief Act (S. 2533)-The California Emergency Drought Relief; and B. Clean Water State Revolving Fund Request. AYES: Beamish, Kiley, Kring, Nielsen, Sebourn and Withers NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Kim Ms. Cabral provided a brief PowerPoint presentation regarding Item No. 4 including design concepts. Public perception was important to the Committee and the consensus was to focus the tagline on recycling. 4. OCSD TAGLINE AND VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS (Bob Ghirelli) MOVED, SECONDED and DULY CARRIED TO: Approve the tagline "Leading the way in Water Recycling'for the Orange County Sanitation District. AYES: Beamish, Kiley, Kring, Nielsen, Sebourn and Withers NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Kim Ms. Cabral provided an informative PowerPoint presentation regarding the two-year Strategic plan. 03/15=6 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 4 of 5 Director Kring left the meeting at 9:20 a.m. 5. JULY 2016 —JUNE 2018 PUBLIC AFFAIRS STRATEGIC PLAN (Bob Ghirelli) MOVED, SECONDED and DULY CARRIED TO: Recommend to the Board of Directors to: Receive and file the July 2016—June 2018 Public Affairs Strategic Plan. AYES: Beamish, Kiley, Nielsen, Sebourn and Withers NOES: None ABSTENTIONS: None ABSENT: Kim and Kring OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF ANY: Additional questions regarding the super bugs, levels of treatment at our plant, level of treatment at GWRS and testing at our outfall were answered by Assistant General Manager Bob Ghirelli and Mr. Herberg. Mr. Herberg announced that this will be Director of Facilities Support Services, Nick Arhontes' last Committee meeting at OCSD. Congratulations and well wishes were delivered to Mr. Arhontes. ADJOURNMENT: Chair Nielsen declared the meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m. to the next Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Meeting, Monday, April 11, 2016 at 3:30 p.m. Submitted by: Kelly A. Lore Clerk of the Board 03/15/2016 Legislative and Public Affairs Committee Minutes Page 5of5 LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE M eling ale TO ad.of Dir. AGENDA REPORT IWrn Number Item Number z 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. SUMMARY 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 • Use all practical and effective means for recovering wastewater for reuse • Maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with neighboring agencies • Listen to and seriously consider community input 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 in person as well as via the Sanitation District's Website, social media and mainstream media, we have the ability to educate the community, local agencies and businesses on the What2Flush program, energy production, water recycling, biosolids and our Page 1 of 2 source control program. This, in turn, results in a more informed public as well as a better quality of wastewater. TIMING CONCERNS N/A 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 facilities, source control and the wastewater industry as a whole. PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS N/A ADDITIONAL INFORMATION March 2016 Activity # #of Guests OCSD/OCWD Tours 6 85 OCSD Tours 13 225 Events 1 _250 CEQA N/A FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS N/A ATTACHMENT The following attachment(s)are attached in hard copy and may also be viewed on-line at the OCSD website (www.ocsd.corn with the complete agenda package: • Outreach Calendar April 2016 • Media Clips April 2016 • Letter to the Editor in Response to Superbug LA Times Article Page 2 of 2 OCSD Outreach Report - 3/2 912 01 6 Date Time Organization/Event Location Purpose Attendee Contact 03/01/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour A& B CSUF Nursing tour. 26 Gina Tetsch Tour Guide Cheryl Scott guests. 03/02/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom Coastkeepers Santiago HIS Amy Stretten Tour Guide Cheryl Scott Tour. 42 guests 03/03/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom CSULB Nursing tour, 24 Gina Tetsch Tour Guide Cheryl Scott guests. 03/03/2016- 800- 1200 Plant Tour Conf. Room B Oahu Engineers to tour P1 Mark Esquer Tour Guide Cheryl Scott and P2. 03/07/2016- 900- 1100 Plant Tour Boardroom Estancia HS Coastkeepers Randy Kleinman tour Cheryl Scott tour. 35 guests. 2 tours Guide 03/08/2016- 900- 1100 Plant Tour Boardroom Estancia HS Coastkeepers Mike Zedek Tour Guide Cheryl Scott tour. 35 guests. 03/08/2016- 1130- 1230 Speaking Engagement Holiday Inn Santa Rob Thompson to speak to Rob Thompson Speaker Cheryl Scott Ana the International Right of Way Association on CIP. Approx. 30 in the group 03/09/2016- 1000- 1130 Plant Tour Boardroom Edison High School Amy Stretten Tour Guide Cheryl Scott Special Ed class to tour P1. Approx. 14 guests. 3/29/2016 9:37:57 AM OCSD Outreach Report - 3/2 912 01 6 Date Time Organization/Event Location Purpose Attendee Contact 03/14/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom Biola University Nursing Gina Tetsch Tour Guide Cheryl Scott tour 03/14/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Room C Chinese Delegation to tour Moms Ying Tour Guide Cheryl Scott P1. Approx. 5 guests. 03/15/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom Goldenwest College Tour Amy Stretten Tour Guide Cheryl Scott 30 guests. 03/16/2016- 1230- 1400 Plant Tour A&B Fullerton College lour, 25 Ryal Wheeler Tour Guide Cheryl Scott guests. 03/18/2016- 1300- 1430 Plant Tour Boardroom CSUF Health Science Leyla Perez Tour Guide Cheryl Scott Class to tour P1.Approx. 25 guests. 03/18/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom Water Reuse Conf. guests Cindy Murra Tour Guide Cheryl Scott to tour P1. Approx. 2 guests 03/21/2016- 1000- 1130 Plant Tour Boardroom Rossier Park Elementary Paula Zeller Tour Guide Cheryl Scott School Tour. Approx. 14 guests. 03/22/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom Anaheim HS Tour. 58 Leyla Perez Tour Guide Cheryl Scott guests, 2 tours 3/29/2016 9:37:57 AM OCSD Outreach Report - 3/2 912 01 6 Date Time Or anization/Event Location Purpose Attendee Contact 03/23/2016- 800- 1400 Children's Water Festival UCI 20th Annual Children's Various OCSD volunteers Cheryl Scott Water Festival. OCSD to host an educational game booth. 03/24/2016- 800- 1400 Children's Water Festival UCI 20th Annual Children's Various OCSD volunteers Cheryl Scott Water Festival. OCSD to host an educational game booth. 03/25/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Room C Chinese Delegation to tour Morris Ying Tour Guide Cheryl Scott P1. Approx. 15 guests. 03/29/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom New Employee, Open to Randy Kleinman tour Cheryl Scott the Public Tour. Guide 03/30/2016- 1330- 1530 Plant Tour Boardroom FV Senior Group to tour Ann CraRon Tour Guide Cheryl Scott P1.Approx. 12 guests. 03/31/2016- 1100- 1230 Plant Tour Room B Antaira Technologies to Amy Stretten Tour Guide Cheryl Scott tour P1. Approx. 15 guests. 04/04/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom CSUF Nursing Tour. Gina Tetsch Tour Guide Cheryl Scott Approx. 12 guests. 04/06/2016- 900- 1100 Plant Tour Boardroom HBHS tour. 35 guests. Eros Yong Tour Guide Cheryl Scott 04/07/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom HBHS Tour. 20 guests. Eros Yong Tour Guide Cheryl Scott 3/29/2016 9:37:57 AM OCSD Outreach Report - 3/2 912 01 6 Date Time Or anization/Event Location Purpose Attendee Contact 04/07/2016- 830-930 Speaking Engagement Grand Conference CMMA Breakfast of Rob Thompson Speaker Cheryl Scott Center Long Beach Champions CIP Program update 04/08/2016- 1000- 1130 Plant Tour Boardroom OCC Ecology Class tour, Lisa Rothbart Tour Guide Cheryl Scott 30 guests. 04/11/2016- 1230- 1400 Plant Tour Boardroom Fullerton College Tour, 25 Paul Zeller Tour Guide Cheryl Scott guests 04/12/2016- 1230- 1430 Plant Tour Boardroom Hope University Tour. Lisa Rothbart Tour Guide Cheryl Scott Approx. 17 guests. 04/13/2016- 800- 1500 Orange County Science OC Fair Grounds Judging for the OCSEF, Various OCSD volunteers Cheryl Scott and Engineering Fair Various OCSD Employee volunteers. 04/13/2016- 1230- 1400 Plant Tour Boardroom Nova Academy Tour. 15 Paula Zeller Tour Guide Cheryl Scott guests. 04/14/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom OCHCA Nursing to tour Gina Tetsch Tour Guide Cheryl Scott P1. Approx. 13 guests 04/18/2016- 845- 1015 Plant Tour Boardroom CSULB Nursing tour. Gina Tetsch Tour Guide Cheryl Scott Approx. 13 guests. 04/19/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom CSULB Nursing to tour P1. Gina Tetsch Tour Guide Cheryl Scott Approx. 15 guests. 04/20/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom CSUF Nursing tour. 26 Gina Tetsch Tour Guide Cheryl Scott guests. 3/29/2016 9:37:57 AM OCSD Outreach Report - 3/2 912 01 6 Date Time Organization/Event Location Purpose Attendee Contact 04/25/2016- 930- 1130 Plant Tour Boardroom CSULB Microbiology Class Jeff Armstrong Tour Guide Cheryl Scott to tour P1. Approx. 17 guests. 04/27/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom CSUF Nursing tour, 13 Gina Tetsch Tour Guide Cheryl Scott guests 04/28/2016- 900- 1030 Plant Tour Boardroom CSUF Nursing tour. 26 Gina Tetsch Tour Guide Cheryl Scott guests. r572016- 1000- 1100 Plant Tour Boardroom Assistance League tour. Bob Ghirelli Tour Guide Cheryl Scott Approz. 8 guests 3/29/2016 9:37:57 AM Monthly News Clippings G�JN�V S A N I TgT�Oy = 9 Q 2 c� o � FCTi� �E April 2016 OCSD Public Affairs Office Table of Contents CONSTRUCTION.......................................................................PAGE 1 March 8, 2016 Traffic delays expected during construction near campus By: Kate Jolgren Daily Titan CSUF HUMAN INTEREST....................................................................PAGE 3 March 8, 2016 Local sewage plants say they're not putting superbugs into the ocean, but they don't really know By: Sharon McNary 89.3 KPCC March 9, 2016 Deadly superbugs from hospitals get stronger in the sewers and could end up in the Pacific Ocean By: Melody Petersen Los Angeles Times WHAT21FLUSH.........................................................................PAGE 12 March 10, 2016 The three P's—Pee, Paper and Poo By: Jim Porter Sierra Sun — North Lake Tahoe March 21, 2016 The Grossest Thing on the Beach By: Kiera Butler Mother Jones TWITTER POSTINGS................................................... ..............PAGE 18 FACEBOOK POSTINGS................................................... ..........PAGE 24 April 8, 2016 Daily Titan ZIA . . Traffic delays expected during construction near campus By Kate Jolrren —Posted on March 8 2016 Fullerton and the Orange County Sanitation District have started phase one of a three-phase construction project to improve sewer lines on Yorba Linda and State College boulevards. Phase one began March 7 and is set to finish April 8, said Michael Yu,field operations manager of CSUF Parking and Transportation Services. (Daily Titan /Patrick Do) Cal State Fullerton will experience minor traffic delays as a series of construction projects begin in the area immediately surrounding campus. The City of Fullerton and the Orange County Sanitation District have begun phase one of a three-phase construction project with the overall goal of installing new water lines and improving sewer lines along Yorba Linda and State College boulevards. Construction began March 7, breaking ground on Yorba Linda Boulevard adjacent to CSUF. The construction will run from Associated Road to State College Boulevard during the spring semester. The installation of new water lines will close off the eastbound No. 3 lane and sidewalk along Yorba Linda until April 8. The middle lane will also be closed from 6 a.m until 4 p.m. each day until this phase of the project is complete, said Michael Yu, field operations manager of Parking and Transportation Services. 1 The second part of the phase one will take place the week of March 28 through April 3, during spring recess for the campus. This project is part of a five-year, $184 million capital improvements campaign from the City of Fullerton that intends to tackle road,water and sewer reconstruction projects, said Erin Haselton, public information consultant to the Office of the City Manager. "This project is part of the larger investment campaign to improve Fullerton's infrastructure,"Haselton said. "The water transmission line replacement will benefit the surrounding community and campus by preventing future water main breaks on a main thoroughfare in our city." Phase one construction will cease after April 8,until commencement in May,Yu said. "The school has a lot of important events that occur on campus. What we had to do in coordination with the city is put priority on those events,"Yu said. "Commencement was our No. 1 priority." With more than 60,000 people expected to attend commencement and more than 12,000 cars coming onto campus over the course of the weekend,the construction halt will allow more accessibility. Phases two and three of the construction project will consist of installing new sewer lines along Yorba Linda and State College boulevards. Construction will resume following the week of commencement and continue until January 2017. Parking and Transportation Services will have electronic signs posted in the affected areas to make students aware of possible delays and will repurpose the signs to include directions as the construction process continues,Yu said. Right-turn entry into the campus would be the most effective method of travel, Yu said. "If you're coming off the freeway, exit off of Norwood and travel in a clockwise fashion because you can always turn right,"Yu said. "Left tam entry will be admitted depending on which phase of the project the construction is in." For students who frequently park in the Eastside parking structure,there should be little impact to daily commutes as all current construction will take place on the other side of campus. "With this construction,there's no impact to parking capacity,"Yu said. "The only thing that changes is how and when you get to campus." University Police and Puking and Transportation Services advise that students allow themselves more time to get onto campus. "You want to give yourself plenty of time because there may be slow- downs," said University Police Capt. Scot Willey. For updates regarding project construction, students can visit the Campus Maps and Directions website and select"Alerts"for more information. 2 March 8, 2016 89.3 KPCC 89.3 KPCC 89.1 KUOR 90.3 KVLA Local sewage plants say they're not putting 'superbugs' into the ocean, but they don't really know Sharon McNary March 08, 04:09 PM Show caption Dockweiler Beach in front of Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant. Sunset on Nov 13th 2015. Dan Tuffs for KPCC Local water quality managers say it's unlikely that potentially lethal bacteria flushed into sewer systems from hospitals could survive the wastewater treatment process and get into the ocean to sicken swimmers and beach-goers. But they acknowledge they do not know for sure. Their statements come a day after a Los Angeles Times article raised questions about the potential for a group of deadly antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as CRE—Carbanenem-Resistant Escherichia coli to get into the sewer system, multiply and thrive at local wastewater treatment plants before being discharged into the ocean. 