HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-13-2021 Legislative Committee Meeting Complete Agenda Packet
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
AND ATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC MEETINGS
On March 4, 2020, Governor Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency in California as
a result of the threat of COVID-19. On March 12, 2020 and March 18, 2020, Governor
Newsom issued Executive Order N-25-20 and Executive Order N-29-20, which
temporarily suspend portions of the Brown Act which addresses the conduct of public
meetings. On June 11, 2021, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-08-21, which
continues the suspension of portions of the Brown Act which addresses the conduct of
public meetings through September 30, 2021.
The General Manager and the Chairman of the Board of Directors have determined that
due to the size of the Orange County Sanitation District’s Board of Directors (25), and the
health and safety of the members, the Board of Directors will be participating in meetings
of the Board telephonically and via Internet accessibility.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Your participation is always welcome. The Legislative and Public Affairs Committee
meeting will be available to the public online at:
https://ocsd.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
You may submit your comments and questions in writing for the Committee’s
consideration in advance of the meeting by using the eComment feature available via
the webpage above or sending them to OCSanClerk@ocsan.gov with the subject line
“PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM # (insert the item number relevant to your comment)” or
“PUBLIC COMMENT NON-AGENDA ITEM”. Submit your written comments by
9:00 a.m. on Monday, September 13, 2021.
You may also submit comments and questions for the Committee’s consideration during
the meeting by using the eComment feature that will be available via the webpage above
for the duration of the meeting.
All public comments will be provided to the Committee and may be read into the record
or compiled as part of the record.
Thank you.
0 ~SAN
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
September 3, 2021
NOTICE OF MEETING
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
Monday, September 13, 2021 – 4:30 P.M.
ACCESSIBILITY FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC
Due to the spread of COVID-19, the Orange County Sanitation District will
be holding all upcoming Board and Committee meetings by
teleconferencing and Internet accessibility. This meeting will be available
to the public online at:
https://ocsd.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx
A regular meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee of the
Orange County Sanitation District will be held in the manner indicated herein
on Monday, September 13, 2021 at 4:30 p.m.
0 ~SAN 10844 Ellis Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
714.962.2411
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT www.ocsan.gov
Our Mission: To protect public health and the environment by
providing effective wastewater collection, treatment, and recycling.
Serving:
Anaheim
Brea
Buena Park
Cypress
Fountain Valley
Fullerton
Garden Grove
Huntington Beach
Irvine
La Habra
La Palma
Los Alamitos
Newport Beach
Orange
Placentia
Santa Ana
Seal Beach
Stanton
Tustin
Villa Park
County of Orange
Costa Mesa
Sanitary District
Midway City
Sanitary District
Irvine Ranch
Water District
Yorba Linda
Water District
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
MEETING DATES
BOARD MEETING DATES
Monday 09/13/21 4:30 p.m. 09/29/21
OCTOBER – DARK 10/27/21
Monday 11/08/21 4:30 p.m. 11/17/21 *
DECEMBER – DARK 12/15/21 *
JANUARY – DARK 01/26/22
Monday 02/07/22 4:30 p.m. 02/23/22
Monday 03/14/22 4:30 p.m. 03/23/22
Monday 04/11/22 4:00 p.m. 04/27/22
Monday 05/09/22 4:30 p.m. 05/25/22
JUNE – DARK 06/22/22
Monday 07/11/22 4:00 p.m. 07/27/22
AUGUST – DARK 08/24/22
* Meeting will be held on the third Wednesday of the month
ROLL CALL
LEGISLATIVE & PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Meeting Date: September 13, 2021 Time: 4:30 p.m.
Adjourn:
COMMITTEE MEMBERS (7)
Jesus J. Silva, Chair
Marshall Goodman, Vice-Chair
Kim Carr, Member-At-Large
Anthony Kuo, Member-At-Large
Andrew Nguyen, Member-At-Large
John Withers, Board Chair
Chad Wanke, Board Vice-Chair
OTHERS
Brad Hogin, General Counsel
STAFF
Jim Herberg, General Manager
Rob Thompson, Assistant General Manager
Lorenzo Tyner, Assistant General Manager
Celia Chandler, Director of Human Resources
Kathy Millea, Director of Engineering
Lan Wiborg, Director of Environmental Services
Kelly Lore, Clerk of the Board
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT Effective 7/13/2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Complete Roster
AGENCY/CITIES
ACTIVE DIRECTOR
ALTERNATE
DIRECTOR
Anaheim
Stephen Faessel
Jose Diaz
Brea Glenn Parker Steven Vargas
Buena Park Art Brown Connor Traut Cypress Paulo Morales Anne Hertz
Fountain Valley Patrick Harper Glenn Grandis
Fullerton Jesus J. Silva Nick Dunlap
Garden Grove Steve Jones John O’Neill Huntington Beach Kim Carr Dan Kalmick
Irvine Anthony Kuo
Farrah N. Khan
La Habra Rose Espinoza Jose Medrano
La Palma Marshall Goodman Nitesh Patel
Los Alamitos Mark A. Chirco Ron Bates Newport Beach Brad Avery Joy Brenner
Orange Kim Nichols Chip Monaco
Placentia Chad Wanke Ward Smith
Santa Ana Johnathan Ryan Hernandez Nelida Mendoza Seal Beach Sandra Massa-Lavitt
Schelly Sustarsic
Stanton David Shawver Carol Warren Tustin Ryan Gallagher Austin Lumbard
Villa Park Chad Zimmerman Robert Collacott
Sanitary/Water Districts
Costa Mesa Sanitary District
Bob Ooten
Art Perry Midway City Sanitary District Andrew Nguyen
Sergio Contreras Irvine Ranch Water District John Withers
Douglas Reinhart
Yorba Linda Water District Brooke Jones Phil Hawkins
County Areas
Board of Supervisors Doug Chaffee
Donald P. Wagner
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting Agenda
Monday, September 13, 2021 - 4:30 PM
Board Room
Administration Building
10844 Ellis Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
AGENDA POSTING: In accordance with the requirements of California Government Code Section 54954.2, this
agenda has been posted outside the main gate of the Sanitation District’s Administration Building located
at 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.
MEETING AUDIO: An audio recording of this meeting is available within 24 hours after adjournment of
the meeting. Please contact the Clerk of the Board's office at (714) 593-7433 to request the audio file.
NOTICE TO DIRECTORS: To place items on the agenda for a Committee or Board Meeting, the item must
be submitted in writing to the Clerk of the Board: Kelly A. Lore, MMC, (714) 593-7433 / klore@ocsan.gov at least
14 days before the meeting.
FOR ANY QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA, BOARD MEMBERS MAY CONTACT STAFF AT:
General Manager: Jim Herberg, jherberg@ocsan.gov / (714) 593-7300
Asst. General Manager: Lorenzo Tyner, ltyner@ocsan.gov / (714) 593-7550
Asst. General Manager: Rob Thompson, rthompson@ocsan.gov / (714) 593-7310
Director of Human Resources: Celia Chandler, cchandler@ocsan.gov / (714) 593-7202
Director of Engineering: Kathy Millea, kmillea@ocsan.gov / (714) 593-7365
Director of Environmental Services: Lan Wiborg, lwiborg@ocsan.gov / (714) 593-7450
OC ~SAN
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting Agenda Monday, September 13, 2021
CALL TO ORDER
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM:
Clerk of the Board
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Your participation is always welcome. The Legislative and Public Affairs Committee meeting will be available to
the public online at: https://ocsd.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
You may submit your comments and questions in writing for the Legislative and Public AffairsCommittee’s
consideration in advance of the meeting by using the eComment feature available via the webpage above or
sending them to OCSanClerk@ocsan.gov with the subject line “PUBLIC COMMENT ITEM # (insert the item
number relevant to your comment)” or “PUBLIC COMMENT NON-AGENDA ITEM”. Submit your written
comments by 9:00 a.m. on September 13, 2021.
You may also submit comments and questions for the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee’s consideration
during the meeting by using the eComment feature that will be available via the webpage above for the duration of
the meeting. All public comments will be provided to the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee and may be
read into the record or compiled as part of the record.
REPORTS:
The Committee Chairperson and the General Manager may present verbal reports on miscellaneous matters of
general interest to the Directors. These reports are for information only and require no action by the Directors.
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.
1.2021-1835APPROVAL OF MINUTES
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee
held July 12, 2021.
Originator:Kelly Lore
Agenda Report
07-12-2021 LaPA Committee Minutes
Attachments:
Page 1 of 3
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting Agenda Monday, September 13, 2021
INFORMATION ITEMS:
2.2021-1797INSIDE THE OUTDOORS YEAR END RECAP
RECOMMENDATION:
Information Only.
Originator:Jim Herberg
Agenda Report
OC San Year End Report 2020-2021
Attachments:
NON-CONSENT:
3.2021-1824STRATEGIC PLAN ORGANIZATIONAL ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH
POLICY
RECOMMENDATION:
Information Only.
Originator:Jim Herberg
Agenda Report
Strategic Plan_Organizational Advocacy and Outreach Policy
Paper_2021
Strategic Plan November 2019
Presentation - Strategic Plan_Outreach Policy Paper
Attachments:
4.2021-1827PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTHS OF JULY AND
AUGUST 2021
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Receive and file the Public Affairs Update for the months of July and August 2021.
Originator:Jim Herberg
Agenda Report
Outreach Report July and August
Presentation - PAO Update
Attachments:
5.2021-1798LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTHS OF
JULY/AUGUST 2021
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Receive and file the Legislative Affairs Update for the month of July and August 2021.
Page 2 of 3
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Regular Meeting Agenda Monday, September 13, 2021
Originator:Jim Herberg
Agenda Report
2021.09.13 Federal Update - ENS
Federal Legislative Matrix - ENS
2021.09.13 State Update - TPA
State Legislative Matrix - TPA
Grant Matrix 2021-2022
Attachments:
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
CLOSED SESSION:
None.
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF
ANY:
BOARD OF DIRECTORS INITIATED ITEMS FOR A FUTURE MEETING:
At this time Directors may request staff to place an item on a future agenda.
ADJOURNMENT:
Adjourn the meeting until the Regular Meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee
on November 8, 2021 at 4:30 p.m.
Page 3 of 3
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Administration Building
10844 Ellis Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2021-1835 Agenda Date:9/13/2021 Agenda Item No:1.
FROM:James D. Herberg, General Manager
Originator: Kelly A. Lore, Clerk of the Board
SUBJECT:
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Minutes of the Special Meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee held July 12,
2021.
BACKGROUND
In accordance with the Board of Directors Rules of Procedure, an accurate record of each meeting
will be provided to the Directors for subsequent approval at the following meeting.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Resolution No. OC SAN 21-04
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s) may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov) with the complete agenda
package:
·Minutes of the LaPA Committee meeting held July 12, 2021
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 9/1/2021Page 1 of 1
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OC6SAN
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
Orange County Sanitation District
Minutes for the
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Monday, July 12, 2021
3:00 PM
Board Room
Administration Building
10844 Ellis Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
CALL TO ORDER
A special meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs Committee of the Orange County
Sanitation District was called to order by Committee Chair Jesus J. Silva on Monday, July 12,
2021 at 3:01 p.m. in the Administration Building of the Orange County Sanitation District.
Chair Silva stated that the meeting was being held telephonically and via audio/video
teleconferencing in accordance with the Governor's Executive Order No. N-29-20, due to the
Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19). Director Anthony Kuo led the Flag Salute.
ROLL CALL AND DECLARATION OF QUORUM:
Roll call was taken and a quorum was declared present, as follows:
PRESENT:Jesus Silva, Marshall Goodman, Anthony Kuo, Andrew Nguyen,
Chad Wanke and John Withers
ABSENT:Kim Carr
STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Mortimer Caparas was present in the Board Room. General
Manager Jim Herberg, Assistant General Manager Lorenzo Tyner, Assistant General
Manager Rob Thompson, Director of Engineering Kathy Millea, Director of Environmental
Services Lan Wiborg, Director of Human Resources Celia Chandler, Clerk of the Board Kelly
Lore, Jennifer Cabral, Jackie Castro, Tanya Chong, Daisy Covarrubias, Tina Knapp, Rebecca
Long, Laura Maravilla, Joshua Martinez, Robert Michaels, Kelly Newell, Thomas Vu, and Ruth
Zintzun participated telephonically.
OTHERS PRESENT: Brad Hogin, General Counsel; Eric Sapirstein, ENS Resources; Eric
O’Donnell, Townsend Public Affairs (TPA); and Diana Moreno and Justin Glover,
Communication Lab; were in attendance telephonically.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
None.
REPORTS:
Chair Silva did not provide a report.