3 CRE is difficult to treat, and it kills half of those who become infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control. The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has been so swift and threatening to the nation's public health that a group of science advisors to President Barack Obama said confronting the risk should be a national priority. Recent concerns have arisen from a study published last fall by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that found CRE in all samples of partially-treated water at seven wastewater treatment plants around the country. The EPA declined to identify which plants were tested. The agency also did not provide the rationale for why the locations were withheld. At the same time, a group of researchers published a study saying CRE posed a serious threat of becoming established at hospitals and medical facilities unless coordinated efforts were taken to stem their spread. The study used Orange County as a model. But regional wastewater managers say it's unlikely any CRE coming from hospitals through sewage would pose a public health problem. "The probability of having drug resistant bacteria come in through(the municipal waste stream) is very low, in the sense that the flow that comes in from hospitals is a small fraction of the flow that we get," said Tim Dafeta,manager of the Hyperion wastewater treatment plant operated by the Los Angeles Department of Sanitation. Health care facilities account for one-half of one percent of the municipal waste stream, Dafeta said. Any CRE or other antibiotic-resistant bacteria would be a much smaller fraction of the sewage coming from hospitals. The sewage goes through several treatment steps, including being held for 13 days at 128 degrees. Still,Dafeta and a colleague who monitors Los Angeles water treatment plants said they don't know for sure if that process kills CRE. "We haven't really studied that, said Mas Dajori, manager of environmental monitoring for L.A. Sanitation. "We don't know about the drug-resistant bacteria,but certainly salmonella, and a number of other enteric viruses, and eggs of parasites, so we know that that capture does kill those infectious agents," The sanitation department does not test for CRE in incoming wastewater or the treated water sent by an outfall pipe five miles out to sea. But Dafeta said any CRE that made it through the waste treatment process would be so diluted that it would be only a tiny amount of what gets put into the ocean. What flows to the Pacific from the Hyperion plant comes out 190 feet underwater. Dafeta said it's too cold there for any surviving bacteria to multiply. The city has three other water treatment plants that send wastewater to the ocean. One on Terminal Island discharges highly treated water into Los Angeles Harbor, and two inland plants in Glendale and Van Nuys release water into the L.A. River that's been through the wastewater treatment process and additionally treated with chlorine. 4 A study published in September by Rice University professor Pedro Alvarez said antibiotic resistant genes (of which CRE is a subset)have been shown to survive wastewater treatment including chlorination at two plants in Northern China. The EPA did not collect samples for its study from Los Angeles' four city wastewater treatment plants, said L.A. Sanitation's Mas Dijon, who manages environmental monitoring. The EPA also did not get its sample from Orange County Sanitation District, said spokeswoman Jennifer Cabral. She said the district discharges treated water from two wastewater plants five miles into the ocean from an outfall plant in Huntington Beach. Cabral said the water discharged into the ocean moves offshore until it is indistinguishable from seawater, and that it does not move onshore to where it might reach swimmers or beach-goers. "There is no data that we are aware of suggesting that CRE preferentially survive wastewater treatment, or that CRE are more resistant than other bacteria to wastewater treatment employed by OCSD," Cabral said in a written statement. But University of Minnesota environmental engineeringprofessor Timothy M. LaPara said antibiotic resistant genes can survive standard wastewater treatment processes. "For whatever reason what comes out of wastewater treatment plants is especially bad, and we don't know why," LaPara said. "Treated wastewater and raw sewage is especially rich in antibiotic resistance. We don't have any specific data about CRE,but, it certainly has elevated levels of resistance even though the same number of bacteria are present." LaPara said he does not see hospitals as a particular hot spot for CRE. In a study that has not yet been published,he said he found no significant difference in the amount of antibiotic resistant genes (which would include CRE) in the sewage of cities that have lots of hospitals compared to cities that have none. CDC's direction to hospitals about how best to contain CRE transmission does not call for any specific controls on disposal of human waste. Two Orange County plants discharge treated and chlorinated waste into the ocean, said Kurt Berchtold, executive officer at the Water Quality Control Board Santa Ana Region. He said he had not heard about the issue of dangerous bacteria in hospital sewage surviving wastewater treatment and ocean discharge. He said wastewater treatment plants are required to have programs to evaluate and monitor "non-domestic sources of discharge into sewer systems, including hospitals and industrial sources." There are also requirements on those sources to inspect and get permits for the waste. The report was a wakeup call to local,regional and federal water control agencies to start planning to keep dangerous bacteria out of the municipal sewage stream, said James Alamillo of Heal the Bay, a nonprofit advocacy organization that monitors water quality at Santa Monica Bay. "We need some kind of roundtable to discuss this issue, and come up with a game plan to increase monitoring and ensuring that some threshold is set with regards to the CRE level,"Alamillo said 5 March 9, 2016 Las Angeles Times Deadly superbugs from hospitals get stronger in the sewers and could end up in the Pacific Ocean i 4 A worker at L.A.'s Hyperion sewage treatment facility removes trash that has been separated from incoming wastewater. (Gary Friedman/Los Angeles Times) 16elody Petersen Contact Reporter Every day Southern California hospitals unleash millions of gallons of raw sewage into municipal sewers. The malodorous muck flows miles to one of the region's sewage plants,where it is treated with the rest of the area's waste and then released as clear water into a stream or directly to the Pacific. Scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency recently announced they had discovered a lethal superbug—the same one that caused outbreaks at UCLA and two other Los Angeles-area hospitals— in sewage at one of those plants. They declined to time the facility. 6 EPA scientists did not test treated wastewater flowing out of the plant to determine whether it still contained CRE, or carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae. But a growing number of studies show sewage plants can't kill the superbugs. Instead the facilities serve as "a luxury hotel" for drug-resistant bacteria, a place where they thrive and grow stronger, said Pedro Alvarez,a professor of environmental engineering at Rice University, one of the scientists studying the problem. Alvarez and other researchers say the failure of sewage plants to eliminate the dangerous bacteria is one way they may be spreading from hospitals to the environment. Snwnp wwrwc Tmbnwd McNry Nosptals Commertial/ R6iClMlS intlusbial "Chlorine is just not doing it," Alvarez said of the treatment used by most plants. The fear is that healthy people otherwise not at risk from the bacteria—including swimmers at the beach—could be infected. Already officials are worried about the surprising number of people sickened with CRE who have not recently visited a medical facility: 8%, according to an October study. Hospitals are not breaking laws by releasing the sewage. Laws regulate the overall level of disease- causing bacteria in the nation's surface waters,but there is no specific regulation of bacteria resistant to antibiotics. Deemed the "nightmare bacteria"by federal officials, CRE survives nearly all antibiotics. It kills as many as half its victims. Government officials, including those at the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, say they are monitoring the wastewater studies but have so far made no recommendations to hospitals about the treatment of sewage that may harbor CRE. "The prevention and control of CRE is an evolving process," said Melissa Brower, an agency spokeswoman. "CDC will continue to assess the appropriateness of this as new information becomes available." 7 Researchers have tried for years to raise the alarm about hospital sewage. The sludge includes not just waste from patients suffering from drug-resistant infections but also high levels of antibiotics prescribed to treat them. As the sewage mixes,the antibiotics kill off weaker bacteria, leaving the more lethal ones to thrive. The bugs reproduce rapidly, and different species can swap genes, transferring their ability to withstand the drugs. Last year, the nation's treatment plants were alerted to the risks of untreated medical sewage when a few American hospitals began caring for patients who had been struck by Ebola in Africa. The CDC directed hospitals to allow the Ebola patients to use the toilets in their rooms,but said sewer workers should wear protective clothing, including goggles and a face mask, to protect themselves from the highly contagious virus. Concern about that case prompted a foundation supported by water utilities to study what contaminants, including bacteria,hospitals are releasing in sewage. "The idea of CRE flowing down our sewer pipes gets me nervous," said Dr. James McKinnell, an infectious disease expert at the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, who has been working to stop superbugs from spreading. "We should be testing our runoff" Inside hospitals, staff go on high alert when a patient tests positive for CRE. Infected patients are isolated.Nurses don protective gowns and gloves.Family and friends are wanted about visiting. So far at least 75 of the 100 hospitals in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties have reported patients infected with CRE. Los Angeles has the state's highest rate. CRE thrives in water. Hospitals have found it living in sink drains. The bacteria are happy in patients' intestines and it passes through in urine and waste. Every day, 2 million gallons of raw sewage from Los Angeles hospitals flows to the city's Hyperion treatment facility. 8 e � a ! t A number of U.S. hospitals have experienced bacterial outbreaks related to contaminated medical scopes, including at UCLA's Ronald Reagan Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai hospital. The Disneyland-sized complex of pipes, giant tanks and pools sits at the edge of the Pacific,near Los Angeles International Airport. Like other plants, Hyperion intentionally creates an ideal environment for microorganisms to thrive. The plant mixes non-disease-causing bacteria into the sewage and pumps in oxygen, allowing the bugs to feed and break down the waste. The solids are settled out, and the clear water is piped five miles offshore and released 190 feet below the waves. It is treated with chlorine only in raze cases when it is released a mile offshore. Hyperion employees test the treated water for levels of bacteria,but do not hunt for those that resist antibiotics like CRE. Timeyin Dafeta, Hyperion's manager, said that if CRE was present it "would be in extremely low concentrations" because hospital sewage accounts forjust 0.5% of the city's wastewater. "We have no indication the effluent is coming back to impact the shoreline," Dafeta said. Farther south,dozens of other sewage plants release treated wastewater into creeks and concrete channels that eventually flow into the Pacific. Some surf spots—like the Santa Ana River jetties in Orange County—have become known as places with great waves that can make you sick. "Just check yourself for cuts prior to entering," the surfing magazine Stab recently warned about the site on the northern border of Newport Beach. "Oh, and keep your mouth shut." 9 California officials don't know what bacteria is in the seawater. They monitor the ocean water for what they call fecal indicator bacteria a sign of raw sewage. But they rarely test for specific bacteria, including those that are drug-resistant. A 2010 study estimated that 689,000 to 4 million people are struck by gastrointestinal illnesses caught from Southern California beaches each year. An additional 693,000 are sickened with respiratory problems. In December 2014,Barry Ault died on Christmas morning a few days after surfing off Sunset Cliffs in San Diego. A staph infection attacked the 71-year-old's heart valve, which had been replaced 10 months before. Ault's friend also got seriously ill. The two went surfing just after a rainstorm when it's not possible for sewage treatment plants to handle all the runoff. Sally Ault,Barry's wife, said that the two were surfing in an area known for not being polluted. She said her husband,who grew up in Arcadia,had fully recovered from the earlier heart operation and was in great shape. "It was nothing other than the bacteria," she said. It's difficult to find which regulatory agency is responsible for monitoring what hospitals release to the sewers. The state public health department referred questions to State Water Resources Control Board officials. That agency referred questions to county officials,who said they had made no recommendations to hospitals to pre-treat sewage from CRE patients. Enrique Rivem, a spokesman for UCLA, where three patients died after being infected by CRE from a contaminated medical scope, said that no one was available to comment. A spokesman at Cedars-Sinai, site of a similar scope-linked outbreak, said the hospital follows all regulations relating to the handling of patient waste. Cathy Milboum at the EPA said agency scientists believe there is "insufficient information available to reach a definite conclusion on the presence and fate" of drug-resistant bacteria in sewage plants. Last fall,a team of EPA scientists reported that they had found CRE in sewage at treatment plants across the country—including one in Southern California and another in the northern part of the state. "I tested seven different plants and I found it in all of them," said Jill Hoelle, a scientist in the EPA's office of research and development. The scientists concluded that CRE is "widespread" in America's sewage—a finding that Hoelle said she found surprising given that reported patient infections are still relatively rare. 10 Alvarez, the Rice professor, said that with the rise of ever more dangerous bacteria like CRE,there is a risk of returning to a time,before the invention of water treatment,when infectious diseases were a major cause of death. "We can save more lives by treating water than doctors can," he said. melodv.DetersenAlatimes.com 11 March 10, 2016 Sierra Sun Sierra Sun — North Lake Tahoe March 10, 2016 Jim Porter: The three P's — Pee, Paper and Poo I figured that headline would get your attention. In our family it would be pee,paper and poop,but that may be too much information. Where am I going with this, you ask? Recently,the Porter family had occasion to suffer a septic backup inconveniently timed the day before our Glenshire Elementary School Christmas party. Long story short,which you will appreciate,it turns out our system was clogged with "disposable wipes,"also called"flushable wipes."Flushable wipes started as baby wipes but have become big business. You can now buy flushable wipes for just about any use. Dirty little secret The dirty little secret, so to speak, is that these so-called"flushable wipes" are not really flushable; they're flushable in that they go down the toilet,but they often get hung up in septic and sewer lines and in sewer treatment plants. They do not really decompose; and sometimes they're even partially made of plastic. Products that go into a sewer system that muck up the works are called"non-dispersibles."Non- dispersibles are anything other than human waste and toilet paper flushed down the toilet. Unfortunately,there are no standards defining or prohibiting the use of flushables or disposables,and despite opposition from municipalities and sewer districts, they remain on the market labeled "flushable." It's a toilet,not a trash can It turns out that toilet paper and only toilet paper breaks