General Manager Jim Herberg did not provide a report.
Page 1 of 5
OC ~SAN
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Minutes July 12, 2021
CONSENT CALENDAR:
1.APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2021-1725
Originator: Kelly Lore
MOVED, SECONDED, AND DULY CARRIED TO:
Approve Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Legislative and Public Affairs
Committee held May 10, 2021.
AYES:Jesus Silva, Marshall Goodman, Anthony Kuo, Andrew Nguyen,
Chad Wanke and John Withers
NOES:None
ABSENT:Kim Carr
ABSTENTIONS:None
NON-CONSENT:
2.PUBLIC AFFAIRS STRATEGIC PLAN YEAR END REPORT 2021-1617
Originator: Jim Herberg
Administration Manager Jennifer Cabral provided a PowerPoint presentation regarding
a Year End Update to the PAO Strategic Plan and a look ahead to upcoming items for
the next fiscal year.
MOVED, SECONDED, AND DULY CARRIED TO: Recommend to the Board of
Directors to:
Receive and file the Public Affairs Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2020-21 and 2021-22
Year End Update.
AYES:Jesus Silva, Marshall Goodman, Anthony Kuo, Andrew Nguyen,
Chad Wanke and John Withers
NOES:None
ABSENT:Kim Carr
ABSTENTIONS:None
3.CONSTRUCTION OUTREACH COMMUNICATIONS AUDIT REPORT 2021-1618
Originator: Jim Herberg
Ms. Cabral provided information regarding the Construction Outreach Communications
Audit Report and introduced Diana Moreno from Communications Lab. Ms. Moreno
provided a PowerPoint presentation which included: Audit findings; stakeholder,
community members, and City partner input; areas of growth; and key
recommendations. Ms. Cabral responded to questions regarding community outreach
Page 2 of 5
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Minutes July 12, 2021
efforts to minority areas which are currently being translated based on the project and
area of work.
MOVED, SECONDED, AND DULY CARRIED TO: Recommend to the Board of
Directors to:
Receive and file the Construction Outreach Communications Review and Audit 2021.
AYES:Jesus Silva, Marshall Goodman, Anthony Kuo, Andrew Nguyen,
Chad Wanke and John Withers
NOES:None
ABSENT:Kim Carr
ABSTENTIONS:None
4.PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTHS OF MAY AND JUNE
2021
2021-1737
Originator: Jim Herberg
Principal Public Affairs Specialist Daisy Covarrubias provided a PowerPoint
presentation regarding current events, construction outreach, Inside the Outdoors,
newsletters, and awards received.
MOVED, SECONDED, AND DULY CARRIED TO: Recommend to the Board of
Directors to:
Receive and file the Public Affairs Update for the months of May and June 2021.
AYES:Jesus Silva, Marshall Goodman, Anthony Kuo, Andrew Nguyen,
Chad Wanke and John Withers
NOES:None
ABSENT:Kim Carr
ABSTENTIONS:None
5.LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTHS OF JUNE/JULY
2021
2021-1734
Originator: Jim Herberg
Senior Public Affairs Specialist Rebecca Long introduced Eric Sapirstein (ENS) who
provided the Federal legislative update including a PowerPoint presentation on various
House and Senate bills regarding Infrastructure, Appropriations, PFAS/PFOA
Committee approvals, nominations update for USEPA, US Army Corps of Engineers,
and US Bureau of Reclamation.
Eric O'Donnell from Townsend Public Affairs provided the State legislative update
including a PowerPoint presentation regarding: Legislative Calendar, State budget
update including total budget expenditures and additional budget trailer bills, recall
election on September 14, eviction moratorium, Cal/OSHA guidelines for workplace
Page 3 of 5
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Minutes July 12, 2021
regulations, and specific legislation: AB 339 (Lee) Meetings and AB 818 (Bloom)
Flushable Wipes.
MOVED, SECONDED, AND DULY CARRIED TO: Recommend to the Board of
Directors to:
Receive and file the Legislative Affairs Update for the months of June/July 2021.
AYES:Jesus Silva, Marshall Goodman, Anthony Kuo, Andrew Nguyen,
Chad Wanke and John Withers
NOES:None
ABSENT:Kim Carr
ABSTENTIONS:None
INFORMATION ITEMS:
6.STRATEGIC PLAN ORGANIZATIONAL ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH
POLICY
2021-1726
Originator: Jim Herberg
Ms. Cabral provided a brief introduction to the item and reviewed the Organizational
Advocacy and Outreach Policy paper and the five proposed Initiatives to meet the
policy statement goals. The Committee requested a presentation for the September
LaPA Committee meeting.
ITEM RECEIVED AS AN:
Information Only.
DEPARTMENT HEAD REPORTS:
None.
CLOSED SESSION:
None.
OTHER BUSINESS AND COMMUNICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTAL AGENDA ITEMS, IF
ANY:
None.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS INITIATED ITEMS FOR A FUTURE MEETING:
None.
Page 4 of 5
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC
AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Minutes July 12, 2021
ADJOURNMENT:
Chair Silva declared the meeting adjourned at 4:28 p.m. to the next Legislative and Public
Affairs Committee meeting to be held on Monday, September 13, 2021 at 4:30 p.m.
Submitted by:
__________________
Kelly A. Lore, MMC
Clerk of the Board
Page 5 of 5
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Administration Building
10844 Ellis Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2021-1797 Agenda Date:9/13/2021 Agenda Item No:2.
FROM:James D. Herberg, General Manager
SUBJECT:
INSIDE THE OUTDOORS YEAR END RECAP
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Information Only.
BACKGROUND
The Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) entered into a contract with the Orange County
Department of Education (OCDE) in March 2015 to enhance our environmental education outreach
to students in elementary and high school.
The program included:
“Drip Drop Traveling Scientist”, a water education session for fifth grade students that includes OC
San’s “What 2 Flush” program.
“Scientists of the Sewer”, a week-long wastewater treatment laboratory program for high school
students. It is a hands-on application of science, teaching wastewater treatment principles. The
program meets the California Science Content Standards and promotes career development.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Maintain influential legislative advocacy and a public outreach program
·Make it easy for people to understand OC San’s roles and value to the community
PROBLEM
Without this type of program, children may not have the opportunity to explore wastewater treatment
and expand their knowledge, understanding, and stewardship of the environment.
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 9/3/2021Page 1 of 3
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OC6SAN
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
File #:2021-1797 Agenda Date:9/13/2021 Agenda Item No:2.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
By providing this educational program,students learn about the watershed and develop ways to
conserve water in their neighborhoods.Additionally,students learn about the roles scientists play in
wastewater treatment through virtual interactive lab activities and virtual tours of Plant No.1.
TIMING CONCERNS
N/A
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
If we do not educate the community,local agencies,and area businesses about OC San,we may not
have the support necessary to deliver our mission.
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
February 2015 -Approved a Cooperative Agreement with Orange County Department of Education
for Educational Services with Inside the Outdoors for a one-year term,with four one-year renewal
options.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Throughout the pandemic,Inside the Outdoors has continued to reach out to middle and high school
students throughout Orange County.With the Governor’s Stay at Home Order and social distancing
mandates,Inside the Outdoors switched their methodology from in-person to virtual.During the 2020
-2021 school year,a total of 1,171 students were reached:850 elementary students for the “Drip
Drop Traveling Scientist”program and 321 middle/high school students for the “Scientists of the
Sewer”program.Most of the participating schools are in Anaheim,Buena Park,Garden Grove,
Newport-Mesa, Orange, Santa Ana, and Westminster.
In July 2021,Inside the Outdoors was requested to completely revamp the educational program to
focus solely on Wastewater Treatment and OC San for the 2021-2022 school year.The program will
continue to target Orange County students in elementary,middle,and high school.The program is
being developed to meet state standards and will serve as a mechanism for OC San to provide
greater insight into the program and eventually manage with in-house staff and volunteers (retirees).
The current agreement is for one-year and will be reviewed at the end of the year.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
The contract complied with authority levels of OC San’s Purchasing Ordinance and was funded
under the Professional and Contractual Services line items for the General Manager’s Office (Budget
Fiscal Years 2020-21 and 2021-22,Section 6,Pages 12).The available funding was sufficient for
this program.
Date of Approval Contract Amount Contingency
06/24/2021 $27,508 N/A
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File #:2021-1797 Agenda Date:9/13/2021 Agenda Item No:2.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s)may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov)with the complete agenda
package:
·Inside the Outdoors Annual Recap Report
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 9/3/2021Page 3 of 3
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Orange CountySanitation DistrictYear End Report
Orange County Department of Education
2 0 2 0 -2 0 2 1
Inside the Outdoors is Administered by the
Inside the Outdoors | Year End Report 2020-2021
Table of Contents
Table of
Contents
02
Introduction
03
Elementary
School
Programs
04
Middle andHigh
School
Programs
05
Student
Numbers
08
Inside the Outdoors | Year End Report 2020-2021
Introduction
For the 2020-2021 school year, Inside the Outdoors provided
Virtual Field Trips, Virtual Traveling Scientist programs, digital
classroom resources, and digital family resources to continue
supporting Orange County students and families. Every live-
streamed program presentation was grade level specific,
supported California content standards and had the look and
feel of a traditional Inside the Outdoors program.
Inside the Outdoors | Year End Report 2020-2021
Drip Drop
Fifth Grade
NGSS Standards Supported: 5-ESS2-1
Can we create solutions to improve percolation? Drip Drop allows
students to explore the problems surrounding water as it travels through
porous and non-porous surfaces in urban settings and encourages them
to create solutions to decrease runoff and increase percolation.
Virtual Traveling Scientist
Curriculum
Elementary School Programs
Inside the Outdoors provided Drip Drop virtual programs to
students while modifying all activities for live-streamed video
presentations. Pre- and –post-visit activities were developed to
allow student participation in-class or in a distance learning
setting.
Elementary School Programs
Student programs were extended through resources like pre-
and post-activities and family engagement components.
Drip Drop pre-activity
Drip Drop post-activity
Inside the Outdoors | Year End Report 2020-2021
Click to type
Click to type
Click to type
Click to type
OCSD collects more than 200 million gallons of
wastewater per day and removes a high degree of
impurities through several processes. .-Ti..· ~-,g · 0",o_o·o• ..
Inside the Outdoors | Year End Report 2020-2021
Scientists of the Sewers
Middle School/High School
Standards Supported: HS-ETS1-2
From 1854 London, England to now, students discover the historical
beginnings and the modern innovation of the sanitation system.
Through engaging and hands-on activities, students will uncover
mysteries, ideate solutions and discover the innovative processes of the
Orange County Sanitation District that keep Orange County healthy.
Virtual Traveling Scientist
Inside the Outdoors provided Scientist of the Sewers virtual
programs to students while modifying all activities for live-
streamed video presentations. Pre- and –post-visit activities
were developed to allow student participation in-class or in a
distance learning setting.
Middle and High School Programs
Curriculum
Middle and High School Programs
Inside the Outdoors | Year End Report 2020-2021
Middle and High School programs were extended through
resources like pre- and post-activities and family engagement
components.
Scientist of the Sewers pre-activity
Scientist of the Sewers post-activity
·C
'· I _. ~§54 .Cholera EpideJ11iC
__,---""""" .
Escape Room
Total number of
students served
1171
Participating Districts
Number of participating students and virtual program presentations.
SAUSD OUSD FVSD IUSD TUSD SSD
500
400
300
200
100
0
Student Numbers
1171 Students Served
Virtual programs
presented
43
SAUSD - Santa Ana Unified School District
OUSD - Orange Unified School District
FVSD - Fountain Valley School District
IUSD - Irvine Unified School District
SSD - Savana School District
TUSD - Tustin Unified School District
Inside the Outdoors | Year End Report 2020-2021
Most reports conclude with a page acknowledging the contributions of the
people who worked tirelessly on the projects mentioned within. Below, list
down the names of those committed to these projects, such as:
Those responsible for concept and coordination
Your group of researchers
The writers behind the impact report
The designers of the impact report
Your colleagues from Local and Partner Organizations
Your contributors and donors
We thank you for your
continued support in our efforts
to contribute to the SDGs.
Acknowledgements
Contact
Your NFP Name
123 Anywhere St., Any City, ST 12345
123-456-7890
www.reallygreatsite.com
hello@reallygreatsite.com
@reallygreatsite
Thank You
Contact
Inside the Outdoors
Orange County Department of Education
200 Kalmus Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
www.insidetheoutdoors.org
insidetheoutdoors@ocde.us
714-708-3885
Inside the Outdoors | Year End Report 2020-2021
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Administration Building
10844 Ellis Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2021-1824 Agenda Date:9/13/2021 Agenda Item No:3.
FROM:James D. Herberg, General Manager
SUBJECT:
STRATEGIC PLAN ORGANIZATIONAL ADVOCACY AND OUTREACH POLICY
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Information Only.
BACKGROUND
The Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) is updating its Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan is
a policy level roadmap which defines the future desired state of the agency and lays out initiatives to
move toward that desired state. The Strategic Plan is intended to be a living document that is
adjusted to meet new needs or regulations faced by OC San.
There are 14 individual policy areas which comprise the overall Strategic Plan. The policy
statements were developed by the Executive Management Team based on input previously provided
by Board Members and staff. The Board’s input and direction is critical in developing and updating
the Strategic Plan.
Staff intends to finalize the Strategic Plan and compile a draft Plan for formal adoption in November
of this year. The adopted Strategic Plan will be the basis of Fiscal Year 2022-23 and 2023-24 budget
development.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Maintain and adhere to appropriate internal planning documents: Strategic Plan
·Sustain 1, 5, 20-year planning horizons
·Build brand, trust, and support with policy makers and community leaders
PROBLEM
The current Strategic Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors in November 2019. An update to
the Strategic Plan is currently underway. OC San’s Board Members have requested staff to augment
the draft Strategic Plan with a Policy paper for advocacy and outreach efforts.
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OC6SAN
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
File #:2021-1824 Agenda Date:9/13/2021 Agenda Item No:3.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Add a policy area to the 2021 Strategic Plan to focus on the advocacy and outreach efforts of OC
San.By establishing a policy specific to this area,it will guide our ongoing agency efforts and note
the importance of keeping stakeholders informed.
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
July 2021 -Strategic Plan Organizational Advocacy and Outreach Policy,Informational presentation
to the LaPC Committee.
May 2021 - Information Item to the Board, Strategic Plan Workshop Recap.
April 2021 - Special Board of Directors Meeting, Strategic Plan Workshop No. 3.
March 2021 - Special Board of Directors Meeting, Strategic Plan Workshop No. 2.
February 2021 - Special Board of Directors Meeting, Strategic Plan Workshop No. 1.
January 2021 - Steering Committee reviewed the Strategic Plan development outline.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s)may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov)with the complete agenda
package:
·OC San Organizational Advocacy and Outreach Policy Statement
·OC San Strategic Plan November 2019
·Presentation
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Organizational Advocacy & Outreach 1
Orange County Sanitation District
Organizational Advocacy and Outreach Policy Paper
Summary Policy Statement
The Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) will create and disseminate information
to our stakeholders with an end goal to educate, inform, and garner support for the
services provided, thus allowing us to operate in a more efficient and effective manner.
OC San will deliver messages that are accurate, transparent, and designed to foster
public trust and confidence. Additionally, following legislative activity will ensure OC San’s
interests are explained and considered.
Background:
OC San provides regional sewer service for 2.6 million people living, working, and
commuting in central and northwest Orange County. The various stakeholders include
over 600 employees, 50 local elected officials appointed to our Board of Directors,
regulators, policy makers, and the public. It is critical for OC San to have a multi-pronged
outreach program to reach the intended audiences and to gain support for OC San’s
mission.
OC San provides services and tools to effectively communicate about the various
programs that help achieve its mission. These programs include:
Student Educational Outreach:
Promoting and educating the youth within our service area on OC San’s mission
and the essential services provided. Reaching out to students allows for future
generations to be aware of the environmental impact we each make and what we
can accomplish working together. This knowledge will help our future generations
to take action and make positive changes. It also introduces them to an industry
they may be unaware of as a career choice. We do this through programs such as
Inside the Outdoors which goes directly into classrooms to teach the wastewater
treatment process; school-based plant tours that give them an inside view into a
treatment plant and how the system works; events such as the Youth
Environmental Summit (YES) which provides an opportunity to reach thousands
of local children in a short amount of time with clear and direct messaging; and
contests such as the Public Service Announcement which is an incentive for
students to get involved in developing messages for environmental issues.
Infrastructure Outreach:
OC San has $11 billion in infrastructure that must be designed, operated,
maintained, replaced, and enhanced to continue providing the essential service of
protecting public health and the environment. Forming a positive presence in the
community prior to the start of construction projects or maintenance activities is
Organizational Advocacy & Outreach 2
imperative to build trust, understanding, and support for the necessary
construction. This is done through an extensive outreach program that develops
and implements communication tools to engage the communities affected by OC
San construction projects. This includes dedicated Community Liaisons,
construction webpages, collateral material, presentations, etc. Over the next fiscal
year about two dozen projects will be in construction with various degrees of public
impacts.
Employee Engagement:
Open and honest communication with our employees creates a positive and
trusting environment, thus resulting in a more engaged workforce and
ambassadors for our agency. OC San creates employee engagement by utilizing
various communication methods to share agency- wide messages. A diverse
toolkit of communication pieces allows messages to be delivered to over 600 staff
with various professional backgrounds, work shifts, work locations, and access to
online materials. This toolkit of communication pieces includes The San Box
(intranet), Pipeline Newsletter, Digester (messaging piece), Three Things to Know
email, etc.
Brand Recognition:
As an industry leader, OC San must ensure its brand and image are portrayed
accurately and positively. A cohesive voice, message, look, and feel are critical to
maintaining a positive public perception and the trust granted to us by the
community we serve and the stakeholders we work with. To build and maintain a
positive image, we engage in general outreach efforts such as plant tours;
community newsletters; a Speakers Bureau Program (which allows us to go into
the community and meet with various groups to inform them of who we are and
what we do); an informative and educational website, an active social media
presence; and the development of programs such as Wastewater 101 Academy
which provides an opportunity to showcase OC San’s operations and initiatives for
our ratepayers, fellow agencies, and influential public.
Regulatory and Legislative Advocacy:
OC San also recognizes the need for an active regulatory and legislative advocacy
program at the local, state, and federal levels to ensure that the interests of the
rate payers and the Board of Directors are communicated, understood, and
supported. Towards this end, the legislative and regulatory team actively monitors
and engages officials across California and in Washington, D.C., and takes
appropriate action in support of, or opposition to, legislative and regulatory
initiatives.
Current Situation:
OC San is an industry leader involved in innovative and significant programs. However,
it is most often seen as a silent utility due to its consistent attainment of its mission. News
coverage for a wastewater resource recovery agency is most often about a mission
Organizational Advocacy & Outreach 3
failure. People tend not to think about their wastewater or where it goes until a beach is
closed or a spill occurs.
In addition, OC San has no direct connection to its rate payers. User fees are paid via
property tax bills thus eliminating an opportunity to reach our customers directly. This
ultimately results in a limited understanding of OC San, what we do, and the important
service provided to the community.
To that extent, OC San’s outreach efforts are imperative to positively inform and educate
the public we serve about the value we provide, including policy makers and regulators.
Future Policy Statement
OC San will creatively and effectively develop communication tools and tactics to inform
and educate our various stakeholders. As a silent utility, is it imperative that OC San
connect with the public we serve in a clear and transparent way to create a bank of trust,
and garner support for the programs that allow us to continue protecting the public health
and the environment.
OC San will maintain an active legislative and regulatory outreach program to help inform
and guide leaders to ensure the wastewater industry is able to protect the public health
and environment in a cost-effective way.
Initiatives to Support Progress Toward the Policy Goal
Relaunch the Vendor Outreach Program with a focus on Orange County firms to
enhance the competitive bidding opportunities for OC San. This effort will increase
the number of vendors and contractors soliciting OC San projects, thus expanding
the pool of service providers thus generating a greater variety of partners.
Develop an outreach program for member agencies regarding inflow and
infiltration issues within their sewer systems. The program will aim to educate,
inform, and reduce inflow and infiltration affecting the local and regional sewer
system.
Develop an educational display in the Headquarters building to illustrate OC San’s
reuse and recycling efforts in support of the environment and public health. Display
to be revealed when new building is unveiled.
Commemorate OC San’s achievement of reusing 100 percent of the reclaimable
flow upon completion of the Groundwater Replenishment System’s Final
Expansion. Celebrate the milestone and acknowledge the accomplishment with
staff and stakeholders.
Actively monitor and engage regulatory and legislative activity across California
and Washington, D.C., and take appropriate action in support of, or opposition to,
Organizational Advocacy & Outreach 4
legislative and regulatory initiatives affecting OC San and the wastewater industry.
This includes using Monitoring and Analysis, Advocacy Days, Position letters and
Funding Requests (as deemed suitable).
November 2019
Strategic PlanORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
Table of Contents
Board of Directors 4
Message from the General Manager 5
Executive Summary 6
Mission Statement and Vision Statement 9
Core Values 10
Policy Statements and Initiatives 11
Appendix: Policy Papers 17
3STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019 •
Board of Directors
4 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Anaheim Brea Buena Park Cypress Fountain Valley Lucille Kring Glenn Parker Fred Smith Mariellen Yarc Steve Nagel
Fullerton Garden Grove Huntington Beach Irvine La Habra Jesus J. Silva Steve Jones Erik Peterson Christina Shea Tim Shaw
La Palma Los Alamitos Newport Beach Orange Placentia Peter Kim Richard Murphy Brad Avery Mark Murphy Chad Wanke
Santa Ana Seal Beach Stanton Tustin Villa Park Cecilia Iglesias Sandra Massa-Lavitt David Shawver Allan Bernstein Robert Collacott (Chairman)
Costa Mesa Midway City Irvine Ranch Yorba Linda Orange County Sanitation District Sanitary District Water District Water District Board of Supervisors James M. Ferryman Andrew Nguyen John Withers Phil Hawkins Doug Chaffee (Vice-Chairman)
Strategic Plan Message from the GM
The Orange County Sanitation District is celebrating 65 years of service
to the public this year. Over those years the Sanitation District has been
adapting itself to the changing requirements and needs of the communities
it serves. We have moved from an organization exclusively focused on
preservation of public health to a world class resource recovery facility
which protects the public health and the environment in ways our founders
could never imagine.
This on-going evolution is the intentional outcome of a very deliberate
strategic planning process that has been in place at the Sanitation District
from the very beginning. From the “Waste Water Disposal and Reclamation
for the County of Orange” in 1947 to the Master Plans of the 1980s to the
current Strategic Plan, the Sanitation District has always taken the long
view to craft a progressive vision and build the necessary infrastructure
and staffing to deliver world class service.
This forward-thinking vision of the Sanitation District begins with the Board
of Directors. The Board of Directors of the Sanitation District have a long
history of mapping out bold, clear visions for the staff to deliver including
energy recovery facilities, water reclamation facilities and partnerships,
innovative odor control facilities, full secondary treatment levels, urban
runoff beach protection partnerships, and the world’s largest indirect
potable water reuse facility.
I would like to thank the current Board of Directors for continuing the legacy
of leadership in strategic planning and innovation. Your commitment and
leadership drive the Sanitation District to continue to innovate and meet
the challenges facing our region. I look forward to working together to
accomplish all the initiatives in this Strategic Plan.
Sincerely,
James D. Herberg
General Manager
5STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019 •
6 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Strategic Plan Executive Summary
The Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation
District) is a regional wastewater collection and resource recovery agency utilizing extensive public works assets to deliver its vital public services. The Strategic Plan developed by the Board of Directors and staff defines the strategic initiatives to be pursued by the Sanitation District and provides a basis for long-term financial, capital, and operational planning. In addition, it provides for long-term continuity of vision as Board and staff members change over the many years it takes to deliver public works infrastructure.
The Sanitation District has developed a two-year, four-step management process that creates and maintains vision alignment between the Board
of Directors, the staff, and the public we serve.
Strategic planning is the first step to define the
Sanitation District’s ability to have people and
assets in place to meet its agreed upon mission
as defined by the Board. The second step is
capital and operational planning based on the
adopted strategic plan. The third step is budget development to execute the plan and define the tactical goals to work toward the strategic goals. The final step is execution of the budget plan and tactical goal attainment. These four steps are repeated every two years to maintain alignment and make course corrections based on new Board member input, legal and regulatory changes, and the needs of the communities we serve.
STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
Strategic PlanDevelopment Budget Development General Manager Work Plan
General Manager Work PlanBudget Update
General Manager Work Plan
General Manager Work PlanBudget UpdateRate Study Prop218
Strategic PlanDevelopment Budget Development
Strategic PlanDevelopment Budget Development
•
7STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
The Strategic Plan is broken down into four broad
categories with fourteen topic areas that define
our responsibilities and the services we provide.