down quickly almost immediately unlike wipes, Kleenex tissues,paper towels,paper toilet"gaskets,"napkins, sanitary products,tampon applicators,hair, fingernail clippings, cotton balls and swabs,kitty litter, coffee grinds and the list goes on. One product called"One Wipe Charlies" is aimed at younger men with the tag line"reach around for a deeper clean."Visualize that. When these non-dispersibles get mixed with the greases and oils that we put into our septic and sewer systems,they create what some in the industry call "fatbergs."A seven meter snake-like fatberg in Australia weighed 750 kilograms. Another famous fatberg in London was the size of a double-decker 12 bus. You cannot drive a fatberg,you pay to have it removed. Removing"flushables"is costly business. Just ask any of our local sewer districts. Public Enemy No. 2 The Orange County Sanitation District in a single year recorded hundreds of"de-ragging"maintenance calls and spent over$300,000 having wipes removed. Waste-water utilities in Canada say Canadian rate payers pay at least $250 million dollars a year getting rid of"personal wipes."New York City throws out a ballpark figure of$1 g million per year for extra disposal related to non-disposables going down the toilet. The Porter family spent less, but more than it wanted getting our septic system ready for the big party. So-called flushables should have"Do Not Flush"prominently displayed on the front of the package. Various legislative bills have been proposed from time to time trying to define"flushable"and setting standards for what can be flushed down a toilet. P for Porter By the way,my high school student body president campaign slogan, strategically placed above every school toilet,was `P for Porter." Flushing away money This is a no-brainer, folks, it's a matter of education and paying attention. We all save money by using our toilets only for the three P's. Industry representatives say nonflushable"flushables"is an out-of-sight, out-of-mind issue. Actually, however,that's not always the case. If you were at the Porter Palace the day before the big Christmas party—toilets and bathtubs were overflowing everywhere—in plain view. Maybe I was not properly potty-trained, but this is a costly, easily fixable problem. Go on the websites of any of our local sewer districts to get more information. Jim Porter is an attorney with Porter Simon licensed in California and Nevada, with offices in Truckee and Tahoe City, California, and Reno, Nevada.Jim's practice areas include real estate, development, construction, business, HOA's, contracts,personal injury, mediation and other transactional matters. He may be reached at porter(ilportersimon.corn or www.portersimon.com. 13 March 21, 2016 Mother Jones Motherjones The Grossest Thing on the Beach Ever heard of a Jersey beach whistle? By Kiem Butler I Mon Mar.21,2016 6:00 AM EDT Ben Voldman It's hard to gross out Cindy Ziff. Three decades of cleaning up beaches have inured her to the horrors of, say,a washed-up diaper. But there's one kind of trash that Zipf, executive director of the New 14 Jersey-based marine protection coalition Clean Ocean Action,really can't stand: plastic tampon applicators. During a 2014 cleanup of some 70 beaches, Zipf s team found about 3,000 of them. Plastic applicators are so common, in fact, that kids on the beach often pick them up, thinking they're toy whistles. "We call them Jersey beach whistles," says Zipf. "How disgusting is that?" But applicators are even worse for the ocean once they break down.According to Susan Shaw, the founder and executive director of the Marine and Environmental Research Institute and a leading expert on the plastics in our oceans, sea animals often mistake applicator-sized pieces of plastic for food. When the plastic blocks their digestive tracts, they can starve to death. What's more, the type of plastic in applicators can break down into tiny pieces easily eaten by shellfish and other small marine creatures. Shaw's team found an average of 177 pieces of microplastic in each oyster they tested. And that plastic can work its way up the food chain. "That's pretty scary if you're a person who's eating oysters," says Shaw. It's especially scary when you consider that plastic applicators dominate the market. Walk down the feminine-hygiene aisle of any drugstore, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a tampon with a cardboard applicator or no applicator at all. According to research provided by manufacturer Kotex, sales of cardboard applicator tampons have declined nearly 40 percent since 2013. More than 88 percent of the estimated $1.1 billion worth of tampons sold in 2015 had plastic applicators. So why we tampon companies hell-bent on making applicators out of ocean-polluting plastic? "Our research has indicated that consumers find these types of tampon applicators to be preferred versus cardboard applicator tampons, especially in the areas of ease of use and comfort to insert," a Kotex spokesman wrote to me in an email. Other manufacturers'packaging hits some of the same notes. Tampax, for example, promises that the plastic applicator on its Pearl model "is smooth and rounded, making it super easy to insert." What's more, it adds, "contoured Anti-Slip Grip' makes the applicator easier to hold and position,which is great for girls just learning how to insert a tampon." Kate Connors, a spokeswoman for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, is not aware of any medical data or scientific evidence suggesting that plastic applicators are better for women's bodies than cardboard applicators or applicator-free tampons. (For that matter,there's never been an independent study on whether plastic applicators contain hormone-disrupting substances like 15 BPA and phthalates. Kotex and Tampax both assured me that their applicators don't contain any hormone disruptors. A Kotex spokesman said the company "does not disclose composition due to vendor confidentiality agreements.") "These people spend millions of dollars on product design. How hard would it be to make something that isn't going to end up in an albatross chick's stomach?" Susie Hewson, a veteran of the feminine-hygiene industry and founder of the plastic-applicator-free tampon manufacturer Natracare,believes the switch from cardboard to plastic had more to do with marketing than comfort. Playtex introduced the plastic applicator in the mid-70s,but it wasn't until decades later that the product took off—largely due to a campaign by Procter& Gamble,which acquired market leader Tampax in 1997. Procter&Gamble "wanted to move away from the 'tampon my mother uses'reputation it felt its cardboard applicator communicated,"recalls Hewson. Not wanting to be perceived as old-fashioned, other manufacturers quickly followed suit, she says. Back when plastic applicators were fast becoming popular,Zipf and her team worked with state legislators to introduce bills to ban their sale. Tampon manufacturers fought this aggressively: "They went to colleges and bused in women to say that they should be able to choose the tampon applicator of their choice, that it was a women's rights issue," Zipf remembers. The bills failed, and today, she says,her cleanup crews see more plastic applicators than ever before. Of course,plastic applicators shouldn't end up in the ocean in the first place, since you're not supposed to flush them. But lots of people do—and that's terrible news for sewage treatment facilities, where they can gum up the works. Jennifer Cabral, a spokeswoman for the Orange County Sanitation District, says her team regularly encounters plastic applicators, which contribute to the clogging incidents that cost her agency about$300,000 in 2014. When aging sewage systems become overwhelmed, applicators can flow with stoma surges directly into waterways—one of the most common pathways by which they get into the ocean. Meanwhile, when I asked major tampon manufacturers whether they were concerned about plastic applicators littering the seas,not a single one had a concrete answer. Kotex "continues to look for new 16 product opportunities to support both consumer needs and sustainability goals;' a company spokesman vaguely wrote to me. Advocates like Zipf hope he's serious. "These people spend millions of dollars on product design;' she says. "How hard would it be to make something that isn't going to end up in an albatross chick's stomach?" Source URL: http://www.motheriones.com/environment/2016/02/plastic-tampon-applicator-beach- pollution 17 March 2016 OCSD Tweets Twitter Posts for March 2016 Posted 18 times and Retweeted 6 times 60C Sewers ^OCSewers 20h20 hours ago Looking to advance your career? Come and work with us! Check out our latest job vacancies: ocsewers.com/about-oosd/job_... #career#government#jobs eOC Sewers OCSewers Mar 26 We recognized @OCSupBartlett for her time on OCSD's Board of Director's from Jan 2015 - Feb 2016. NO CWEA Members@CWEAMembers Mar 22 Take grt water resource recovery pics? Enter#AC16 photo contest 3/30 _myac15.org/photo HT Patrick @OCSewers 18 eOC Sewers OCSewers Mar 241rvine, CA Thank you to @worldbank for visiting the Orange County Sanitation District this week! .bit.ly/1 UKD1 H4 M- 0 eOC Sewers @OCSewers Mar 231ryine, CA OCSD is proud to participate in the Children's Water Education Festival being held at UCI today. #What2Flush OC Sewers @OCSewers Mar 23 It's Wednesday, which means it's time for OCSD's Wastewater Word of the Week! facebook.com/OCSewers/posts...... e0CSewers@0CSewers Mar 22 19 Happy World Water Day! OCSD is proud to be apart of#GWRS which produces up to 100 million gallons of high-quality water every day... OC Sewers @OCSewers Mar 16 Congratulations to our March retirees! You will be missed! facebook.com/OCSewers/posts . . . eOC Sewers 'OCSewers Mar 14 We recognize, acknowledge and reward contributions to OCSD by our many talented employees. And, we're hiring! .bit.ly/1 WhOnBm #jobs OC Sewers @OCSewers Mar 14 Thank you to the Water Environment Federation Water Reuse Roadmap Experts for visiting OCSD! on.fb.me/1 M3jgPD 60C Sewers @OCSewers Mar 14 OC Sewers Retweeted WateReuse 20 Thank you! OC Sewers added, WateReuse @WateReuseAssoci Congratulations! @OCWDWaterNews and @OCSewers named Recycled Water Agency of the Year at #2016WRACA_ow.ly/ZsfHz .00 Sewers @OCSewers Mar 14 Night work begins tonight in #NB from 9pm-6am along PCH between Prospect& Dover Drive lasting 1-2 weeks. facebook.com/OCSewers/posts_._... OC Sewers @OCSewers Mar 11 OC Sewers Retweeted CWE4 Members Thank you for helping us spread the word about the 3 P'sl Do you know #What2Flush? OC Sewers added, CWEA Members @CWEAMembers Jim, we couldn't have said it any better. THANK YOU! "The three P's—Pee, Paper and Poo" #What2Flush @OCSewers..sierrasun.com/news/opinion/2.__._... eOC Sewers @OCSewers Marl 0 Great news! OCSD's 'AAA' Credit Rating was reaffirmed by both @Fitch Ratings & Standard & Poor's. Click for more: _facebook.COM/OCSewers/posts__... OC Sewers �DOCSewers Marl 0 21 Thank you for the opportunity to speak about our Capital Improvement Program, @IRWA Network. OC Sewers @OCSewers Marl 0 Interested in learning more about the work that we do? Come take a tour. You'll be glad that you did! _ocsd.com/programs-stude__... #What2Flush 60C Sewers OCSewers Mar Today's #Wastewater Word of the Day is: Capital Improvement Program or CIP. Don't know what that is? Click here: _facebook.com/OCSewers/posts_..... eOC Sewers @OCSewers Mar 8 That's a creative way to spread the#What2Flush message! Listen: "Don't Flush the Baby (Wipes!)" news.wef.org/dont-flush-the_... Q Orange County Water @OCWDWaterNews Mar 7 More than 260 MILLION gallons of stormwater captured from recent rains will go into OCWD's groundwater basin to increase #OC's water supply. 22 60C Sewers @OCSewers Mar 3 Did you know? OCSD treats 200 million gallons of#wastewater per day. That's enough water to fill Anaheim Stadium three times! #What2Flush 6OC Sewers @OCSewers Mar 3 OC Sewers Retweeted CWEA Members Great photo! Thanks for the shout out. OC Sewers added, CWEA Members @CWEAMembers Outstanding &inspiring pollution prevention speakers at CWEA#P3S16 conference today @CentralSan @CalPSC @OCSewers Q- Orange County Water @OCWDWaterNews Mar 1 #GWRS featured in @BuzzFeed video that has more than 3 MILLION views. Check out what all the buzz is about: .ow.lyNWyhK OC Sewers @OCSewers Marl Looking to advance your career? Come and work with us! Check out our latest job vacancies: _ocsewers.com/about-ocsd/job__... #career#government#jobs 23 March 2016 OCSD Facebook Postings Facebook Posts for March 2016 Posted 33 times and Shared 1 time 11�ranee County Sanitation District Published by Kelly Newell 19 hrs - Looking to advance your career?Come and work with us! Check out our latest job vacancies:http://www.ocsewers.com/about-ocsd/jobs/iob-openings#career#government#jobs Orange County Sanitation District : Job Openings ©2016 Orange County Sanitation District.FUI Rights Reserved.Websile Created by Vision Internet-The Government website experts OCSEWERSCOM Orange County Sanitation District Published by Amy Stretten March 26 at 12:00pm The Orange County Sanitation District is honored to recognize Lisa Bartlett from the Orange County Board of Supervisors for her service to OCSD. Her accomplishments include serving on the Board of Directors and Operations Committee from January 2015 to February 2016. The Board of Directors and staff of OCSD thank you for your support and service to protect public health and the environment throughout Orange County. Orange County Sanitation District added 6 new photos. Published by Amy Stretten March 25 at 9:oosnn Every Friday,we share photos of OCSD employees hard at work. 24 Here's a rundown of what's going on in these photos of a confined space entry from OCSD Engineering Supervisor, Chris Cervellone: "We entered the top of the Plant 1-33 Splitter box structure to inspect a repair coupling that was installed in an adjoining 90"RCP several years ago.We descended some 30+feet down a single ladder to the bottom of the structure. ...See More Orange County Sanitation District added 2 new photos. Published by Amy Stretten - March 24 at i r.oeam Thank you to the representatives from the World Bank for visiting the Orange County Sanitation District this week. We hope our wastewater treatment system inspires the important work that you do to improve millions of lives around the world. M- . Orange County Sanitation District added 8 new photos—at University of California.Irvine. Published by Amy Stretten - March 23 at 12:02pm Irvine CA,United States 25 OCSD is proud to participate today in the 20th annual Children's Water Education Festival being held at the University of California,Irvine. As part of our educational message,#What2Flush,these young participants were divided into to teams and are racing to categorize household waste into three groups:recycle,flush and trash. Do you know#What2Flush? ...See More AM IF Orange County Sanitation Distrito Published by Kelly Newell - Much 23 at 9:00am It's Wednesday,which means it's time for OCSD's Wastewater Word of the Week! This week's word is:Air Scrubber OCSD covers most of the plant processes so odors are captured and limited to the surrounding community.The air captured from the covered structures is forced into tall towers called air scrubbers.OCSD currently uses two types of air scrubbers:chemical and biological. ...See More il, 10 Orange County Sanitation District Published by Kelly Newell March 22 at a:21pm Happy World Water Day#WorldWaterDay! OCSD is proud to be apart of#GWRS which produces up to 100 million gallons of high-quality water every day. This is enough water to meet the needs of nearly 850,000 residents in north and central Orange County. 