These areas are:
• Business Principles
o Budget Control and Fiscal Discipline
o Asset Management
o Cybersecurity
o Property Management
• Environmental Stewardship
o Energy Independence
o Climate and Catastrophic Event Resiliency
o Food Waste Treatment
o Water Reuse
o Environmental Water Quality, Stormwater
Management and Urban Runoff
• Wastewater Management
o Chemical Sustainability
o Biosolids Management
o Constituents of Emerging Concern
• Workplace Environment
o Resilient Staffing
o Safety and Physical Security
Each topic was collaboratively developed between
the Board of Directors and staff members. Initial
topic lists were discussed with the Steering
Committee. Initial policy statements and initiatives
were developed which formed the basis for a
survey instrument to the Board of Directors. Based
on the survey input, individual draft topic papers
were presented to the Board of Directors over
three meetings in August and September. The
topic papers were finalized based on the direction
received at these three meetings and are included
in this published plan.
The Strategic Plan policy papers break down each
area. They begin with a policy statement, provide
background, layout the current situation, layout a
future policy statement, and finish with initiatives
to support progress toward the policy goal.
The Strategic Plan presented in this document is
not a radical departure from the current direction,
but rather the well-defined iterative update to
the direction of the Sanitation District. With the
adoption of the Strategic Plan, staff will begin the
effort of updating the Asset Management Plan,
Capital Improvement Plan, and Financial Plan
that are the basis of a two-year budget that will
be adopted by the Board of Directors in June. The
Budget goals and the General Manager’s work
plan are the accountability step that measures
achievable progress toward the strategic initiatives
listed in the Strategic Plan topic papers.
•
8 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019 •
9STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
OUR MISSION
“To protect public health and the environment by providing effective
wastewater collection, treatment, and recycling.”
OUR VISION
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT WILL BE A LEADER IN:
• Providing reliable, responsive and affordable services in line with customer needs and expectations.
• Protecting public health and the environment, utilizing all practical and effective means for wastewater,
energy, and solids resource recovery.
• Continually seeking efficiencies to ensure that the public’s money is wisely spent.
• Communicating our mission and strategies with those we serve and all other stakeholders.
• Partnering with others to benefit our customers, this region, and our industry.
• Creating the best possible workforce in terms of safety, productivity, customer service, and training.
•
10 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
OUR CORE VALUES
Our Core Values support the Mission and Vision Statements by expressing the values, beliefs, and philosophy that guides our daily actions. They help form the framework of our organization and reinforce our professional work ethic.
Honesty, Trust and Respect
We aspire to the highest degree of integrity, honesty, trust, and respect in our interaction with each
other, our suppliers, our customers, and our community.
Teamwork and Problem Solving We strive to reach OCSD goals through cooperative efforts and collaboration with each other and our constituencies. We work to solve problems in a creative, cost-effective and safe manner, and we acknowledge team and individual efforts.
Leadership and Commitment
We lead by example, acknowledging the value of our resources and using them wisely and safely to
achieve our objectives and goals. We are committed to act in the best interest of our employees, our
organization, and our community.
Learning/Teaching - Talents, Skills and Abilities We continuously develop ourselves, enhancing our talents, skills, and abilities, knowing that only through personal growth and development will we continue to progress as an agency and as individuals.
Recognition/Rewards
We seek to recognize, acknowledge and reward contributions to OCSD by our many talented employees.
•
11STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
BUSINESS PRINCIPLES
Budget Control and Fiscal Discipline Policy
Policy Statement
The Sanitation District will prudently manage the public funds that it collects. It will take a long-
term planning approach to its facilities and rate
setting that provides a stable setting program,
prudent reserves, and pay-as-you-go philosophy
for operating and replacing capital expenses.
Initiatives
• Maintain a rate setting program that keeps
the Sanitation District in the lower third of our
comparative agencies.
• Maintain a “Pay as You Go” approach to fund
current operating expenditures.
• Maintain a portfolio management approach that
focuses on safety, liquidity and performance in
that order.
• Continually look for ways to reduce total debt
payments without lengthening its term.
• Ensure that no new debt issuances are used
to support currently programmed capital
expenditures and that all existing debt is paid
off by 2044.
Asset Management Policy
Policy Statement
The Sanitation District will assess and manage the collection system and treatment plant systems and assets to improve resilience and
reliability while lowering lifecycle costs. This will
be accomplished through adaptive operation,
coordinated maintenance and condition
assessment, and planned capital investment. Staff
will balance maintenance, refurbishment, and
replacement strategies to maximize useful life,
system availability and efficiency.
Initiatives
• Create an annual Asset Management plan
documenting the condition of the collection
system and treatment plants, and upcoming
maintenance or capital projects.
• Coordinate the efforts of operations, collections, mechanical maintenance, electrical maintenance, instrument maintenance and engineering through process teams to assure the Sanitation District’s resources are focused on the high priority work functions.
• Maintain a 20-year forecast of all CIP projects needed to maintain or upgrade the Sanitation District’s nearly $11 billion in assets on a prioritized risk basis to establish rate structures.
Cybersecurity Policy
Policy Statement
The Sanitation District must maintain adequate cybersecurity (information technology security) techniques that protect computer assets, networks, programs, data, and industrial control equipment from unauthorized access or attacks that are aimed for exploitation.
Initiatives
• Conduct various tabletop exercises to determine the organization’s ability to respond to a targeted cyberattack and to improve the quality of the response should an attack occur.
• Evaluate, enhance and monitor network security including activities to protect the usability, reliability, integrity and safety of the network by developing Security Operations Center capabilities that support continuous monitoring and is responsible for the continuous threat protection process.
• Conduct a comprehensive third-party cybersecurity operations assessment (Red Team). A thorough Red Team engagement will expose vulnerabilities and risks regarding:
° Technology — Networks, applications, routers, switches, appliances, etc.
° People — Staff, independent contractors, departments, business partners, etc.
° Physical — Offices, warehouses, substations, data centers, buildings, etc.
The Strategic Plan is broken down into four broad categories with 14 topic areas.
Below are the policy statements and corresponding initiatives to achieve the goals of the plan.
The complete policy papers can be found in the appendix.
•
12 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Property Management Policy
Policy Statement
The Sanitation District owns and operates assets
throughout its service area located in property
owned in fee, through easements and in the public
right-of-way. The Sanitation District will identify and protect all of its property rights to assure that its assets are not encumbered or encroached upon so that the facilities may be properly operated, maintained, upgraded, and replaced.
Initiatives
• The Sanitation District will review its property rights to identify encroachments or encumbrances
that restrict operation, maintenance, inspection
or emergency repair access. Staff will work with
identified parties to remove encroachments or
encumbrances.
• Staff will consolidate real estate and property management activities to maximize its resources and effectiveness. With the completion of the property rights and real estate assessments,
the Sanitation District will evaluate the various
resources available and develop an appropriate
resource management plan to assess and
maintain its property assets.
i i Crrriw I
•
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP
Energy Independence Policy
Policy Statement
The Sanitation District will strive to be a net energy
exporter. Electrical, thermal, and methane gas
generation will be maximized. Energy utilization
will be minimized using sound engineering and financial principles.
Initiatives
• Maximize the anaerobic digestion conversion
of organics to methane through receipt of food waste and operational techniques.
• Investigate and install energy storage and
photovoltaic systems where practical to achieve
energy independence/resilience.
• Continue to support the conversion of biomethane into electricity and heat for process use. Improve systems as necessary to comply with air regulations.
Climate and Catastrophic Event
Resilience Policy
Policy Statement
The Sanitation District aims to design, maintain and
operate valuable wastewater assets that withstand
or adapt to adverse conditions in a reasonable
manner that is both cost-effective and sustainable for present and future generations. These adverse conditions include heavy rains, flooding, sea level rise, earthquakes, tsunamis, extreme heat, wildfires, and electrical grid interruptions.
Initiatives
• Complete an engineering study of the seismic
vulnerabilities of the treatment plants. Incorporate necessary upgrades into future capital improvement projects.
• Complete the biannual high flow exercise to
assure readiness for a high flow event. Maintain a higher level of readiness October 15 through March 15 and in advance of predicted significant rain events.
• Study the potential impact of tsunami and
changing climate conditions including flooding
due to high tides and heavy rain events.
Food Waste Treatment Policy
Policy Statement
The State of California limits the volume of organic
waste that may be diverted to landfills. The
Sanitation District will collaborate with the County
of Orange, other local agencies, and waste haulers to find ways to beneficially reuse food waste, a type of organic waste to assist cities in our service area in meeting their diversion requirements while increasing the Sanitation District’s energy production.
Initiatives
• The Sanitation District will accept a preprocessed
food waste slurry from contracted waste haulers that will be fed to existing anaerobic digesters. The Sanitation District will charge a tipping fee to offset its costs for capital construction, operations, handling, maintenance, and biosolids disposal.
• Design, build, and operate a food waste receiving station. Create a specification for food waste slurry and contract with solid waste haulers to receive and process food waste.
Water Reuse Policy
Policy Statement
The Sanitation District will seek to beneficially
reuse all reclaimable water for potable, industrial,
irrigation, and environmental uses.
Initiatives
• Support the completion of the final phase of
the Groundwater Replenishment System and maximize reclaimable wastewater availability to the Orange County Water District.
• Support Green Acres project water production
to provide reclaimed water for industrial and
irrigation uses.
Environmental Water Quality, Stormwater
Management and Urban Runoff Policy
Policy Statement
The Sanitation District will partner with storm water
permittees to accept up to ten million gallons per
day of dry weather urban runoff at no charge in
order to improve water quality in streams, rivers, and beaches as long as the constituents within the flow do not adversely impact the Sanitation
13STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019 •
District’s worker safety, treatment processes, reuse
initiatives, or permit compliance. The Sanitation
District facilities are subject to significant flow
increases during wet weather events and are not
capable of accepting stormwater flow volumes.
Initiatives
In accordance with Resolution No. 13-09, the
Sanitation District intends to continue accepting up
to ten million gallons per day of pumped dry weather
urban runoff diversion where existing conveyance
capacity exists, and the constituents of the flow will
not adversely impact the Sanitation District. The
Sanitation District also intends to continue working
with industries, agencies, and other facilities to
offer alternatives to stormwater and runoff disposal
through special purpose discharge permits or
other written authorization in accordance with the
Sanitation District’s Ordinance, where doing so
does not negatively affect the Sanitation District’s
operation or compliance with local, state, and
federal regulations, and wastewater can be held for
evaluation prior to discharge.
Additionally, to act as a regional partner in
resolving issues associated with disposing of and
reusing stormwater, the Sanitation District intends
to work with local jurisdictions to determine the
feasibility of regional wet weather runoff capture,
storage, and use projects.
• Issue dry weather urban runoff connection
permits up to a total of ten million gallons
per day to other service area local agencies to
accept pumped dry weather urban runoff flows
where existing conveyance capacity exists, and
the constituents of the flow will not adversely
impact the Sanitation District.
• Continue working with industries, facilities,
agencies, and local jurisdictions that have
authority over stormwater or surface water
runoff to determine the feasibility of regional
wet weather runoff capture, storage, and use
projects or offer alternatives to stormwater
and runoff disposal through permits or other
written authorization. The Sanitation District
will promote responsible stormwater utilization
and sewer protection, where doing so does
not negatively affect the Sanitation District’s
operation or compliance with local, state, and
federal regulations, and wastewater can be held
for evaluation prior to discharge.
14 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019 •
WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT
Chemical Sustainability Policy
Policy Statement
The Sanitation District has a need to use chemicals
in its treatment process to improve plant
performance, reduce odor and corrosion potential,
and meet its regulatory requirements. These commodity chemicals are provided by outside vendors through the purchasing process. Some of these chemicals are subject to price swings due to market condition changes such as energy cost impacts, raw material cost changes, commercial competition changes, and transportation cost volatility. The Sanitation District will identify chemicals key to its operation, investigate the market risks for those chemicals and devise strategies to mitigate identified risks to availability and pricing.
Initiatives
• Reduce reliance on any particular chemical or
vendor and establish flexibility to utilize other chemicals/processes to accomplish the same operational objectives.
• Update the Sanitation District’s Chemical
Sustainability Study and incorporate the results
in future procurement recommendations.
Biosolids Management Policy
Policy Statement
The Sanitation District will remain committed to a
sustainable biosolids program and will beneficially
reuse biosolids in accordance with Resolution No.
OCSD 13-03 and the 2017 Biosolids Master Plan.
Initiatives
• Educate and advocate with the local, state, and
federal agencies to assure biosolids will continue to be safely and legally used as a soil amendment and monitor and research the development of initiatives of constituents of emerging concerns such as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and microplastics that may impact biosolids.
• Stay abreast of new technology options to
convert organics to energy and other regional biosolids recycling and renewable energy partnerships within Southern California.