26 Orange County Sanitation District Published by Kelly Newell March 21 at I t:59am PCH Sewer Project Completion Mead of Schedule We are delighted to announce that the two-phase S41.4 million Newport Force Main Rehabilitation project is complete! While construction may not have seemed fast to residents,businesses and commuters,the project was completed months ahead of the slated May 2016 completion date.You may still notice crews working as they perform surface restoration work such as landscaping and final paving,but this will be the last of it. The n... See More Orange County Sanitation District : ©2016 Orange County Sanitation District.NI Rights Reserved.Website Created by Vision Internet-The Government website experts www.GcSD.COM Orange County Sanitation Distrito Published by Amy Stretten - March 19 at 12:00pm Thank you to the California Water Environment Association for recognizing the Orange County Sanitation District as the 2015 Collection System of the Year(250-500 miles).We appreciate the honor. ME Orange County Sanitation District shared Brown and Caldwell's Water News's post. Published by Rebecca Gorelick Long - March 1a at I1 22am G Brown and Caldwell's Water News March 17 at 131 pm The miracle of Kolkata's wetlands—and one man's struggle to save them 27 The wetlands are this Indian cit}�s free sewage works The trees on the streets of Kolkata in January are dusty,like neglected pot plants.At traffic lights,salesmen offer feather dusters for drivers... W W W.THEGUARDIAN.COMIBY PATRICK BARKHAM Orange County Sanitation Distrito Published by Amy Stretten March 18 at 9:00am T.G.I.F.! Its Friday which means it's time for this week's#OCSDatWork! Inside the digesters there is a liner that separates the sludge from the inner concrete wall.In this picture,mechanical staff attempted to change out a suspected bad valve,according to OCSD Senior Mechanic,Gilbert Baste.The team discovered that a huge piece of liner had tom away,overlapped on itself like lasagna,and ran 30 feet of itself through suction piping and 5 valves. Here are(Left to... See More t � � s Orange County Sanitation District Published by Kelly Newell - March 17.t 5:24pm THE WORLD'S LARGEST WATER REUSE PROJECT BRINGS MORE THAN AWARDS TO THE REGION— IT BRINGS WATER RELIABILITY Recently receiving five awards,the Groundwater Replenishment System(GWRS)continues to gain recognition as the leading global model for local water supply reliabihty.This award-winning project has received dozens of accolades and has been featured in prominent media outlets like National Geographic and 60 Minutes. Yet,its biggest success is bringing more than 182 bi... Continue Reading 28 Orange County Sanitation Distrito Published by Kelly Newell - March 16 at 3:1 span OCSD Retirements Eight employees declared their intent to retire during March. This month's departures bring OCSD's 2016 retirements to date to 13,representing a total of 294 years of service to OCSD at various levels of the organization,including one department head and one supervisor. Orange County Sanitation District Published by Amy Stretten - March 16 at 9:00am It's Wednesday,which means it's time for OCSD's Wastewater Word of the Week! This week's word is:Biochemical Oxygen Demand Biochemical oxygen demand(BOD)is the amount of dissolved oxygen used by microorganisms in the biological process of metabolizing organic matter in water.The more organic matter there is(in sewage and polluted bodies of water,for example),the greater the BOD; and the greater the BOD,the lower the amount of dissolved oxygen available for fish and o... E Biochemical Oxygen Demand —Created using PowToon--Free sign up athfto://www.00wloon.com/voutube/—Create animated videos and animated presentations for free.PowToon is a free... YOUTUBE.COM 29 Orange County Sanitation District Published by Amy Stretten March i s at a:a7pm According to a recent survey,Californians are overwhelmingly supportive of water reuse projects(like the Groundwater Replenishment System)that purify water and increase local water supplies.Click below for more information. New survey reveals Californians' overwhelming support for recycled water as a long-term drought... New survey reveals Cafrfomians'overwhelming support for recycled water as a long-term drought solution HUSMESSWTUXOM Orange County Sanitation District Published by Amy Stretten - March la at 4:17p n We recognize,acknowledge and reward contributions to OCSD by our many talented employees.Why not apply for a career with us? Orange County Sanitation District : Job Openings ©2016 Orange County Sanitation District.All Rights Reserved.Website Created by Vision Internet-The Government website experts OCSD.COM Orange County Sanitation District Published by Amy Stretten March laat 12Alpm The Water Environment Federation(WEF)Water Reuse Roadmap Experts Meeting brought together a diverse group of international experts in water reuse at the Orange County Sanitation District to develop the framework for the madmap and to exchange perspectives on how to develop a comprehensive,yet flexible,roadmap that utilities worldwide can follow on their paths to sustainable implementation of water reuse strategies. OCSD would like to thank the WEF Water Reuse Roadmap Experts for visiting us to develop this roadmap.We wish you the best on your upcoming global publication and hope you'll come back and visit us scout k,. 30 Orange County Sanitation District added 3 new photos—at Orange County Sanitation District. Published by Amy Stretten ' March 14 at 9:60am Fountain Valley CA United States Thank you to the group of Edison High School students who paid us a visit today.We hope you enjoyed your tour! Please come back soon.And,good luck in school! Orange County Sanitation Distrito Published by Kelly Newell - March 14 at 8:30am Night Work Alert As part of the final stages of Phase 2 of the Newport Force Main Rehabilitation Project,night work is scheduled to take place on Coast Highway in various locations between Prospect Street and Dover Drive.Night work will begin tonight,lasting approximately 1-2 weeks.Work hours are between 9 p.m.to 6 a.m. Dates and times are subject to change due to unforeseen operational factors or inclement weather. Aside from restoration and landscaping,the final roar... See More Orange County Sanitation District Published by Amy Stretten - March 12 at 1230pm Thank you to the American Membrane Technology Association/American Water Works Association (AMTA/AW WA)for awarding the Orange County Sanitation District the 2016 Membrane Facility Award.We appreciate the recognition of our"use of membrane technology in an efficient and environmentally beneficial manner." 31 Orange County Sanitation District Published by Kelly Newell - March I I at 2:34pm Great article on the 3 Ps! Do you know#What2Flush?hU,I/www.siermsun.com/.../2.../the-three-ps-pee-paper-and- 000 Jim Porter: The three P's — Pee. Paper and Poo I SierraSun.com I figured that headline would get your attention. In our family it would be pee,paper and poop,but that may be too much information.Where am I going SIHRRASUMCOM AdEL Orange County Sanitation District Published by Amy Stretten - March 11 at 9:00am It's Friday.You know what that means...It's time for this week's#OCSDatWork! Digesters,like the one seen here,are huge tanks that store sludge.Within them,solids that are removed from the wastewater process are stabilized.Unfortunately,several inorganics end up in the digester: Hair,ropes,paper and grit that can form a gigantic mat which plugs valves and pumps,according to OCSD Senior Mechanic,Gilbert Barela. Annually,if necessary,the digesters are pumped do... Sce More 32 Orange County Sanitation District Published by Amy Stretten - March 10 at 11:30are Great news! During its recent debt issuance,OCSD's `AAA' Credit Rating was reaffirmed by both Fitch Ratings and Standard&Poor's.This rating allows OCSD to secure very attractive financing for infrastructure improvements, reducing costs and helping to keep fees low. "AAA"is the highest rating given to a company,which validates OCSD's exceptional creditworthiness and ability to meet its financial commitments. In addition to strong financial management,both rating agencies noted OCSD's well run operations and capital planning. Fitch Rates Orange County Sanitation District, CA's Revs 'AAA': Outlook Stable I Business Wire Fitch Ratings has assigned an'AAA'rating to the following Orange County Sanitation District, California(OCSD)debt:-- Approximately$145.1 million BGSINESSWIRE.COM Orange County Sanitation District Published by Amy Stretten - Marsh 10 at I I ooam Thank you for the opportunity to speak about our Capital Improvement Program,international Right of Wav Association. Orange County Sanitation Distrito Published by Amy Stretten March 9 at 4:00pm Interested in learning more about the work that we do?Come take a tour.You711 be glad that you did! Orange County Sanitation District : Tours OCSD is committed to providing a valuable educational experience that focuses on learning the importance of wastewater treatment in protecting the public health and the environment.To encourage teaming,the District offers a one and a half hour... OCSD.COM Orange County Sanitation District Published by Amy Stretten March 9 at Iz�44pm The Orange County Sanitation District was recently featured inn episode of"Orange Slices." If you'd like to know more about how we treat wastewater and protect public health and the environment,take a look! 33 0 Orange Slices Episode 12 Featuring the C-Span Bus with FVHS,Soft Rooms with the Zonta Club,and the OCSD's Wastewater Treatment Plant YOUTUBECOM Orange County Sanitation District Published by Kelly Newell March 9 at 9:OOam It's Wednesday,which means it's time for OCSD's Wastewater Word of the Week! This week's word is:Capital Improvement Program OCSD's Capital Improvement Program(CIP)is a plan,which identifies capital projects necessary to ensure OCSD's $6.2 billion in assets continue to be protected and preserved.OCSD evaluates the condition,capacity and lifespan of our infrastructure to properly determine the time frame for replacement and/or rehabilitation.Projects are created from t... See More Orange County Sanitation District Published by Amy Stretten March S at i i s 19a�, Here's a creative way to get out the#What2Flush message! Steve Anderson with Clean Water Services(of Hillsboro,Oregon)wrote the song"Don't Flush the Baby(Wipes!)" to convey the importance of not flushing baby wipes,cleaning pads and paper towels. Click to listen. Don't Flush the Baby(Wipes!) 34 NEWS.WEF.ORG Orange County Sanitation District Published by Amy Stretten - March 4 at 9:00am Every Friday,we're sharing photos of OCSD employees hard at work and we're calling it#OCSDatWork. There are several processes in wastewater treatment.The transport conveyor is part of preliminary treatment.It takes the grit and inorganics from the grit classifier and mg compactor and moves them to a track bay for loading and disposal.Within this conveyor is a screw auger which transports the inorganics from one building to another as it rotates. Here,Cesar Corral ... See More 10 Orange County Sanitation District Published by Amy Stretten March 3 at 8 35am OCSD treats 200 million gallons of wastewater each day.That's enough water to fill Anaheim Stadium how many times? If you think you know the answer,please share it in the comments below! Orange County Sanitation District Published by Amy Streuen - March 2 at 12:00pm ICYMI:The Groundwater Replenishment System was featured in aBuzzFeed video that has had nearly 4 MILLION views.Check it out!#GWRS 35 i;i People Drink Sewage Water For The First Time Rather drink sewage water than LA tap water any day. Learn more at htto:11wwwomsystem.com Check out more awesome Bu=FeedBlue videos!htto:11bit.lv/Y... YOUTUBE.COM Orange County Sanitation District Published by Amy Stretten - Maroh 2 et 9:ooam It's Wastewater Word of the Week Wednesday! This week,we have a speaciat 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 OCSewm will win a free OCSD What2Flush swag bag! ...See More Orange County Sanitation District via Water Environment Federation(WEF) Published by Kelly Newell March I at 1024am This is a great reminder that flushable wipes shouldn't go down the toilet. Do you know#What2Flush? One in four flush wet wipes that shouldn't go down the toilet Enormous clusters of wet wipes are creating"fatbergs"that are clogging up sewer pipes across NSW, including a one-tonne cluster that blew out a pumping station... SMH.COM AIJ 36 Orange County Sanitation District Published by Kelly Newell - March t at ssoam Looking to advance your career?Come and work with us! Checkout our latestjob vacancies:htto://www.ocsewers.com/about-ocsd/iobs/iob-oomings#career#government#jobs Orange County Sanitation District : Job Openings ©2016 Orange County Sanitation District.All Rights Reserved.Website Created by Vision Internet-The Government website experts. 37 Dear Editor The March 7 edition of the LA Times had a front page article about sewage plants failing to kill lethal superbugs discharged to the sewer from local hospitals. The article strongly implied that the discharge of treated wastewater from sewage treatment plants in Southern California constitutes a public health threat. As the operators of the major public wastewater treatment systems in Southern California,which serve over 12 million people and who are fully committed to protection of public health and the environment,we would like to respond to a few misconceptions in the article. First, the title of the article states that sewage treatment plants are failing to kill lethal superbugs discharged to sewers from hospitals. Superbugs, also known as CRE, are a type of Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria(ARB)that have been linked to difficult-to-treat infections in hospitals. While the title states that the treatment facilities fail to kill the superbugs, the article only cites unpublished EPA data that indicates that superbugs are present in raw sewage before treatment. The article indicates EPA did not analyze for CRE in treated wastewater effluent in Southern California. The implication that CRE may also be present in Southern California effluent is made by including a quote from Professor Pedro Alvarez, indicating"a growing number of studies show sewage treatment plants can't kill the superbugs". We are not familiar with exactly which studies are being cited but we are not aware of studies that show the presence of viable (living) CRE bacteria in effluent from treatment plants using treatment processes widely utilized in Southern California to produce tertiary or advanced treated recycled water for reuse. With regard to the effluents from the ocean discharging secondary treatment plants in Southern California, if viable CRE are indeed present,their concentration would be limited by the fact that wastewater from hospitals is an extremely small fraction of the total wastewater influent, only one-half per- cent of the total influent at the City of Los Angeles' Hyperion Plant, for example. The effluent from the ocean-discharging plants is discharged far off the coast, away from recreational activities, highly diluted by seawater,and,based on decades of extensive tracking and monitoring,does not flow back to beaches. Identification of ARB in treated wastewater is a very new field of study. The Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts have conducted research on the fate and transport of non-CRE ARB through the treatment processes of its water reclamation plants and demonstrated at least a 99.99%removal rate. Wastewater treatment plants test for indicator bacteria to monitor the effectiveness of treatment and ensure protection of public health. California's water quality standards were determined based on epidemiological studies conducted in Santa Monica Bay that correlated indicator bacteria levels with incidence of illness. If indicator bacteria levels are below applicable regulatory limits, the likelihood of any pathogenic bacteria or viruses,including ARB,being in the water at an infective level is essentially zero. Regular monitoring occurs at all Southern California wastewater facilities and we are not aware of any data suggesting that viable CRE are more resistant than indicator bacteria to removal by the treatment processes used by our agencies. DOCM36 67 Last,the article cites examples of surfers contracting illnesses after a rainstorm, implying this public health issue is somehow tied to superbugs discharged to the sewer with hospital wastewater. Stormwater systems and wastewater systems are completely separate in Southern California. The discharge of treated effluent to inland surface waters and the ocean does not pose a threat to recreation in wet or dry weather. Local public health officials routinely post rain advisories after a rain storm due to high levels of indicator bacteria. These closures are the result of discharge of stormwater(not wastewater). To summarize, there is no evidence to suggest discharge of treated effluent from any of our facilities poses a risk to public health as a result of bacterial infection. We will continue to monitor and lead development of sound science to ensure our facilities continue to protect public health. Enrique Zaldivar, Director, City of Los Angeles Bureau of Sanitation Grace Hyde, Chief Engineer& General Manager,Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts Jim Herberg, General Manager, Orange County Sanitation District DOC M 36 67 LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE M eling ale TO ad.of Dir. AGENDA REPORT em Number Item Number 3 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. SUMMARY Staff will provide an update on recent legislative affairs activities. BACKGROUND The Orange County Sanitation District's (Sanitation District)legislative affairs program includes advocating the Sanitation District's legislative interests, Sanitation District sponsored legislation, where appropriate, and seeking federal/state funding for projects. RELEVANT STANDARDS • Unified legislative advocacy and public outreach program • Build brand, trust, and support with policy makers and community leaders • Use all practical and effective means for recovering wastewater for reuse • Maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with neighboring agencies • Listen to and seriously consider community input on environmental concerns PROBLEM Without a strong advocacy program, elected officials may not be aware that the Sanitation District is more than a wastewater treatment plant—treating and sending water to the ocean. The Sanitation District is an environmentally engaged organization, which recycles more than 50 percent of the wastewater. 