• Proceed with mesophilic and thermophilic
biosolids facility at Plant No. 2 to enhance
biosolids quality and marketability while
improving the Sanitation District’s operational
resiliency against seismic events.
Constituents of Emerging Concern Policy
Policy Statement
The Sanitation District will partner with other
agencies, associations, and institutions to
support the use of sound science to inform
policy and regulatory decisions on constituents
of emerging concern (CECs) at the federal, state,
and regional levels. Staff will obtain and maintain
current knowledge on CECs under regulatory
consideration, including occurrence, analytical
methods, regulations, and treatment to support
the Sanitation District’s mission.
Initiatives
• The Sanitation District will continue to actively
engage water and wastewater stakeholders to
stay abreast of the scientific progress and any
potential operational and financial impacts
of CECs and provide timely briefings to the
Sanitation District’s Management Team and
Board to facilitate informed decision making.
• The Sanitation District will continue to develop
capacity to detect, quantify, and characterize
CECs throughout the service area and treatment
process in order to promote treatment
effectiveness and the communication of credible
risks.
• The Sanitation District will actively research
laboratory techniques and other scientific
research to understand the real and potential
impact of CECs, like polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), on
the reuse of water and biosolids. The Sanitation
District will use science-based knowledge to
help shape legislation and regulation to protect
the public health and environment.
15STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019 •
WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT
Resilient Staffing Policy
Policy Statement
The Sanitation District will attract and retain high-
quality talent to support its mission and continue to
be an industry leader. It will safeguard leadership
continuity and support effective performance of the organization by proactively monitoring the changing work environment and requirements to ensure development programs are relevant and build a skilled bench of readily available successors for key leadership and mission-critical positions.
Initiatives
• Maintain and enhance current effective
development programs that are in place to provide the direction to identify, develop and select the next generation of prepared, capable and engaged leaders, which include:
° Vocational/Professional Student Internship
Programs
° Employee Development Program
° Workforce Vulnerability Assessments
° Talent Readiness Assessments
° Building Leaders and Skills for Tomorrow
(BLAST) Program
° Strengthening Operator Training Programs
• Continue cyclical Classification and Compensation
studies to ensure job classifications accurately depict the work being performed, to set compensation levels accordingly, and stay abreast of market benefit and salary data.
• Prior to the next scheduled Classification &
Compensation study, Human Resources will work with the Board of Directors and meet and confer with the unions to review selected survey agencies based on recognized classification and compensation standards and the job market in which we compete.
Safety and Physical Security
Policy Statement
The Sanitation District will ensure the safety
and security of employees, contractors, and
visitors through standard practices, policies,
and procedures that support a safe and secure environment, provide an appropriate level of security, and safeguard OCSD’s property and physical assets.
Initiatives
Safety
• Complete outstanding safety projects,
improvements, and corrective actions to apply and obtain Cal/OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) status; and continue to foster a culture where employees are accountable for their safety as well as the safety of others.
Emergency Management
• Support facility and countywide emergency
preparedness, response, and recovery efforts by partnering with entities, such as, the Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange
County (WEROC), Orange County Sherriff
Department, and local fire departments to plan
and continue to conduct disaster preparedness
training and exercises.
Security
• Continually identify and assess vulnerabilities
and implement solutions through the Security Committee and third-party assessments. Prevent/mitigate security breaches using physical security systems such as video monitoring, access control, and armed security patrols.
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Appendix: Policy Papers
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18 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019 •
Business Principles
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Budget Control and Fiscal Discipline Policy
Summary Policy Statement
The Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District) will prudently manage the public funds that it
collects. It will take a long-term planning approach to its facilities and rate setting that provides a stable
setting program, prudent reserves, and pay-as-you-go philosophy for operating and replacing capital
expenses.
Background
The Sanitation District manages nearly $500 million annually. These funds support the Sanitation
District’s operating, capital, and debt expenditures. The Sanitation District focuses its fiscal policy
around three distinct areas: Revenues, Portfolio Management, and Debt Management. These areas are
described in the Budget, Investment Policy, and Debt policy all of which are updated annually.
Current Situation
Revenues
The majority of the Sanitation District’s revenue is generated by user fees and charges. Currently, the
Sanitation District fees are in the lower third of its comparison agencies’.
The Sanitation District’s revenues come from three general areas: Fees and Charges (74%), Property
Taxes (21%) and other smaller revenue sources (5%).
• Fees and Charges: User fees are ongoing fees for services paid by Single Family and Multifamily
customers connected to the sewer system. Also included in this category are Permit Fees (User fees paid by large industrial and commercial business owners connected to the sewer system and Capital Facility Capacity Charges (CFCC) (a one-time charge imposed at the time a newly constructed building or structure is connected to the Sanitation District system). The Sanitation District policy has been to focus on cost recovery while keeping fees as low as possible.
• Property Taxes: The Sanitation District receives a share of the basic property tax levy proportionate to
what was received in the 1976 to 1978 period less $3.5 million allocated to school districts. These funds are dedicated to the payment of debt service.
• Other Revenue: Other Revenue includes Interest Earnings, Intra-District Transfers and small revenue
sources.
Portfolio Management
The Sanitation District Investment Policy is governed by three tenets:
• Safety: The safety and preservation of principal is the foremost objective of the investment program.
Investments shall be selected in a manner that seeks to ensure the preservation of capital in the overall portfolio. This will be accomplished through a program of diversification and maturity limitations.
• Liquidity: The investment program will be administered in a manner that will ensure that sufficient
funds are available for the Sanitation District to meet its reasonably anticipated operating expenditure needs.
• Return on Investments: The Sanitation District’s investment portfolio will be structured and
managed with the objective of achieving a rate of return throughout budgetary and economic cycles, commensurate with legal, safety, and liquidity considerations.
The Sanitation District’s investments are separated into two distinct portfolios, Long-term and Short-
term, with a primary focus on the Long-term portfolio.
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The Long-Term portfolio always focuses on four elements, duration, sector allocation, term structure,
and security selection.
Duration
• Typically, the Sanitation District keeps the duration of a portfolio ‘close’ to the benchmark duration as
we feel the benchmark duration is consistent with the risk tolerance of the strategy.
• The investment policy of the Sanitation District stipulates the average duration must not exceed 60
months and be within 80-120% of the benchmark.
• Historically the deviation of the long-term portfolio versus the benchmark is close to 5%. Large
deviations in the duration of the portfolio compared to the benchmark are an anomaly.
Sector Allocation
• The Sanitation District takes an active approach to asset allocation, differentiating our holdings versus
the benchmark, with typically a modestly higher risk exposure compared to the benchmark.
• Some of the asset classes we find more attractive in the current investing environment include
Corporate notes, Asset Backed Securities, and Treasury notes relative to the Agency and Supranational
sectors.
• The sector allocation of the portfolio will evolve over time as our outlook for the various eligible
investment options changes.
Term Structure
• The Sanitation District manages the term structure of the portfolio by focusing on either a bullet,
ladder or barbell structure, relative to the benchmark.
• For most of 2018 the structure was gravitating towards more of a bullet structure in light of the change
in the sharp of the yield curve, with short term interest rates moving higher at a greater velocity than
longer maturity securities.
• Currently, with the yield curve very flat, we are migrating back towards more of a barbell structure,
with new purchases focused at the short and long end of the eligible maturity distribution. We also
find the middle to the maturity distribution, near the three-year maturity point, to be the most
expensive from an absolute and relative value perspective, further supporting the barbell structure.
Security Selection
Within the Corporate and Asset Backed sector, the Chandler team focuses on adding stability to improve credits to be consistent with the overall investment objective of safety, liquidity, and return.
• As a Corporate holding becomes more seasoned, with a short maturity, it is often utilized as a ‘source
of funds’ to facilitate new holdings in the portfolio.
• Typically, Asset Backed securities are held to maturity, but in the event of a liquidity need and/or a
deteriorating credit situation we would look to reduce the exposure.
The Sanitation District allocates to the Agency and Supranational asset classes when we find the spread over a like maturity Treasury notes to be attractive.
• Considering the lack of issuance in the Agency sector since the financial crisis, the relative value of
the sector has become more challenging.
• The Sanitation District has a core view that the Supranational Asset class should offer a modest
spread concession to the Agency sector, and the team is typically active in the sector when the
additional spread pick-up is compelling.
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Across all asset classes, the Sanitation District will remove exposure to a security that is faced with a
deteriorating credit situation and/or trading at an irrational valuation where a swap into an alternative
security will be beneficial to the portfolio over a reasonable investment time horizon.
Debt Management
Due to the magnitude of the capital improvement program, the Sanitation District has utilized a combination of user fees, property taxes and debt to meet its total obligations and maintain
generational equity.
It is the Sanitation District’s policy not to issue any new additional debt for any existing obligations. However, the Sanitation District will actively review opportunities to refinance existing debt where
possible provided the new refinancing results in a lower total cost and/or shortens the length of the
obligations.
The primary debt financing mechanism used is Certificates of Participation (COP). COPs are a repayment
obligation based on lease or installment sale agreements. As of July 1, 2019, the total outstanding COP
indebtedness was $973 million with a blended interest rate of 3.05%. It is anticipated that the debt will
be paid off by 2044.
Future Policy Statement
The Sanitation District will effectively manage its revenues and expenses to support all OCSD operating and capital activities while maintaining a fair and reasonable rate structure. The Sanitation District will maintain reserves and available resources to ensure the access to funds as needed and guarantee
payment of all outstanding debt issuances. The Sanitation District will manage its investment by
focusing on safety, liquidity and return on investment, in that order of priority.
Initiatives to Support Progress Toward the Policy Goal
• Maintain a rate setting program that keeps OCSD in the lower third of our comparative agencies.
• Maintain a “Pay as You Go” approach to fund current operating expenditures.
• Maintain a portfolio management approach that focuses on safety, liquidity and performance in that
order.
• Continually look for ways to reduce total debt payments without lengthening its term.
• Ensure that no new debt issuances are used to support the currently programmed capital
expenditures and that all existing debt is paid off by 2044.
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23STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Asset Management Policy
Summary Policy Statement
The Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District) will assess and manage the collection system
and treatment plant systems and assets to improve resilience and reliability while lowering lifecycle
costs. This will be accomplished through adaptive operation, coordinated maintenance and condition
assessment, and planned capital investment. Staff will balance maintenance, refurbishment, and replacement strategies to maximize useful life, system availability and efficiency.
Background
The Sanitation District is a regional governmental agency principally chartered to protect the public
health through collection and treatment of wastewater. The governing Board of Directors has defined
this role to include the recovery and utilization of resources from wastewater for the public good as a
part of that mission. The environmental impact mitigation of the human activity of 2.6 million people and the natural drainage of the 471 square miles the Sanitation District serves is our principal concern.
The Sanitation District owns and operates extensive facilities to achieve its mission. The Sanitation
District estimates the replacement value of the civil, mechanical, and electrical assets in its collection system, Plant No 1 in Fountain Valley, and Plant No. 2 in Huntington Beach to be nearly $11 billion. The Sanitation District has been building the piping, pumping, and treatment infrastructure it utilizes for more than sixty-five years. It is necessary to expand, renew, replace, demolish, and rebuild components of the system to deal with wear and tear and meet new challenges.
The early years for the Sanitation District were characterized mostly by capacity expansion to meet the challenges of increased flows as the county grew. The late 1970s to the 2000s were more defined by improved levels of treatment. The last ten years have been focused on increasing the level of resource reuse. One of the key success factors for the Sanitation District has been the ability to upgrade and repurpose its operating facilities to accomplish high levels of treatment and reuse.
Current Situation
The Sanitation District is a highly planned, forward-looking organization. The collection system and each of the treatment plants are broken down into granular functional parts. Each part is well defined and future requirements are estimated. The Sanitation District has a detailed understanding of what is owned, what condition it is in, and how it is capable of performing.
The collection system is made up of independent pipe networks that were installed by the former independent sanitation districts to deliver flow to the joint treatment works. Generally speaking, the natural watershed drainages in the service area are served by major trunk sewer systems. The Sanitation District has worked with member city and agency staff to understand future development plans, flow estimates, and has collected historical inflow and infiltration rates during wet weather events to assure adequate flow carrying capability exists in each trunk sewer system. The Sanitation District also factors in the effects of drought and lower domestic water usage rates to make sure the sewers operate properly at low-flow rates.
The treatment plants are broken down into the discrete process units that make up the whole. Each plant has a headworks unit that brings in flow and does preliminary treatment, a primary treatment unit which does gravity settling, multiple biological secondary treatment systems, solids handling and dewatering, power generation and distribution utilities, water and air system utilities, and an outfall system to release treated water to the ocean. Each plant can treat 320 million gallons per day of wet weather flow, but only 185 million gallons total on average is treated. The Sanitation District must always maintain the ability to treat both the average flow and peak wet weather flow.