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 plants in Fountain Valley and Huntington Beach. Page 1 of 2 PROPOSED SOLUTION Work with Local, State and Federal officials to advocate the Sanitation District's legislative interests. Help to create legislation and apply for grants that would benefit the Sanitation District, the wastewater industry and the community as a whole. To assist in our relationship building activities, we will continue to reach out to our elected officials providing facility tours, one-one-one meetings and trips to D.C. and Sacramento. TIMING CONCERNS N/A RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION If we do not work with the Local, State and Federal elected officials legislation could be passed that negatively affects the Sanitation District and the wastewater industry as a whole. Additionally, this could affect our chances of receiving grant funding. PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS N/A CEQA N/A FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS N/A ATTACHMENT The following attachment(s)are included in hard copy and may also be viewed on-line at the OCSD website (www.ocsd.com) with the complete agenda package: • Federal Update-ENS Resources • State Update -Townsend Public Affairs • SB 885 Oppose Letter • SB 1213 Support Letter • Grant Matrix Page 2 of 2 R ESOV RCES MEMORANDUM TO: Rebecca Long FROM: Eric Sapirstein DATE: March 30, 2016 SUBJECT: Washington Update Over the past month,we continued to address the District's priorities related to water quality and innovative water supply policy. As Congress recessed for its Spring Break,a series of policy actions unfolded that promise to open up avenues for legislative progress later this spring and into the anticipated Lame Duck Session that will occur after the November elections. We now believe that a rewrite of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) is highly likely later this year. While this might not appear to be an area of priority for the District, WRDA is fast evolving into a vehicle that other matters might be attached to related to water quality. Drought legislation might move in the coming months as Senator Feinstein has renewed her calls for action in the Senate on her bill, S. 2533. On the budget front, support for the SRF program, consistent with the District's stated priorities, is unfolding. We enclose a copy of a recent congressional letter demonstrating the support. A second letter that seeks to support funding of water recycling is also enclosed that illustrates the ongoing support of federal assistance to support local agency needs. The following summarizes the status of issues of concern to the District. Drought Relief Policy Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alt) and Ranking Democrat Maria Cantwell (D-WA) continue to insist that drought relief is a priority that they will turn attention to later this year. In our conversations with Senate staff,it appears likely that the committee will consider Senator Feinstein's bill, S. 2533. House Republicans from California reportedly urged Murkowski to mark-up the bill to allow for a conference between the House-passed drought bill, H.R. 2898, and S. 2533. This is important because S. 2533 identifies the District as a priority agency for funding assistance under a new competitive grants program under the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. The ENS Resources,Inc. 110114-Street,N.W. Washington,D.C.20005 Phone 202.466.3755/Telefax 202.466.3787 schedule for any markup seems to be complicated by competing legislation. Murkowski and Cantwell have been seeking agreements on the stalled energy legislation pending in the Senate. Given the importance of this measure to the Chairwoman, it seems unlikely that the committee would move a drought bill to the Senate floor as long as the energy bill debate is pending. However, the committee might markup a western water resources bill that might include S. 2533's provisions during the latter part of Spring before Congress adjourns later this summer for the party conventions in July. If this happens, then the committee could delay sending the agreement to the Senate floor until later in the fall when the prospect of the congressional adjournment could force necessary compromises with the competing House measure. Within this scenario is a potential for several pending committee bills to be packaged into an omnibus measure that collectively could attract enough House and Senate votes on final passage. Whether this actually occurs is an open question. However, such a legislative strategy has been the process that evolved during past end of Congress sessions on vital legislation. As of this writing Senator Feinstein remains committed to seeking action most recently when she spoke with the San Francisco Chronicle's Editorial Board and demanded action to avoid further drought impacts. Her comments were similar to the statements she made to CASA and ACWA in February at the Washington Policy Forum. Alternative Energy At a recent House Committee on Science hearing into the fiscal year 2017 budget request for the U.S. Department of Energy, Secretary Moniz was asked about the Department's commitment to bioenergy projects that Congress directed it to support, including biosolids used as a feedstock. In response, Moniz stated for the record that the Department intended to issue a grants announcement in the next sixty days to comply with congressional mandates.When questioned on the level of support he intimated that the total budget would be around$20 million. This expected announcement should be of interest to the District given its ongoing review of technology to advance the recovery of energy from biosolids. Funding of Drought Projects and Water Infrastructure.Fiscal Year 2017 The Flint,Michigan drinking water crisis has energized congressional supporters of federal water infrastructure assistance. Because of the heightened concern with the Flint situation, Members on a bipartisan basis have publicly called for stepped up federal support for wastewater and drinking water infrastructure program needs. The District submitted letters of support for at least$2 billion in fiscal year 2017 SRF assistance to its congressional delegation. This request for support along with other local agencies', has spurred on congressional support, including from the District's Representative Lowenthal. This was seen in the congressional letter to the House Committee on Appropriations leaders. The ENS Resources,Inc. 110114-Street N.W. Washington,O.C.20005 Phone 202.466.3755/Telefax 202.466.3787 letter called upon the committee to fund the Clean Water SRF program at record $2 billion. On a related matter, we participated in a meeting with USEPA's senior water officials to discuss pending policy issues. During this discussion,we learned that the agency intends to release its recommendations to Congress on how to revise the SRF allocation formula. This formula dictates the amount of funding assistance each state receives annually to support local agencies'project funding needs. If the report is responsive to the congressional mandate to recommend approaches to address state needs, California should benefit from any rewrite. This is because the agency was directed to address the changing population and water quality needs,including sea level changes that have occurred since the last time the formula was revised in 1987. The timing of any release, according to USEPA staff,is not later than June. Alternative water supply infrastructure programs,and specifically drought relief projects, continue to enjoy strong support. As noted in our budget update last month, the Administration requested a major boost in USBR's budget for water supply projects, seeking$100 million for WaterSMART. In our discussions with Committee on Appropriations staff there appears to be agreement that such funding is important. Added to this recognition of need, Representative Grace Napolitano spearheaded a joint congressional letter. The called on the House Committee on Appropriations to go beyond the budget request and provide additional support for water recycling projects. The District's Representatives Loretta Sanchez and Alan Lowenthal signed on to the letter of support. Water Resources Development Act Reauthorization WRDA,in the Senate,appears to be on a pathway to becoming a legislative vehicle for Congress to address a host of water resources issues. For example, Committee on Environment and Public Works Ranking Member Barbara Boxer raised the possibility, during a committee hearing into WRDA reauthorization issues,that WRDA might be an opportunity to address both the traditional water infrastructure crisis as well as water recycling infrastructure needs. To this end, this may signal a desire to use WRDA to attach water recycling authorizations as well as provide the Corps of Engineers with a direct mandate to focus on water supply in addition to flood protection. It is unclear what Boxer might pursue,but her Water in the 21st Century Act(S. 176),remains pending and it is possible that she might attempt to incorporate provisions of this bill into a WRDA rewrite given her public comments. The impact of this kind of action on a drought relief bill is unclear. In addition to an interest in alternative water supply,the committee is preparing to convene a hearing on April 7 to examine affordability issues related to both wastewater and water infrastructure and compliance with USEPA public health and ecosystem mandates. This hearing may serve to establish a record and basis to develop a reauthorization of the SRF program as part of WRDA. This could ENS Resources,Inc. 110114-Street N.W. Washington,O.C.20005 Phone 202.466.3755/Telefax 202.466.3787 result in new authorizations to support financial needs of communities seeking to comply with increasingly costly regulations as well as general rehabilitation of existing infrastructure stock Regardless of the outcome of the hearing, it appears highly likely that both the House and Senate committees will finalize respective rewrites by early summer. ENS Resources,Inc. 110114-Street N.W. Washington,O.C.20005 Phone 202.466.3755/Telef cs 202.466.3787 TOWNSEND TPA To: Orange County Sanitation District From: Townsend Public Affairs, Inc. Date: March 28, 2016 Subject: Legislative and Public Affairs Agenda Report State Political Update The month of March was an abbreviated one for the Legislature, as they adjourned for Spring Recess from March 17 until March 28. Once back in Sacramento, the Legislature faces a quick turn-around to the first major deadline of the new session, the last day for policy committees to hear and report fiscal bills in their house of origin is April 22. Below is a list of important upcoming deadlines in the Legislature: • April 22 — Last day for policy committees to hear and report fiscal bills in their house of origin to fiscal committees • May 6—Last day for policy committees to hear and report non-fiscal bills in their house of origin to the Floor • May 27— Last day for fiscal committees to hear and report bills in their house of origin to the Floor • June 3—Last day for each house to pass bills introduced in that house On March 7, the California Assembly officially welcomed Assembly Member Anthony Rendon (D — Lakewood) as the next Assembly Speaker. During this ceremony, Assembly Member Toni Atkins addressed the Assembly for the final time as Speaker, congratulating the Assembly on their work during her tenure and on the selection of their next leader. Rendon shared that the State Legislature must continue to be thoughtful about how it helps and provides people with the programs they need to succeed. In order to continue this fight, Rendon will not carry any legislation this year but rather will focus on helping the Assembly to operate with efficiency and collegiality. Rendon concluded his speech with his primary tasks for this coming year: • Poverty: Rendon refers to poverty as the single biggest shadow over the State. Millions of children continue to live in poverty and Rendon wants to give them access to as many opportunities he can so they can succeed in California. • Oversight: Rendon plans to continue to demand that departments and units are held accountable. This will also apply to the State Legislature, as they must seek to be accountable to voters, taxpayers, and each other. Southern California Office-1401 Dove Street•Suite 330-Newport Beach,CA 92660•Phone(949)399-9050•Fax(949)476-8215 State Capitol Office•925 L Street-Suite 1404-Sacmmento,CA 95814-Phone(916)4474085-Fax(916)444-0383 Federal Office•600 Pennsylvania BE•Suite 207•Washington,DC 20003•Phone(202)546-8696•Fax(202)5464555 Northern California Office•300 Frank Ogawa Plaza-Suite 204-Oakland,CA 94612-Phone 1510)8369050-Fax(510)835-9030 • Participation: Rendon wants each and every person to have the ability to participate and engage in civic duties. He plans to focus on participation and engagement in democracy, and in order to do so, barriers to these opportunities must be removed. Since Speaker Rendon has officially assumed the leadership of the Assembly, he has already announced new committee chairmanships. These changes are significant, as many of the new committee chairs that Speaker Rendon appointed are members, like the Speaker, that are not termed out of the Legislature for eight or ten more years. These members could hold their committee chairmanship for the better part of a decade. Speaker Rendon will also have to play an active role in addressing California's severe drought conditions. Californians have had to deal with a lack of rain and snow in the state for the last several years. In a statement from the California Department of Natural Resources, as of March 1, 2016, statewide snowpack is only 83 percent of the March 1 average. Snowpack is the main source of drinking water in the State and is also used as a metric to measure drought conditions. Many experts predicted a "Godzilla El Nino" to hit California this past winter season, however so far it has not lived up to the hype despite the sharp increase of rain in Northern California in the month of March.Although California as a whole did see an increase in both rainfall and snowpack when compared to last year, the State is still far below its average levels of both. The next snow survey will take place on March 30 and will give State officials a better look at how the increase of rain and snow in March affected the State's water supply. Conservation Regulations: Long-Term Approach The State Water Resources Control Board has begun to discuss the possibility of enacting permanent regulations for water conservation. Although no formal proposal has been released, there is speculation that the Board will pursue long-term conservation measures, such as per capita level of water consumption as well as making permanent the water prohibitions addressed in the emergency regulations. Depending upon what the State Board proposes, it may be necessary for the Legislature to pass legislation granting the Board the specific regulatory authority. It is unclear whether this authorization, if it is necessary, would be amended into a legislative vehicle or if it would go through an expedited policy process, such as inclusion in a budget trailer bill. The Board could unveil a proposal as earlier as May, when they will consider modifications to the emergency conservation regulations. ACWA has expressed that they will be mobilizing member agencies to oppose any long term water restrictions. State Water Use: January 2016 For the fourth straight month, Californian's conserved the lowest percentage since the Governor's Executive Order in April. Total water saved in the month of January was 17.1 percent when compared with January 2013. The cumulative water savings from June 2015 — January 2016 when compared to the same months in 2013, is now 24.8 percent,or 96 percent of the Governor's goal. This is the first time the cumulative savings efforts of Californians has dipped below the Governor's 25 percent mandated mark. Residential water use declined for the sixth month in a row despite January 2016 being considerably hotterthan January 2013. On average,Californian's used 61 residential gallons per person per day in January 2016,a decrease from the 67 residential gallons per person per day used in December 2015. ® March 2016 Report 2 In January: • For June through January, the cumulative statewide reduction was 24.8 percent, compared to the same months in 2013. That equates to more than 1.1 million acre-feet of water saved, putting the state 96 percent of the way to meeting the 1.2 million acre-feet savings goal to be achieved by the end of February. • Due to the lower monthly savings, January saw the lowest level of water supplier compliance to date with 58 percent of suppliers meeting their conservation standards. Priority Lecislation AB 2022 (Gordon) -Advanced purified demonstration water— OCSD Co-Sponsor AB 2022 would allow the bottling of advanced purified demonstration drinking water for educational purposes to promote water recycling. This water cannot be sold and will be used as a means to further educate broad audiences about the cutting-edge technology that is being used to purify wastewater to near-distilled water quality in their community.AB 2022 has been referred to the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee and will be heard on March 29. AB 2076 (Garcia) - Water recycling:beer and wine— OCSD Watch AB 2076 would require the State Water Resources Control Board to adopt uniform water recycling criteria for the use of recycled water in the manufacture of beer and wine. This bill is a spot bill and its language is expected to be expanded. AB 2076 has been referred to the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee and will be heard on April 12. SB 163 (Hertzberg)— Wastewater Treatment: Recycled Water— OCSD Watch This bill, on or before January 1, 2026, would require a wastewater treatment facility discharging through an ocean outfall to achieve at least 50% reuse of the facility's actual annual flow. It also would require a wastewater treatment facility to achieve 100% reuse by January 1, 2036. TPA and OCSD are working with the author on various amendments to SB 163, while using OCSD as the gold standard for the State. Senator Hertzberg's office has revealed they intend to keep metrics such as percentage of actual annual flow and target dates in the bill, however the specifics have yet to be determined. SB 163 is a two-year bill. SB 661 (Hill)—Protection of Subsurface Installations- OCSD Watch SB 661 enhances the existing enforcement powers of specified state entities, revises liability provisions that apply to the pre-excavation notification and subsurface installation marking requirements for operators and excavators, and establishes the California Underground Facilities Safe Excavation Advisory Committee to enforce laws relating to the protection of underground ® March 2016 Report 3 infrastructure. SB 661 does not change current law regarding responsibility of sewer laterals. SB passed the Senate Floor and is now in the Assembly. SB 885 (Wolk) - Construction contracts:indemnity— OCSD Oppose SB 885 specifies,for construction contracts entered into on or after January 1,2017,that a design professional only has the duty to defend claims that arise out of or relate to, negligence, recklessness, or willful misconduct of the design professional. A design professional would not have a duty to defend claims against any other person or entity arising from a construction project, except that entity's reasonable defense costs arising out of the design professional's degree of fault. SB 885 eliminates the ability of a public agency to contract with design professionals for upfront legal defense costs against claims related to a project's design work. SB 885 has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. SB 1213 (Wieckowski)—Renewable energy:biosolids: matching grants— OCSD Support SB 1213 would require the State Energy Resources Conservation Commission to develop and implement the Biosolids to Clean Energy Grant Program to provide 50% matching funds to local wastewater agencies for biosolids to clean energy capital projects. The bill would continuously appropriate $20,000,000 annually from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the commission for purposes of the program. The bill would, for the 2016-17 fiscal year, appropriate an additional $12,000,000 from the fund to the Bay Area Biosolids to Energy Coalition for the design and construction of a regional biosolids to clean energy project located in the San Francisco Bay Area. TPA is engaged on this piece of legislation. SB 1213 has been referred to the Senate Energy, Utilities, and Communications Committee and will be heard on March 29. ® March 2016 Report 4 OCSD Bills of Interest AUTHORBILL SUMMARY ION OCSD POSITION 6THER� Proposed Legislation 2015-2016 AB 83 GaH0[D] Personal data.Current law requires a person or business that owns, Moved to Senate Inactive is. Watch ACC-OC-NYC licenses,or maintains personal information,as defined,about a LOCC-Watch California resident to implement and maintain reasonable security CASA-NYC procedures and practices appropriate to the nature of the information,to NACWA-NYC protect the personal information from unauthorized access,destruction, CSDA-Watch use,modification,or disclosure.This bill would expand the definition of "personal information"for purposes of these provisions to include any unique government-issued identification number,an individual's geophysical location, health insurance,or biometric information,or an individual's signature. AB 581 Gomez[D] Water Quality,Supply,and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014. Amended on January 41h. Watch ACC-OC-NYC The Water Quality,Supply,and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014 Passed Assembly Floor on LOCC-Watch provides that it is the intent of the people that,to the extent practicable,a January 25.Referred to CASA-NYC project supported by the funds made available by the act will include Senate Natural Resources and NACWA-NYC signage informing the public that the project received funds from the act. Water Committee CSDA-Watch This bill would require certain recipients of funding pursuant to the act to post signs acknowledging the source of funds in accordance with guidelines that the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency would be required to develop. AB 647 Eggman[DI Groundwater:Would declare that the storing of water underground Held in Senate Natural Watch ACC-OC-NYC constitutes a beneficial use of water if the diverted water is used while it Resources and Water LOCC-Watch is in underground storage for specified purposes.This bill would state the Committee CASA-NYC intent of the Legislature that this storage of water underground not injure NACWA-NYC any legal user of the water involved.This bill would provide that the CSDA-Watch period for the reversion of a water right does not include any period when the water is being used in the aquifer or storage area or is being held in storage for later application to beneficial use,as prescribed OCSD Bills of Interest AS 954 Mathis[R] Water and Wastewater Loan and Grant Program.Would require the Held in Senate Appropriations Watch ACC-OC-NYC State Water Resources Control Board to establish a program to provide Committee LOCC-Watch low-interest loans and grants to local agencies for low-interest loans and CASA-NYC grants to eligible applicants for specified purposes relating to drinking NACWA-NYC water and wastewater treatment.This bill would create the Water and CSDA-Support Wastewater Loan and Grant Fund and provide that the moneys in this fund are available,upon appropriation by the Legislature,to the board for expenditure for the program.This bill would transfer to the Water and Wastewater Loan and Grant Fund$10,000,000 from the General Fund. This bill contains other related provisions.AS 954 is intended to provide assistance to individual homeowners and renters to undertake actions necessary to provide safer,cleaner,and more reliable drinking water and wastewater treatment.This bill is similar to AS 1588. AS 1144 Rendon[D] Renewable Portfolio Standard Program.The Renewable Portfolio Held in Senate Appropriations Support ACC-OC-NYC Standard(RPS)Program would allow public agencies to finance energy Committee LOCC-Watch related infrastructure by selling renewable energy credits(REC) CASA-Support generated by methane gas.Some wastewater utilities,such as OCSD, NACWA-NYC put methane to use for energy generation within their own facility. CSDA-Watch However,smaller facilities without the supporting energy infrastructure, under this bill would be able to sell RECs for credits under RPS Category 1,which is the largest category with the most demand for credits. Currently,unbundled RECs are categorized in'bucket 3'by the Public Utilities Commission, regardless of their source. AS 1217 Daly[DI Orange County Fire Authority.Would,as of January 1,2017, require Held in Senate Governance Oppose ACC-OC-Oppose the Board of Directors of the Orange County Fire Authority,a joint and Finance Committee LOCC-Oppose powers agency,to consist of 13 members,each serving a term of 2 CASA-NYC years.The bill would create the Orange County Fire Authority City NACWA-NYC Selection Committee to select 11 of those board members from cities CSDA-Watch that contract with the authority for fire protection services,as specified. The bill would additionally require 2 of the members of the Board of Directors of the Orange County Fire Authority to be members of the board of supervisors of the County of Orange,as specified.This bill contains other related provisions. OCSD Bills of Interest AS 1463 Gatto[D] Onsite treated water. Would require the State Water Resources Control Held in Senate Environmental Watch ACC-OC-NYC Board, in consultation with the State Department of Public Health,the Quality Committee LOCC-Watch California Building Standards Commission,and stakeholders,to CASA-NYC establish water quality standards and distribution,monitoring,and NACWA-NYC reporting requirements for onsite water recycling systems prior to CSDA-Watch authorizing the use of onsite treated water in internal plumbing of residential and commercial buildings.This bill would require onsite treated water to be considered the same as recycled water that is produced on site. AB 1550 Gomez[D] Greenhouse gases: Investment plan: disadvantaged communities. Referred to Assembly Natural Watch ACC-OC-NYC Existing law requires the Department of Finance,in consultation with Resources Committee LOCC-Watch ARB,to develop a 3-year investment plan for the moneys deposited in CASA-NYC the GGRF. Existing law requires the investment plan to allocate a NACWA-NYC minimum of 25%of the available moneys in the GGRF to projects that CSDA-Watch provide benefits to disadvantaged communities(DACs)and a minimum of 10%to projects located in DACs.This bill would increase the percentage of moneys in the GGRF allocated to projects located within DACs from 10%to 25%.This bill would require a separate and additional AB 1555 Gomez[D] Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund Would state the intent of the Referred to Assembly Natural Watch ACC-OC-NYC Legislature to enact future legislation that would appropriate Resources Committee LOCC-Watch $1,700,000,000 from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund for the 2015- CASA-NYC 16 fiscal year that would be allocated to different entities in amounts to NACWA-NYC be determined in the future legislation for purposes including low carbon CSDA-Watch transportation and infrastructure,clean energy communities,and community climate improvements,welland and watershed restoration, and carbon sequestration. AS 1588 Mathis[R] Water and Wastewater Loan and Grant Program Would require the Amended on March 16. Re- Watch ACC-OC-NYC State Water Resources Control Board to establish a program to provide Referred to Assembly Water LOCC-Watch low-interest loans and grants to local agencies for low-interest loans and Parks and Wildlife Committee CASA-NYC grants to eligible applicants for specified purposes relating to drinking NACWA-NYC water and wastewater treatment.This bill would transfer to the Water CSDA-Watch and Wastewater Loan and Grant Fund$10,000,000 from the General Fund.This program will be focused on individual homeowners.3/16116 amendments were not substantial. AS 1589 Mathis[R] California Environmental Quality Act:exemption:Would,for the Amended on 3/14/16.Re- Watch ACC-OC-NYC duration of a state of emergency proclaimed by the Governor due to Referred to Assembly Natural LOCC-Watch drought,flood,or fire,exempt from the requirements of CEQA projects Resources Committee CASA-NYC that are undertaken,carried out,or approved by a public agency to NACWA-NYC mitigate the effects of,or conditions caused by,drought,Flood,or fire. CSDA-Watch This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. Amendments on 3/14116 removed specific project criteria. OCSD Bills of Interest AB 1590 Mathis[R] State Water Resources Control Board:Would require that an Referred to Assembly Water Watch ACC-OC-NYC additional 4 members be appointed to the State Water Resources Parks and Wildlife Committee LOCC-Watch Control Board by the Legislature.The bill would require that one member CASA-NYC each be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly,the Assembly NACWA-NYC Minority Leader,the President pro Tempore of the Senate,and the CSDA-Watch Senate Minority Leader.The bill would require that vacancies be immediately filled by the appointing power. AS 1647 Waldron [R] Environmental quality:water storage facilities The California Referred to Assembly Natural Watch ACC-OC-NYC Environmental Quality Act requires the lead agency to determine whether Resources Committee. LOCC-Watch a project may have a significant effect on the environment based on Hearing canceled at author's CASA-NYC substantial evidence in light