The Sanitation District understands that every asset has an expected life. Electrical systems are generally limited by component obsolescence to 20 years of life. Mechanical and coating systems are also generally limited by erosion, corrosion, and wear to 20 years of life. Civil structures and pipes are generally limited to 60 to 80 years of life if maintained on a regular basis.
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With this in mind, the Sanitation District has created a facilities master plan that plans to renew or
replace facilities on this regular basis. Collection system projects are driven by growth projections or
condition findings. Pipes are upsized or renewed based on flow projections, corrosion observation,
coating system failure, or the ability to increase reclamation. The 15 regional pump stations are renewed
on a more frequent basis due to the mechanical wear and tear and electrical component obsolescence
needs, about every 25 years.
The master plan for the treatment plants is much more dynamic. In addition to the electrical,
mechanical, and civil asset considerations, there is also the need to meet new requirements. The new
requirements are driven by regulatory agencies or by the Board of Directors to change a discretionary
level of service. Examples include: capacity demands (more water, more solids), lower discharge
requirements (lower BOD/TSS to the outfall, lower nutrients to the ocean), more water for reclamation,
better energy conversion of solids, and many more. The 2017 Facilities Master Plan took a snapshot in
time looking at the anticipated needs and levels of service to lay out a detailed project plan to morph
the Sanitation District infrastructure over time to meet the expectation. Renewal or replacement
projects with costs and schedules were laid out for each individual unit of the treatment plants to
address capacity, condition, level of service, and anticipated new regulatory drivers.
Future Policy Statement
The Sanitation District will continue to invest in the infrastructure necessary to meet its mission.
The Sanitation District will seek to provide its required level of service at the minimum lifecycle cost
for its collection and treatment systems. The 2017 Master Plan was the snapshot basis of the Capital
Improvement Plan, but the Asset Management Plan is the means to update and modify the Capital
Improvement Plan to meet new requirements and conditions as time goes by.
The Sanitation District will understand in a transparent way: what it owns, the condition of those assets,
the capacity of collections and treatment required, the level of service required by its regulators and
Board of Directors and will anticipate new regulations that may require system improvement. This
understanding will drive coherent operations, targeted maintenance, and capital investment strategies
to assure resilient, lowest lifecycle cost compliance with the requirements.
Operations is committed to optimizing the operation of the systems to extend equipment life and
minimize energy and chemical utilization, while meeting all regulatory and level-of-service requirements.
Maintenance is committed to maintain the installed assets in a ready state for operations. Maintenance
will seek to balance individual component preventive maintenance, repair, and renewal in harmony with
the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The CIP is based on the Master Plan, modified by the annual
Asset Management Plan, and will execute the projects to install, renew, or replace trunk sewers or
treatment plant units on a scheduled basis.
Asset Management at the Sanitation District is the living management of the operation strategies,
maintenance plans, and implementation of the Capital Improvement Plan. The Sanitation District
will find creative ways to maximize asset life or meet new capacity or level of service goals through
operations and maintenance. The Sanitation District will annually reassess its condition, capacity, level
of service, and regulatory conditions to drive operations and maintenance practices and modify the
Capital Improvement Plan projects.
Initiatives to Support Progress Toward the Policy Goal
• Create an annual Asset Management plan documenting the condition of the collection system and
treatment plants, and upcoming maintenance or capital projects.
• Coordinate the efforts of operations, collections, mechanical maintenance, electrical maintenance,
instrument maintenance and engineering through process teams to assure the Sanitation District’s
resources are focused on the high priority work functions.
• Maintain a 20-year forecast of all CIP projects needed to maintain or upgrade the Sanitation District’s
nearly $11 billion in assets on a prioritized risk basis to establish rate structures.
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25STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Cybersecurity Policy
Summary Policy Statement
The Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District) must maintain adequate cybersecurity
(information technology security) techniques that protect computer assets, networks, programs, data,
and industrial control equipment from unauthorized access or attacks that are aimed for exploitation.
Background
Developing an effective, sustainable cybersecurity program is a pressing challenge for organizations
of all sizes. The reasons behind the scope of the challenge are many. Cyber risk continues to grow at
an exponential rate with routine attacks from nation states, criminal elements, hacktivists, and insider
threats. The bottom line is cybercrime pays. The booming cybercrime economy is productizing malware
and making cybercrime as easy as shopping at Amazon. With this easy access to cybercriminal tools
and services, enterprises are experiencing rapid increases in the volume, scale, and sophistication of cyberattacks. Complex and dynamic information security disciplines are subject to continuous changes in the business, technology and threat environments. Many organizations will struggle to implement security programs that support continuous improvements in this challenging environment.
Current Situation
The Sanitation District has evolved over recent years from dedicating less than half of a position
towards cybersecurity, to one position, to currently two full-time positions. The Sanitation District’s cybersecurity portfolio consists of strategic policy management, defense in depth practices, periodic risk assessments, ongoing awareness communication and operational (e.g., security monitoring and incident response, threat and vulnerability management, user provisioning) processes. For example:
• Cybersecurity Awareness and Training Program - The Sanitation District understands that our
employees are our best line of defense in protecting and defending our enterprise from attack. We have built a comprehensive security awareness program by focusing on four critical functions: phishing attack simulations and reporting, quarterly education requirements, targeted training for IT developers and SCADA engineers, and pervasive communications utilizing internal communication tools.
• Vulnerability Management — IT staff subscribe to and monitor security advisories and threat
bulletins from Microsoft, US-CERT, ICS-CERT, KnowBe4, Cisco, and other vendors to understand and manage new vulnerabilities. All internet accessible servers and applications are scanned weekly for vulnerabilities and remediated as necessary. Microsoft operating system and application patches are deployed monthly while third party updates are deployed weekly. We use a vulnerability platform for continuous assessment of our security and compliance posture.
• Intrusion Detection and Response — We have implemented several security solutions to be able to
detect, prevent and respond to malicious network activity. These include firewalls, intrusion prevent systems, web security gateway, and next-generation anti-malware. In addition, we also have user behavior analysis tools to identify insider threats and ransomware activity.
• Privileged Access Management Program — We use a privilege access management solution to remove
and manage local administrative rights on workstations/servers to prevent lateral movement. The solution is also used to protect, control, and monitor privileged access across files and systems.
• Backup and Restore Capabilities — IT practices a 3-2-1 backup strategy:
3 – Keep three copies of critical data 2 – Have your data on two types of media 1 – One copy must be offsite and offline
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Restores are performed on at least a weekly basis in response to customer incidents. Disaster Recovery
Testing is performed monthly by selecting a major system and testing restore capabilities of that system
to our secondary treatment facility, as well as our remote site. We sandbox the restores and provide
access to our application subject matter experts to conduct application-specific testing. These tests are
logged and kept for auditing and management purposes.
• Security Incident Response — An incident response plan is an organized approach to handle a
cyberattack. We have developed an incident response plan, playbooks and procedures for various
attacks as well as trained IT security staff. In addition, there are external contacts we can call for
assistance including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and organizations that specialize in
incident response like Mandiant, Cylance, and Microsoft.
• Security Assessments — The purpose of a security assessment is to identify the current security
posture of a system, network, or organization. The assessment provides recommendations to improve
the security posture by mitigating identified risks. Our goal is to do one or two a year. The two most
recently conducted assessments are the Office 365 Security Assessment from Microsoft in April 2019
and the Center for Internet Security Control Gap Assessment in July 2018.
Future Policy Statement
The main objective of our information security program is the establishment of a continuous,
iterative regimen of planning, building, running and governing security capabilities that are derived
from business requirements. Our security program cannot be a static entity. It must be adapted
and continuously refined to keep pace with the ever-changing threat environment and changes in
how the Sanitation District adopts digital business practices. Cybersecurity incidents are inevitable.
Mistakes and/or a lack of preparation in the response can have serious repercussions. The ability of an
organization to respond effectively to a security incident is a direct result of the time spent preparing
for such an eventuality. If you fail to prepare, then you effectively prepare to fail. The Sanitation District
will be prepared. This will be accomplished by the following proposed initiatives.
Initiatives to Support Progress Toward the Policy Goal
• Conduct various tabletop exercises to determine the organization’s ability to respond to a targeted
cyberattack and to improve the quality of the response, should an attack occur.
• Evaluate, enhance and monitor network security including activities to protect the usability, reliability,
integrity and safety of the network by developing Security Operations Center capabilities that support
continuous monitoring and is responsible for the continuous threat protection process.
• Conduct a comprehensive third-party cybersecurity operations assessment (Red Team). A thorough
Red Team engagement will expose vulnerabilities and risks regarding:
• Technology — Networks, applications, routers, switches, appliances, etc.
• People — Staff, independent contractors, departments, business partners, etc.
• Physical — Offices, warehouses, substations, data centers, buildings, etc.
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27STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Property Management Policy
Summary Policy Statement
The Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District) owns and operates assets throughout its
service area located in property owned in fee, through easements and in the public right-of-way. The
Sanitation District will identify and protect all of its property rights to assure that its assets are not
encumbered or encroached upon so that the facilities may be properly operated, maintained, upgraded, and replaced.
Background
The Sanitation District owns and operates more than $10 billion in assets. A portion of those assets
include buildings, easements, rights of way and other encroachments. OCSD has recently sold and
purchased property to support its efforts. The Sanitation District does not maintain expertise in the real
estate discipline. As these transactions are limited and not core to OCSD, it has been determined that it is more cost effective to augment the Sanitation District resources with contracted specialized real estate services.
Current Situation
The Sanitation District manages its physical property and property rights. Additionally, it manages
landscaping, building maintenance, security and building maintenance. District staff primarily manages
these activities.
Future Policy Statement
The Sanitation District will effectively manage its assets and proactively research and maintain all
encroachments, encumbrances and easements. Many of these activities are not core to OCSD’s mission.
The Sanitation District will maintain sufficient resources using a combination of contracted specialized
real estate and property management services and internal staffing. Although OCSD is not in the
business of managing property as a revenue enhancement or core activity, it does own and operate millions in physical property and property rights.
Initiatives to Support Progress Toward the Policy Goal
• The Sanitation District will review its property rights to identify encroachments or encumbrances that
restrict operation, maintenance, inspection or emergency repair access. Staff will work with identified parties to remove encroachments or encumbrances.
• Staff will consolidate real estate and property management activities to maximize its resources
and effectiveness. With the completion of the property rights and real estate assessments, the Sanitation District will evaluate the various resources available and develop an appropriate resource management plan to assess and maintain its property assets
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Environmental Stewardship
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30 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Energy Independence Policy
Summary Policy Statement
The Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District) will strive to be a net energy exporter.
Electrical, thermal, and methane gas generation will be maximized. Energy utilization will be minimized
using sound engineering and financial principles.
Background
The Sanitation District must balance the impacts of its operation between land, air, and water. For
example, as a water focused utility, the Sanitation District seeks to produce the cleanest water possible
to minimize the impacts of human activity on the ocean, as well as to renew freshwater resources for
further domestic and commercial use. A natural result of cleaning this water is the separation and
concentration of constituent solid and gaseous materials. These solid and gaseous products can impact
land and air. The balance of impact on land, air, and water are shifted by application or creation of energy through chemical, biological, or thermal conversion techniques.
The Sanitation District is also committed to be a good neighbor. As such, significant amounts of energy
are spent capturing and converting odorous air and vapor streams. The Sanitation District has pursued a comprehensive program to cover and seal its liquid and solid processes. Air streams are ducted to large fans which move thousands of cubic feet of foul air per minute through chemical, biological, and activated carbon beds to scrub the air of odorants that are regulated or may be perceived as a nuisance by the community.
The Sanitation District has utilized an anaerobic digestion process that relies on biological conversion of solid organic material to methane and carbon dioxide gas. The methane is converted to electrical and heat energy in power plants for internal use. The Sanitation District’s secondary treatment system is another example of using energy to convert water impacts to air emissions. Approximately 23% of the Sanitation District’s energy usage within the treatment process is devoted to aerating water so biological agents can convert soluble organic material to nitrogen and carbon dioxide. The generation of energy itself creates an impact on the environment in air and thermal emissions.
Current Situation
The potential exists to further shift environmental impacts between land, air, and water through the utilization of energy. The Sanitation District is an environmental steward that seeks to balance and minimize overall impact by efficiently utilizing the energy inputs to its processes and maximizing the harvesting of energy available in the incoming wastewater.