of the whole record.The act exempts certain request. NACWA-NYC specified projects from its requirements.This bill would exempt a project CSDA-Watch to expand the storage capacity of an existing surface water storage facility,or to replace an existing surface water storage facility,that is owned and operated by a public entity if that public entity adopts, by resolution,findings and declarations that the project meets specified AB 1649 Salas[D] Proposition 1,Water Storage:Would state the intent of the Legislature Amended on 3/17/16.Re- Watch ACC-OC-NYC to enact legislation to ensure surface water storage is funded and built Referred to Assembly Water LOCC-Watch consistent with the goals of Proposition 1 and that the commission fulfills Parks and Wildlife Committee. CASA-NYC the original intent of the water storage project provisions of Proposition 1. NACWA-NYC The bill would make findings and declarations of the Legislature, CSDA-Watch including,but not limited to,that,of the water storage projects available, the Temperance Flat Dam and Sites Reservoir will meet statewide goals and provide those specified public benefits to the greatest extent. Amendments on 3117/16 require the California Water Commission to prioritize the funding of those local joint powers authorities surface storage projects and to move expediently to dispense project funds.This provision would become effective only upon approval by the voters at the next statewide election. AB 1661 McCarty[D] Local Government,Sexual Harassment Training: Existing law Amended on 3/17116.Re- Watch ACC-OC-Watch requires all local agency officials to receive training in ethics,at specified Referred to Assembly Local LOCC-Watch intervals,if the local agency provides any type of compensation,salary, Government Committee CASA-NYC or stipend to those officials.This bill would additionally require local NACWA-NYC agency officials,as defined,to receive sexual harassment training and CSDA-Watch education'd the local agency provides any type of compensation,salary, or stipend to those officials,and would allow a local agency to require employees to receive sexual harassment training or information. Amendments on 3/17/16 were not substantial. OCSD Bills of Interest AB 1707 Linder[R] Public records: response to request The California Public Records Act Referred to Assembly Watch ACC-OC-NYC requires state and local agencies to make public records available for Judiciary Committee.Hearing LOCC-Watch inspection, unless an exemption from disclosure applies.The act canceled at request of author. CASA-NYC requires a response to a written request for public records that includes a NACWA-NYC denial of the request, in whole or in part,to be in writing.This bill instead CSDA-Oppose would require that response to be in writing regardless of whether the request was in writing.The bill would require that written response additionally to include a list that contains the title or other identification of each record requested but withheld due to an exemption and the specific exemption that applies to that record. AB 1738 McCarty[D] Building Standards: Dark Graywater Would define"dark graywater"as Referred to Assembly Watch ACC-OC-NYC a specified wastewater that comes from kitchen sinks and dishwashers. Environmental Safety and LOCC-Watch This bill would require the Department of Housing and Community Toxic Materials Committee CASA-NYC Development,at the next triennial building standards mlemaking cycle, NACWA-NYC to adopt and submit for approval building standards for the construction, CSDA-Watch installation,and alteration of dark graywater systems for indoor and outdoor uses. AB 1749 Mathis[R] California Environmental Quality Act:exemption: recycled water Referred to Assembly Natural Watch ACC-OC-NYC pipelines.CEQA exempts from its requirements projects consisting of Resources Committee. LOCC-Watch the construction or expansion of recycled water pipeline and directly Hearing canceled at author's CASA-NYC related infrastructure within existing rights of way,and directly related request. NACWA-NYC groundwater replenishment,if the project does not affect wetlands or CSDA-Watch sensitive habitat,and where the construction impacts are fully mitigated, and undertaken for the purpose of mitigating drought conditions for which a state of emergency was proclaimed by the Governor on a certain date.CEQA provides that this exemption remains operative until the state of emergency has expired or until January 1,2017,whichever occurs first.This bill would extend that date to January 1,2022. AB 1755 Dodd[D] The Open and Transparent Water Data Act Would enact the Open and Referred to Assembly Water, Watch ACC-OC-NYC Transparent Water Data Act.The act would require the Department of Parks,and Wildlife Committee LOCC-Watch Water Resources to establish a public benefit corporation that would CASA-NYC create and manage(1)a statewide water information system to improve NACWA-NYC the ability of the state to meet the growing demand for water supply CSDA-Watch reliability and healthy ecosystems,that,among things,would integrate existing water data information from multiple databases and(2)an online water transfer information clearinghouse for water transfer information that would include a database of historic water transfers and transfers pending responsible agency approval and a public forum to exchange information on water market issues. OCSD Bills of Interest AB 1979 Bigelow[R] Urban water management plans. Previously made nonsubstantive Amended on 3/17/16.Be- Watch ACC-OC-NYC changes to the Urban Water Management Planning Act.Amendments Referred to Assembly Water LOCC-Watch taken on 3/17/16 state that a supplier that relies upon a wholesale Parks and Wildlife Committee. CASA-NYC agency for water is also required to provide the wholesale agency with NACWA-NYC water use projections from that agency for that source of water in 5-year CSDA-NYC increments to 20 years or as far as data is available.This bill would add 5 years to those planning periods by extending the periods from 20 to 25 years. AB 1989 Jonas[R] Water,energy,and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Amended on 3/14116.Be- Watch ACC-OC-NYC Previously,this bill would require the Department of Water Resources Referred to Assembly Water, LOCC-Watch and the SWRCB to conduct an annual survey of public and private water Parks,and Wildlife Committee CASA-Watch suppliers relating to water supply reliability in the event of a drought. NACWA-NYC Amendments taken on 3/14116 Would require the State Water CSDA-NYC Resources Control Board,in coordination with the State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission,the Public Utilities Commission,and the Department of Water Resources,to develop and implement a grant and low-interest loan program for water projects that result in the net reduction of water-related greenhouse gas emissions.The bill would continuously appropriate$200,000,000 annually from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund to the State Water Resources Control Board to develop and implement the grant and low- interest loan program. AS 2022 Gordon[D] Advanced purified demonstration water:OCSD sponsored Bottling Referred to Assembly Co-Sponsor ACC-OC-NYC Bill.This bill would allow the bottling of advanced purified water for Environmental Safety and LOCC-Watch educational purposes. It would also authorize the distribution of small Toxic Materials Committee CASA-Support amounts of this advanced purified water for free for educational NACWA-NYC purposes. Under current law,consumers must visit a water recycling CSDA-NYC facility in person in order to taste this clean, safe water. AB 2040 Melendez[RI Outdoor Water Efficiency Act of 2016:personal income tax credits: Refened to Committee on Watch ACC-OC-NYC outdoor water efficiency.The Personal Income Tax Law allows various Revenue and Taxation LOCC-Watch credits against the taxes imposed by that law.This bill,for taxable years CASA-NYC beginning on or after January 1,2017,and before January 1, 2022, NACWA-NYC would allow a credit equal to 25%of the amount paid or incurred by a CSDA-NYC qualified taxpayer for water-efficiency improvements,as defined,on qualified real property in this state,as specified. AB 2076 Garcia[D] Water recycling: beer and wine Current law requires the State Water Referred to Assembly Watch ACC-OC-NYC Resources Control Board to establish uniform statewide recycling criteria Environmental Safety and LOCC-Watch for each varying type of use of recycled water where the use involves the Toxic Materials Committee CASA-NYC protection of public health.This bill would require the board to adopt NACWA-NYC uniform water recycling criteria for the use of recycled water in the CSDA-NYC manufacture of beer and wine. OCSD Bills of Interest AB 2257 Maienschein[RI Local agency meetings:agenda: online posting.The Ralph M. Brown Referred to Assembly Local Watch ACC-OC-NYC Act requires the legislative body of a local agency to post,at least 72 Government Committee LOCC-Watch hours before the meeting,an agenda containing a brief general CASA-NYC description of each item of business to be transacted or discussed at a NACWA-NYC regular meeting, in a location that is freely accessible to members of the CSDA-NYC public and to provide a notice containing similar information with respect to a special meeting at least 24 hours prior to the special meeting.This bill would require an online posting of an agenda by a local agency to have a prominent direct link to the current agenda itself. AB 2304 Levine[D] California Water Market Exchange.Would establish the California Referred to Assembly Water, Watch ACC-OC-NYC Water Market Exchange,governed by a 5-member board,in the Natural Parks,and Wildlife Committee LOCC-Watch Resources Agency.This bill would require the market exchange,on or CASA-NYC before December 31,2017,to create a centralized water market platform NACWA-NYC on its Internet Web site that provides ready access to information about CSDA-NYC water available for transfer or exchange. AB 2389 Ridley-Thomas Special districts:district-based elections: reapportionment.Would Referred to Assembly Watch ACC-OC-NYC [DI authorize a governing body of a special district,as defined,to require, by Elections and Redistricting LOCC-Watch resolution,that the election of the members of its governing body be Committee and Assembly CASA-NYC elected using district-based elections without being required to submit Local Government Committee NACWA-NYC the resolution to the voters for approval. CSDA-Watch AB 2438 Waldron[R] California Environmental Quality Act:exemption: recycled water Referred to Assembly Natural Watch ACC-OC-NYC pipelines.Would,until January 1,2020,additionally exempt from CEQA Resources Committee LOCC-Watch a project for the construction and installation of a new pipeline or the CASA-NYC maintenance,repair, restoration,reconditioning, relocation,replacement, NACWA-NYC removal,or demolition of an existing pipeline,not exceeding 8 miles in CSDA-NYC length,for the distribution of recycled water within a public street, highway,or rightof-way and would require the lead agency to undertake specified activities,including the filing of a notice of exemption for the project with the Office of Planning and Research and the office of the county clerk of each county in which the project is located. AB 2470 Bigelow[R] Water quality:organization and membership of regional boards. Referred to Assembly Local Watch ACC-OC-NYC Current law requires the State Water Resources Control Board and the 9 Government Committee and LOCC-Watch California regional water quality control boards to prescribe waste Assembly Natural Resources CASA-NYC discharge requirements in accordance with the federal national pollutant Committee NACWA-NYC discharge elimination system permit program established by the federal CSDA-NYC Clean Water Act and the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (state act).The state act requires regional boards to consist of 7 members appointed by the Governor,6 of them on the basis of demonstrated interest or proven ability in the field of water quality and one as a public member not specifically associated with any enumerated qualification.This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to these provisions. OCSD Bills of Interest SB 122 Jackson[D] California Environmental Quality Act: record of proceedings.CEOA Held in Assembly Suspense Watch ACC-OC-NYC establishes a procedure for the preparation and certification of the record File LOCC-Watch of proceedings upon the fling of an action or proceeding challenging a CASA-NYC lead agency's action on the grounds of noncompliance with CEQA.This NACWA-NYC bill would require the lead agency,at the request of a project applicant CSDA-Watch and consent of the lead agency,to prepare a record of proceedings concurrently with the preparation of a negative declaration,mitigated negative declaration, EIR,or other environmental document for projects. This bill contains other related provisions. SB 163 Hertzberg(D) Wastewater treatment: recycled water. SB 163 was amended the last Held in Assembly Rules Watch ACC-OC-NYC week of the Legislative session to address wastewater treatment.The bill Committee LOCC-Watch would declare that the discharge of treated wastewater from ocean CASA-NYC outfalls,except in compliance with the bill's provisions, is a waste and NACWA-NYC unreasonable use of water in light of the cost-effective opportunities to CSDA-Watch recycle this water for further beneficial use.This bill,on or before January 1,2026,would require a wastewater treatment facility discharging through an ocean outfall to achieve at least 50%reuse of the facility's actual annual flow,as defined,for beneficial purposes. SB 471 Pavley[D] Water,energy,and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions: In Assembly Appropriations Watch ACC-OC-NYC planning:Would include reduction of greenhouse gas emissions Suspense File LOCC-Watch associated with water treatment among the investments that are eligible CASA-NYC for funding from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.The bill would NACWA-NYC also make legislative findings and declarations,and a statement of CSDA-Support in legislative intent,with regard to the nexus between water and energy and Concept water and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.This bill contains other related previsions. SB 551 Wolk(D) State water policy:water and energy efficiency:Would declare the None Watch ACC-OC-NYC policy of the state that water use and water treatment shall operate in a LOCC-Watch manner that is as energy efficient as is feasible and energy use and CASA-NYC generation shall operate in a manner that is as water efficient as is NACWA-NYC feasible.This bill would require all relevant state agencies to consider CSDA-Watch this state policy when revising,adopting,or establishing policies, regulations,and grant criteria when pertinent to these uses of water and energy. OCSD Bills of Interest SB 661 Hill[DI Protection of subsurface installations. Current law requires every At Assembly Desk Watch ACC-OC-NYC operator of a subsurface installation,except the Department of LOCC-Watch Transportation,to become a member of,participate in,and share in the CASA-NYC costs of,a regional notification center.Current law requires any person NACWA-NYC who plans to conduct any excavation to contact the appropriate regional CSDA-Watch notification center before commencing that excavation,as specified. Current law defines a subsurface installation as any underground pipeline,conduit,duct,wire,or other structure.This bill,the Dig Safe Act of 2016,would declare the need to clarify and revise these provisions. The bill would define and redefine various terms relating to a regional notification center.Gut and Amended on January 4,2016.SB 661 does not change current law regarding the responsibility of sewer laterals. SB 814 Hill[DI Drought:excessive water use:urban retail water suppliers: Would Amended on 3/17/16.Re- Watch ACC-OC-NYC declare that excessive water use,as defined by each urban retail water Referred to Senate Natural LOCC-Watch supplier,is a waste or unreasonable use of water.Amendments taken on Resources and Water CASA-NYC 3117/16 would require each urban retail water supplier to establish a Committee NACWA-NYC method to identify and restrict excessive water use.This bill would CSDA-NYC authorize as a method to identify and restrict excessive water use the establishment of a rate structure that includes block tiers,water budgets, penalties for prohibited uses,or rate surcharges over and above base rates for excessive water use by residential customers. SB 885 Wolk[DI Construction contracts: Indemnity.Would specify,for construction Referred to Senate Judiciary Oppose ACC-OC-NYC contracts entered into on or after January 1,2017,that a design Committee LOCC-Watch professional,as defined,only has the duty to defend claims that arise out CASA-NYC of,or pertain or relate to, negligence,recklessness,or willful misconduct NACWA-NYC of the design professional.Under the bill,a design professional would not CSDA-Oppose have a duty to defend claims against any other person or entity arising from a construction project,except that person or entity's reasonable defense costs arising out of the design professional's degree of fault,as specified. SB 949 Jackson[D] Emergency services:critical Infrastructure information Existing law, Referred to Senate Watch ACC-OC-NYC the California Public Records Act(CPRA),requires state and local Governmental Organization LOCC-Watch agencies to make their records available for public inspection,unless an and Senate Judiciary CASA-NYC exemption from disclosure applies.The act exempts from these Committees NACWA-NYC disclosure requirements critical infrastructure information that is CSDA-Watch voluntarily submitted to the DES.This bill would authorize the Governor to require owners and operators of critical infrastructure to submit critical infrastructure information,as those terms are defined,to the Office of Emergency Services,or any other designee,for the purposes of gathering,analyzing,communicating,or disclosing critical infrastructure information,as provided. OCSD Bills of Interest SB 1114 Allen[D] Stormwater resource planning: project funding. Would,by March 1, Referred to Senate Natural Watch ACC-OC-NYC 2017,require the State Water Resources Control Board to include as Resources and Water LOCC-Watch part of its guidance a list of potential funding sources available to a public Committee and Senate CASA-NYC agency to fund projects identified in a public agency's stomlwater Environmental Quality NACWA-NYC resource plan. Committee CSDA-NYC SB 1213 Wieckowski[D] Renewable energy: biosolids:matching grants.Would require the Refened to Senate Energy, Support ACC-OC-NYC State Energy Resources Conservation Commission to develop and Utilities,and Communications LOCC-Watch implement the Biosolids to Clean Energy Grant Program to provide 50% Committee CASA-NYC matching funds to local wastewater agencies for biosolids to clean NACWA-NYC energy capital projects.The bill would continuously appropriate CSDA-NYC $20,000,000 annually from the fund to the commission for purposes of the program.The bill would,for the 2016-17 fiscal year,appropriate an additional$12,000,000 from the fund to the Bay Area Biosolids to Energy Coalition for the design and construction of a regional biosolids to clean energy project located in the San Francisco Bay Area. SB 1318 Welk[D] Local government:drinking water infrastructure or services: Referred to Senate Watch ACC-OC-Watch wastewater infrastructure or services. Would prohibit a local agency Governance and Finance LOCC-Watch formation commission from authorizing a city or a district to extend Committee CASA-Oppose drinking water infrastructure or services or wastewater infrastructure or NACWA-NYC services until it has extended those services to all disadvantaged CSDA-Oppose communities within or adjacent to its sphere of influence,as specified,or has entered into an agreement to extend those services to those disadvantaged communities, unless specified conditions are met.This bill contains other related provisions and other existing laws. SB 1374 Lana[D] Lower Los Angeles River.Would declare the intent of the Legislature Referred to Senate Rules Watch ACC-OC-NYC to enact legislation that would preserve open space, promote Committee LOCC-Watch recreational opportunities,and create watershed improvements along the CASA-NYC Lower Los Angeles River. NACWA-NYC CSDA-NYC 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 Orange County Sanitation District 10844 Ellis Avenue,Fountain Valley,CA 92708 Anaheim 714.962.2411 • www.ovseveri Brea March 23,2016 Buena Park The Honorable Hannah-Beth Jackson Chair,Senate Judiciary Committee Cypress State Capitol Fountain Valley Sacramento,CA 95814 Fullerton RE:SB 885(Wolk)—Oppose As Introduced Garden Grove Huntington Beach Dear Senator Wolk: Irvine On behalf of the Orange County Sanitation District, I regret to inform you of our opposition La Habra to SB 885 related to restraints on contractual negotiations. La Palma SB 885 eliminates the ability of a public agency to contract with engineers and architects, Los Alamitos known as design professionals, for upfront legal defense costs against claims related to a Newport Beach project's design work. When contracting with a design professional, public agencies often place a clause in the agreement requiring the design professional to legally defend the public Orange agency if a claim or lawsuit directly related to the design services work is filed against the Placentia agency. This current practice fosters an environment of collaboration between the public agency and the design professional who both have the same incentive to resolve the lawsuit or claim. I Beach As a wastewater agency that serves 2.5 million people in central and northwest Orange he us 0 County, this bill unnecessarily burdens our operations with additional litigation costs and T tin jeopardizes the relationships that the Sanitation District builds with design professionals.This vilia Park bill instead imposes a "one size fits all" constraint on contractual negotiations by prohibiting a public agency from requiring the design professional to defend a claim directly connected County of Orange to the work of the design professional. Requiring the public agency to defend the actions of Costa Mass the design professional creates a "reimbursement only' process that results in the public Sanitary District agency defending the actions of the design professional and shouldering upfront all of the •wayCity associated costs. Sanitary. Irvine Ranch OCSD strives to maximize operational efficiency and maintain relationships with design Water District professionals.This bill would force the Sanitation District itself to engage in any legal claims against a projects design work. Having design professionals legally defend the public agency Yalta. r in regards to their own work is beneficial to both parties, and should not be changed. For these reasons, we must respectfully oppose SB 885. Please contact me if you have any questions our organization or our position. Sin Job ielsen Chairman of the Board of Directors Orange County Sanitation District To protect public health and the environment by providing effective wastewater collection,treatment,and recycling. Orange County Sanitation District 10944 Ellis Avenue,Fountain Valley;CA 92708 714.962.2411 • www.ocsewers.wm Brea Buena Park Cypress March 28, 2016 fountain Valley rullerlon Honorable Bob Wieckowski Garden Grove Senator, CA 10 Capitol Building, Room 3086 Huntington Beach Sacramento, CA 95814 Irvine La Habra Re: Orange County Sanitation District Support for SB 1213 Is,Palana Dear Senator Wieckowski, LosAlamitos Newipart Beach On behalf of the Orange County Sanitation District(OCSD) I would like to express our support for SB 1213, which would create an ongoing grant program at the California Orange Energy Commission to fund projects converting biosolids to energy throughout the Ptacentia state. BeachSanta Ana Seal SB 1213 helps address a financial challenge caused by the fact that cutting-edge technologies to convert biosolids to energy are more expensive in the short term than Stanton land application, potentially resulting in double or triple the current costs for our Tustin ratepayers. SB 1213 continuously appropriates $20 million from the Greenhouse Gas Villa Park Reduction Fund (GGRF)through a 50 percent cost sharing partnership for projects to convert biosolids to clean energy through the State. Thus, SB 1213 will allow local County of Orange agencies, like the Orange County Sanitation District, to further the State's goals to Costa Mesa reduce greenhouse gas emissions, reduce vehicle miles traveled, and develop Sanitary renewable energy. MidwayCity Sanitary District Additionally, this bill appropriates $12 million on a one time basis from the GGRF to Irvine the Bay Area Biosolids to Energy Coalition to fund regional projects that convert Watistrict biosolids to clean energy in the San Francisco Bay Area.OCSD has a pilot project that Yorb"District uses high-temperature and pressure to convert primary and secondary sludge into water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen gas, minerals, and electricity, which will be used to help run the plant. This process has up to a 90 percent solids-to-energy efficiency and can produce up to 80 times more energy than other conventional technologies. We are looking forward to working with your office to include dedicated funding for our biosolid energy project in your bill. SB 1213 recognizes, and OCSD agrees, that using money from the GGRF to convert biosolids to clean energy is a worthy public policy goal that should be expanded and replicated at wastewater agencies throughout the State. To protect public health and the environment by providing effective wastewater collection,treatment,and recycling. y SRNIIq J/ For these reasons, OCSD is happy to be able to express its support for SB 1213. Please feel to contact me and use OCSD as a resource if you have any questions about OCSD or projects relating to energy production from biosolids. Sincerely, John Nielsen Chair, Orange County Sanitation District CC: Chair Ben Hueso OCSD's Grant Funding Tracker Name of Grant Synopsis of Grant Amount of Grant Applyinil Project/Program Reason Deadline The P2 grant program supports grants and/or cooperative agree ears that provide pollution We do not fit within the guidelines of the grant it EPA Pollution Prevention(P21 prevention technical assistance services or taaining to In fiscal year 2015,EPA anticipates approdimately$397 states that the grant will be given to-state businesses.Funded protons use P2 techniques than million will be available under this program. governments,colleges and universRies becogniaol reduce and/Or eliminate pollution from sit water as lrstrumenalRlesofthesiMel,federally- sual land No OIP recognized tribes and Boston consprtiY. 5/14/2015 The program promotes projects that'encouram the development and use of safer alternatives to The SRA funds projects that address Ill climate change hazardous chemtaill and references EPA and mitigatioNprnention of greenhouse gas emission by DRC priority lists.The program guidelines EPA Source Reduction Assistance SRA providing technical auigance to businesses;(2)food EPA has a total of 51.2 million to award in SRA grans describe hazardous nmou is as chemical nufachunnp and(3)State or community approaches nationwide in For 2015. ingretllents,paints,solvents and pertiaides on land 0 hazardous materials source rei and hazardous a.The guidelines give examples like assisting business to Improve material practices that reduce the risk of release of No GP haurdous chemicals during a storm. 5/28/20r5 Integrated Regional Water Management Funding: $54 billion in general Obligation bonds fail water and Broaded to encourage Integrated regional strategies flood control projMs.$EO million for the Santa Ana g for management Of wM¢r resOurtes antl W plOvitle Region. funding for implementation projech that support Applietl for the gran.UWPA has recommended Have been notifiM of integrated water management. yea Pomona Inlude:2 72 DOD tO receive$1 million. Nertphs—r WR award The Draught Response Program is funded under the U.S.Totalprogram Nntling$3million.Awarc ceiling Department ofthe Interiors(interior)WaterSMART $30D,000.co (Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow)Program,The Drought Response Program supports a Measure approach to drought by Providing assistance to water users ta(1)develop and update omprehenshre drought cmar,rs,plans Drought The schedule for the project shows final Contingency Plans.(2)implement projects that will build complashad in October 2D20. USER requires that Water Smart Drought Resiliency long-term resiliency to drought(Drought Resilienp the project be completed by September 30,2017 Protests),and implement emergency response (FOAP45j.Our project deals net fit within this anon.This Funding Opportunity Announcement IFOA) timeline. supports Drought Redllenry Projects thatwillbuildlong - term resiliency to drought and reduce the need for emergency response anions. No. Projects Indian,2-72 6/25/2015 The objective of this FDA Is to Imlte States,Indian tribes,imgation districts,water districts,and Other organizations with water or power delivery authortym leverage their money and resources by then-sharing Drought contingency Planning with Retlamadon to build reliance to drought in advance Of a crisis.Applicants under this FDA may request funding to develop a new Researching to see if this gran would Fri. drought plan or to update an di drought plan. Applicants may also modern technical assistance from Failmation for the tlevelopment of elements Of the Drought contingency Plan prof Applicants must provide a 50 percent non Federal tort-share for the proposed Project. B osin of Reclamation all FDA D0005 $2,00O,00c) In progress FIND 4/11/2016 State Water Resources Control Board provides funding Authorlu$7 12 billion In general obligation bands for F of fal the planning,design and construction ofwater state water supply infrastructure projects.$RS million recycling projects that offset or augment state fresh fair water recycling and advanced water treatment We are looking at evolving for the conatmation watersupplies. txhnoing,pmjetts. yes SP-IA latent SIMr$2016 The CPUCS Self Generation Incentive Program(SGIP) Up to$1.4 million proides incentNes As support existing,new,and merging dlarlbuted energy resources.The SLIP provides rebates for qualifying,disMbuted energy systems installed on the summer's side of the utility mrtec Qualifying technologies include wind turbines, We are looking to age I the project firs within the Self-Generation Incentive Program waste beat to .or technologlet pressure reduction specs mind grant turbines,internal combustion engines,m andsurbines, gas turbine;fuel cells,and advanced energy storage systems. In progress Aqua<D[og Ongoing Voided'Monday,March 29,2016 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 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 FSSD Facilities Support Services Department 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 GOBS 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 SAW PA 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 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 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 know 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. 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. coli are the most common bacteria in wastewater. Collections system — In wastewater, it is the system of typically underground pipes that receive and convey sanitary wastewater or storm water. Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations 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!f) - the dilution at which the majority of the people detect the odor becomes the D(f 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. NOMA- 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 (MGD) 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.