On the energy use side of the ledger, the Sanitation District invests prudently in lifecycle energy efficiency to minimize the use of energy to achieve its mission. Pumping systems to lift water and move material for premium efficiency. Thermal energy is harvested from power production for use in the process and to heat and cool occupied buildings. Aeration compressors and diffusers are selected by overall efficiency. Lighting systems are upgraded over time to more efficient technologies and lighting levels are balanced between safety and security needs versus energy utilization and light pollution concerns. Facility designers and operators make careful choices regarding the utilization of every watt of electricity, BTU of heat, and therm of gas consumed.
On the energy generation side of the ledger, the Sanitation District seeks to maximize the internal creation of energy. The primary source of energy creation is in digester gas, also called biogas, which is mostly methane. Organic solids collected and concentrated in the water treatment processes are converted biologically to biogas composed of 65% methane, 34% carbon dioxide, and other trace constituents. The Sanitation District has been using this technology since the 1950s. Research has been ongoing since that time to maximize the production of digester gas. Some of the areas of research include improved mixing and heating; improved feeding; chemical addition to limit trace pollutant production; introduction of food waste; injection of fats, oils, and grease; and cell lysing.
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The Sanitation District cleans the biogas and converts this biogas into electricity, heat, and exhaust gas.
The exhaust gas is regulated ever more tightly for nitrogen compounds, carbon monoxide, particulates,
and volatile organic compounds which require costly and performance degrading engine control
technologies. This is another example of an air impact/energy trade off. These internal systems of
energy harvesting provide roughly 66% of the Sanitation District’s electrical demand and 92% of the
Sanitation District’s thermal demand in the treatment plants. The Sanitation District can shift the
digester gas between treatment plants via an interplant pipeline and has roughly 8 MW of additional
generation capacity if more gas is produced.
In addition, the Sanitation District is installing electrical battery storage capacity. This system is
primarily in place to lower operating cost by importing electricity for charging during low-cost nighttime
hours and discharging that energy for process use during peak-cost hours. The slight energy loss due to
system inefficiencies is outweighed by the cost savings and benefit to the region by lowering the peak
demand of the Sanitation District by up to five megawatts.
Future Policy Statement
The Sanitation District seeks to be energy independent by self-generating all the electrical and thermal
energy necessary to sustain its operations. This will be accomplished by economically minimizing
its utilization requirements and maximizing energy harvested from the wastewater it receives. The
Sanitation District will also study and use photovoltaic cells in non-process areas where it makes
economic sense. Energy independence will improve the Sanitation District’s environmental impact and
improve its operational reliability and resiliency.
When the Sanitation District has achieved energy independence, it will seek to make excess biogenic or
green energy available to external users via gas sales, power grid exports, or transportation fuels. The
State of California has set goals for renewable energy utilization for electrical production and hydrogen
transportation fuels. The Sanitation District’s biogas is viewed favorably in these industries to meet the
State of California targets. The Sanitation District is working very diligently and creatively to maximize
the production of gas and reduce its own energy needs, but energy independence is the first goal which
has not yet been met.
Staff recommends that innovative research continue to maximize energy harvesting and to minimize
energy inputs first to make the Sanitation District energy independent in the most basic mission of
protecting the public health and the environment. Once this has been achieved, excess energy can be
made available for meeting the State of California’s goals for the electrical grid and transportation fuels.
Initiatives to Support Progress Toward the Policy Goal
• Maximize the anaerobic digestion conversion of organics to methane through receipt of food waste
and operational techniques.
• Investigate and install energy storage and photovoltaic systems where practical to achieve energy
independence/resilience.
• Continue to support the conversion of biomethane into electricity and heat for process use. Improve
systems as necessary to comply with air regulations.
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Climate and Catastrophic Event Resilience Policy
Summary Policy Statement
The Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District) aims to design, maintain and operate valuable
wastewater assets that withstand or adapt to adverse conditions in a reasonable manner that is both
cost-effective and sustainable for present and future generations. These adverse conditions include
heavy rains, flooding, sea level rise, earthquakes, tsunamis, extreme heat, wildfires, and electrical grid interruptions.
Background
The Sanitation District owns and operates extensive wastewater collection and treatment facilities
valued at nearly $11 billion. The Sanitation District service area faces special challenges because of
the geographic location of its facilities. These challenges include: its position on and near seismic risk
factors, its proximity to the Pacific Coast, adjacency of its treatment facilities to the Santa Ana River, and being served by increasingly fragile energy utilities.
The Sanitation District’s facilities are situated on or near several seismic risk factors. Plant No. 2 is
located directly on top of the Newport-Inglewood fault. Both plants and the collection system are influenced by many adjacent major and minor faults capable of delivering damaging energy. Both of our treatment plants and the majority of our collection system sit on top of silty, alluvial soils that can have the effect of amplifying the earth motion and risk liquefaction during a seismic event. The Sanitation District has invested significantly over the last 50 years to improve the soils, foundations, and structures to mitigate these seismic risks. As geotechnical and structural knowledge and building codes progress, upgrades and facility replacements will be necessary.
Another seismic risk associated with having a treatment plant and several pump stations located on the Pacific Coast, is the risk of tsunami inundation. The Sanitation District has been working with and reviewing the plans of the City of Huntington Beach and the City of Newport Beach to understand and quantify this risk. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has created a new standard, ASCE 7-16, to layout design parameters for lateral forces and inundation zone associated with potential tsunamis.
The Sanitation District understands that climactic factors we face change widely over time. The Sanitation District’s systems must perform in extreme wet weather situations (atmospheric rivers), extreme dry weather conditions (drought), extreme tidal conditions (king tides, rising sea levels), as well as high and low temperature extremes. The Sanitation District generally designs for historical and expected “average conditions” for optimal performance but must also assure operations for extreme weather events.
The Sanitation District serves a critical public health role. Its operations must be reliable 24 hours per day, 365 days a year. Electricity, and to a lesser extent natural gas, are necessary for pumping and treatment operations. Both electricity and natural gas supplies have become increasingly vulnerable to interruption. Electricity deliveries are more vulnerable due to wildfire outage criteria, loss of local generation assets, aging infrastructure and extreme weather events. Natural gas supplies are more vulnerable due to the loss of local storage capacity, aging infrastructure, line corrosion, and more stringent regulatory requirements. The Sanitation District has significant capacity to self-supply critical energy requirement for extended periods.
Current Situation
The Sanitation District has spent considerable effort quantifying its seismic, climate, and utility supply risks. Several key studies have been initiated and will be completed in the next two years. The most acute risk factor faced by the Sanitation District is seismic risk. Climate and utility supply risks are more accurately described as chronic risks.
Seismic risk factors include ground shaking, liquefaction, lateral spreading, and fault rupture. Both treatment plants are situated in historic riverbed with poor soil conditions. The collection system
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is vulnerable to failures during seismic events. The state of the art for seismic design has changed
greatly over the Sanitation District’s history and will continue to do so. Many of our critical structures
were designed or installed prior to the great learning that occurred in the earthquakes of the 1990s.
Significant effort has been expended to better characterize the soil conditions under our treatment
plants and pump stations. Projects to refurbish or replace existing unit processes are, or soon will be,
scoped and budgeted to provide enhanced seismic resilience. These measures include soil mixing to
stiffen the soil, various foundation designs and building structure improvements.
Tsunami resilience and flooding protection can go hand in hand. To a great extent, these two risk factors
can be mitigated in the same way. The Tsunami guidelines for inundation in ASCE 7-16 are a reasonable
peer reviewed standard. By complying with this standard for Huntington Beach and Newport Beach,
the Sanitation District will be reasonably prepared for flooding caused by extreme storm events and
conservative sea level rise estimates at Plant No. 2 and pump stations in the City of Newport Beach.
The Sanitation District has also expended significant effort to prepare for the effects of weather
extremes on its operations. Extreme wet weather impacts operations. Inflow and infiltration during
intense storm activity have multiplied average dry weather flow rate by up to three times in recent
years. The Sanitation District has significant wet weather capacity and will continue to maintain a 640
million gallon per day influent and outfall capacity which is roughly 3.5 times our average dry weather
flow. Historically high rains as seen in 1863 and 1938 will push our systems to the limit.
The Sanitation District has also adapted its systems to perform in extreme dry weather. The Sanitation
District in cooperation with OCWD operates the largest potable water reuse system in the world. This is
made possible by replumbing our treatment plants and adding new smaller pump stations to deal with
extreme low outfall flow rates in the morning hours. The Sanitation District also has, and continues to
grow, the ability to shift influent flow between its treatment plants which creates additional resilience
for risk factors.
Finally, on the topic of utility supply, the Sanitation District built redundant supplies for its most
critical needs: electricity, natural gas and water. The Sanitation District has maintained three sources
of electricity supply for more than 25 years. The treatment plants can be supplied with power from
Southern California Edison, the Sanitation District’s Central Generation Plants or on-site diesel
generation systems to maintain basic operation to protect public health. In terms of natural gas, the
Sanitation District has been producing bio-methane through anaerobic digestion since the 1950s with
enough capacity to provide electricity and necessary process heat.
Future Policy Statement
The Sanitation District will continue to build and improve its facilities to meet the seismic, climate and
energy infrastructure risks that it faces with a long-term, planned approach. Acute life-safety risks that
are identified or facilities that are damaged or fail in a catastrophic event will be addressed very quickly.
However, it is not practical to update $11 billion in facilities every time a code is updated, or new
climate change estimate is released. The Sanitation District will stay abreast of code and climate change
estimates as they occur and will implement improvements or replacements to facilities on a long-term
basis in line with its asset management practices. The Sanitation District generally plans to refurbish or
replace its mechanical and electrical assets every 20 to 25 years with an average capital improvement
investment of $250 million per year.
The Sanitation District facilities are designed to meet industry codes. As time goes on and codes are
updated, it is not required to upgrade existing facilities to meet those latest codes unless there is
a mandate to do so, or a risk in not doing so is recognized. The Sanitation District will accept some
incremental risk in having some facilities that are not necessarily compliant with latest building
codes or subject to increased greater risks until a project to rehabilitate or replace these facilities
is developed. All of the Sanitation District’s facilities have a planned life span with two to three
refurbishment cycles. Identified seismic or flooding vulnerabilities may drive a replacement versus
refurbishment decision in the normal capital planning process.
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35STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
The Sanitation District will continue to aspire to energy independence which will help mitigate
vulnerabilities to loss of electrical and gas utilities. In addition, the Sanitation District will continue
to maintain third level, diesel generator, electrical supply capability for critical loads. On-site diesel
storage will provide up to three days of power to run the plants. Pump stations diesel generation will be
site specific in its design based on flow risks, hydraulic storage capacity, and site constraints. Either on-
site generation or quickly deployable mobile generators will provide emergency power for up to days at
a time.
Initiatives to Support Progress Toward the Policy Goal
• Complete an engineering study of the seismic vulnerabilities of the treatment plants. Incorporate
necessary upgrades into future capital improvement projects.
• Complete the biannual high flow exercise to assure readiness for a high flow event. Maintain a higher
level of readiness October 15 through March 15 and in advance of predicted significant rain events.
• Study the potential impact of tsunami and changing climate conditions including flooding due to high
tides and heavy rain events.
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36 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Food Waste Treatment Policy
Summary Policy Statement
The State of California limits the volume of organic waste that may be diverted to landfills. The Orange
County Sanitation District (Sanitation District) will collaborate with the County of Orange, other local
agencies, and waste haulers to find ways to beneficially reuse food waste, a type of organic waste to assist
cities in our service area in meeting their diversion requirements while increasing the Sanitation District’s
energy production.
Background
Whether supplying secondary treated wastewater for the Groundwater Replenishment System, creating
renewable energy in the form of biogas from anaerobic digestion to produce electricity, or benefiting from
the use of biosolids as a soil amendment, the Sanitation District is a resource recovery agency committed
to providing resilient and reliable wastewater treatment service while protecting the public health and the
environment.
In recent years, there has been a significant change in the regulatory landscape in California related to
the diversion of organics such as food, green material, wood, paper, biosolids, digestate, and sludges from
landfills. Currently, much of the state’s diverted organics are being composted or used as alternative daily
cover on landfills. With the phaseout of organics as alternative daily cover, the regulatory shift is creating
an organics market for the wastewater sector to provide a solution to manage organics such as food waste
by way of co-digestion. There is an opportunity for the Sanitation District to produce additional biogas,
reducing the need to purchase electricity from the local utility.
Anaerobic digestion is currently at the nexus of important State of California mandates, namely:
(1) organics diversion from landfills (AB 1826 and SB 1383), and (2) increased renewable energy and fuels
generation (SB 32 and SB 100). The primary alternatives for organics management are anaerobic digestion
and composting — of which anaerobic digestion is the only process offering energy recovery potential.
Over the next few years, California’s cities and counties, along with municipal solid waste haulers,
material recovery facilities, and landfills will need to develop collection, processing, and energy recovery
infrastructure to address new state legislation and goals. Existing wastewater treatment plants such as the
Sanitation District are uniquely positioned to play a role in the new organics marketplace since solid waste
management facilities do not typically have anaerobic digesters, the energy recovery infrastructure in
place, or experience regarding the management of biosolids for beneficial use.
In 2017, the Sanitation District completed a comprehensive Biosolids Master Plan (Plan) that provides a
roadmap and framework for sustainable and cost-effective biosolids management options and future
capital facilities improvement over a 20-year planning horizon. Considering the timeliness of the regulatory
mandates requiring organic diversion from landfills and increased renewable energy, the Plan evaluated
the feasibility of implementing a high strength organic waste receiving program involving the co-digestion
of preprocessed food waste.
While food waste digestion appears to be feasible, the Sanitation District’s existing infrastructure isn’t well
suited for receiving, handling, or digesting green waste. Current digester feed, mixing, heating, dewatering
and truck loading facilities aren’t designed to deal with cellulosic products in green waste. The highly
fibrous material doesn’t readily break down and clogs the various systems optimized for sewage sludge
treatment. In addition, there are legal hurdles specified in the California Health and Safety Code, Section
4700, that must be addressed before the Sanitation District could operate a refuse transfer facility.
Current Situation
Project Viability
The Sanitation District’s Plan concluded that the costs to construct and operate a food waste receiving
facility could be offset by tipping fees charged to food waste processors/haulers and by additional power
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37STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
generated from the increased digester gas production. The Plan recommended that the Sanitation
District build an interim food waste receiving station immediately to take advantage of existing
digestion and power generation capacity of approximately 150-250 wet tons per day at Plant No. 2. The
Sanitation District will construct a more permanent facility in the future to coincide with the planned
construction of new digesters at Plant No. 2, allowing an additional capacity to co-digest approximately
500 wet tons per day of food waste. The Sanitation District also has at least 6 MW of installed electrical
generation capacity that can convert the produced digester gas to electricity and heat.
Based on these recommendations, in 2018 the Sanitation District’s Board approved a project (P2-124)
to construct an interim (10-15 years) food waste facility to receive, store, and feed preprocessed food
waste slurry to the digester complex at Plant No. 2 to generate additional digester gas. This project will
be designed to accept approximately 150 wet tons per day of preprocessed food waste and will produce
approximately 15 percent more methane gas for on-site energy production, resulting in a greenhouse
gas reduction of approximately 10,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually which is
equivalent to the annual greenhouse gases generated by approximately 2,000 passenger vehicles. This
is consistent with the Sanitation District’s Energy Independence Policy which is to strive to be energy
independent by minimizing energy utilization and maximizing useful energy recovery from the sewage it
receives. The interim receiving station is scheduled to be completed in 2022.
The final biosolids product currently produced by the Sanitation District is anticipated to be largely
unaffected by the addition of food waste slurry. Pilot testing conducted by the Sanitation District
indicates that there will be increased gas production due to mixing sewage sludge and food waste feed
stock, but the final biosolids product will remain largely unchanged.
A draft Preliminary Design Report was issued in June 2019 for the interim receiving facility which
included a viability evaluation concluding that the project is economically justifiable based on project
costs and anticipated tipping fees. Final Design work has started and among other important items, the
tipping fee and food slurry specifications will be further refined and validated.
There are three large municipal solid waste haulers that have expressed interest in collaborating with
the Sanitation District to provide preprocessed food waste for digestion. Of these, two haulers are
located within the county and one is located outside the county. Another important partner for the
Sanitation District is Orange County Waste and Recycling (OCWR). The Sanitation District has met with
OCWR and they have expressed interest in partnering with the Sanitation District to find local solutions
to meet SB 1383’s organics diversion mandate including in-county biosolids management, composting,
food waste co-digestion, and biogas production.
Future Policy Statement
Food Waste Slurry
The Sanitation District will only accept a preprocessed food waste slurry. We do not have available land
or air permits to handle, sort, and process solid or green wastes. The Sanitation District will work with
other public agencies and waste haulers to develop an industry standard for food waste slurry that
specifies water, organic, metal, plastic, and glass content requirements. A common specification for
slurry will help all parties make investment decisions.
Food Waste Volume
The Sanitation District has identified available capacity within its infrastructure at Plant No. 2 to
accommodate food waste conversion to energy. The processes impacted by food waste conversion are
digestion, gas cleaning, gas compression, generation, process heating, biosolid dewatering and biosolids
loading. These impacted systems have the capacity to accept 150 to 250 wet tons per day for the next
ten years. Beyond ten years, the Sanitation District plans on upgrading its digestion, gas compression,
and gas treatment systems. Based on the lessons learned from the interim system and the development
of the food waste market, the Sanitation District plans to be able to accept up to 500 wet tons per day
when the new digestion, gas compression, and gas treatment systems are completed.
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38 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
The Sanitation District believes that the full implementation of the current regulations will create a food
waste slurry market significantly greater than 500 wet tons per day in Southern California.
Tipping Fee Basis
The acceptance of food waste has the opportunity to more fully utilize the system capacity that already exists for the benefit of the Sanitation District’s rate payers.
The Sanitation District staff will develop a base tipping fee rate schedule for Board of Directors’ approval that meets the following criteria:
• Recover all capital costs to construct facilities within five years (this will allow the Sanitation District
and waste haulers to properly invest in processing facilities);
• Recover all on-going costs including operating cost, maintenance cost, electricity usage, biosolids
dewatering, and reuse costs;
• Food Waste will not be operated “for profit” but rather a cost recovered service with revenues
offsetting rates and passed on to OCSD’s rate payers.
Food waste generated and processed within the service area will be charged the base rate and will be prioritized over food waste from outside the service area. This is justified by the fact that the underlying
infrastructure of the Sanitation District is already owned by service area rate payers. The Sanitation
District contracts with service area waste haulers must provide for a pass-through savings to the
Sanitation District rate payers. That means waste haulers may charge for collection and processing of
food waste but must disclose to their City or Special District franchise partner the Sanitation District’s
tipping fees and negotiate pricing adjustments as necessary with City or Special District franchise
partners.
If additional capacity exists, but isn’t utilized by in service area users, then that capacity may be
contracted by out of service area users at a premium to help offset the cost of the underlying
infrastructure necessary to process the food waste.
The Sanitation District will pursue grant opportunities to the extent possible to reduce the overall
capital and operating cost basis for the program to reduce the tipping fee base rate.
Initiatives to Support Progress Toward the Policy Goal
• The Sanitation District will accept a preprocessed food waste slurry from contracted waste haulers
that will be fed to existing anaerobic digesters. The Sanitation District will charge a tipping fee to
offset its costs for capital construction, operations, handling, maintenance, and biosolids disposal.
• Design, build, and operate a food waste receiving station. Create a specification for food waste slurry
and contract with solid waste haulers to receive and process food waste.
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39STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Water Reuse Policy
Summary Policy Statement
The Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District) will seek to beneficially reuse all reclaimable
water for potable, industrial, irrigation and environmental uses.
Background
For over 40 years, the Sanitation District and the Orange County Water District (OCWD) have partnered to
beneficially reuse treated wastewater from the Sanitation District. OCWD, which serves roughly the same
service area as the Sanitation District, manages and replenishes the groundwater basin in northern and
central Orange County, ensures water reliability and quality, prevents seawater intrusion, and protects
Orange County’s rights to Santa Ana River water.
Beginning in 1975, the Sanitation District contributed treated wastewater from its Plant No. 1 to OCWD
for the operation of Water Factory 21, which reclaimed the treated wastewater and injected it along
with deep well water into the groundwater basin to prevent seawater intrusion. In the mid-1990s, OCWD
needed to expand Water Factory 21. At the same time, the Sanitation District faced the challenge of
having to build a second ocean outfall pipe to discharge treated wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. Both agencies collaborated to build an advanced water purification facility to resolve these challenges. This state-of-the-art facility, known as the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS), took the place of Water Factory 21, and began operation in 2008. The GWRS treats secondary treated wastewater from the Sanitation District Plant No. 1 to drinking water standards and uses the purified water for both injection and percolation, through injection wells and recharge basins, as source water to replenish the groundwater basin’s drinking water supplies. With approximately 75 percent of the water demand in northern and central Orange County cities coming from the groundwater basin, GWRS supplements existing water supplies by providing a new, reliable, high-quality source of water.
While the original GWRS facility was initially constructed to supply up to 70 million gallons per day (MGD) of purified water, the facility was designed for an ultimate treatment and conveyance capacity of 130 MGD. The original GWRS design intent was to expand the GWRS facility in two phases — an initial and a final expansion of an additional 30 MGD of treatment capacity with each expansion. The GWRS Initial Expansion Project was completed in June 2015 and has been producing up to 100 MGD of purified water for groundwater injection and recharge. The Final Expansion of GWRS is scheduled to be completed in 2023 and will produce the maximum capacity of 130 MGD.
In addition to providing treated wastewater to the GWRS, the Sanitation District also provides treated water to OCWD’s Green Acres Project, which provides recycled water for landscape irrigation at parks, schools, and golf courses; and industrial uses, such as carpet dying; toilet flushing; and power generation cooling.
Current Situation
The GWRS currently produces 100 million gallons per day of purified water — enough water for about 850,000 people. All of the Sanitation District’s Plant No. 1 secondary effluent, between 120-130 MGD, is sent to OCWD for the GWRS and Green Acres Project. However, secondary effluent from the Sanitation District’s Plant No. 2 and other non-reclaimable flows, such as brine from inland desalters and GWRS’s reverse osmosis process, and the Sanitation District’s process sidestreams, continue to be released into the ocean.
In 2016, the Sanitation District and OCWD jointly conducted the Effluent Reuse Study, which evaluated the feasibility of recycling the Sanitation District’s secondary effluent from Plant No. 2 and identified projects required to achieve the final expansion of the GWRS. The GWRS final expansion effort will include implementation of projects to construct new, modified or rehabilitated facilities at Plant No. 2 to separate reclaimable flows from non-reclaimable flows; to equalize, pump, and convey secondary effluent from the Sanitation District’s Plant No. 2 to the GWRS facility; and to treat the additional source water to produce 130 MGD of purified water.
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40 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Reverse Osmosis brine generated at the GWRS Initial Expansion is currently discharged into the ocean.
The 2016 Effluent Reuse Study identified alternative brine management strategies such as evaporation
ponds, deep well injection, and engineered wetlands. Evaporation ponds are land intensive and are also
energy intensive when combined with a brine crystallizer to remove solids from highly concentrated
brine system using heat and pressure. While the areas around both the Sanitation District treatment
plants have the appropriate geology for brine injection, there are concerns with contamination of
drinking water aquifers, and seismic risks due to the Newport-Inglewood zones near Plant No. 2. At this
time, it does not appear economically feasible to provide alternative management strategies for the
brine discharge.
In November 2016, the Sanitation District Board of Directors adopted the Second Amended and
Restated Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement for the Development, Operation and Maintenance of
the Groundwater Replenishment System and Green Acres Project, which committed the agency to
continue supporting the GWRS and the Green Acres Project, and specifically, the final expansion of the
GWRS. The implementation of the final phase of the expansion will be executed by multiple projects,
some executed by the Sanitation District while the others executed by OCWD. Project costs related to
GWRS are funded by OCWD, including $50 million reimbursement to the Sanitation District for its costs
incurred to execute related projects.
By supporting the GWRS Final Expansion, the Sanitation District will be able to recycle all reclaimable
wastewater generated in its service area and treated at its two treatment plants, and OCWD will have
sufficient water to run the GWRS facility to full capacity.
Future Policy Statement
The treated effluent produced from the Sanitation District’s Plant Nos. 1 and 2 is a valuable resource
that can help boost local water resources and reduce dependence on imported water, while reducing
the effluent discharged to the ocean. The Sanitation District will continue to seek opportunities for
beneficial reuse of all reclaimable wastewater collected and treated at its facilities.
The Sanitation District will continue to support the completion of the final expansion of the GWRS in
accordance to the adopted Second Amended and Restated Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement for the
Development, Operation and Maintenance of the Groundwater Replenishment System and Green Acres
Project. This includes providing secondary effluent as source water for GWRS free of charge; allowing
OCWD to discharge brine via the Sanitation District’s ocean outfall free of charge; leasing approximately
10 acres of land to OCWD at $1 per year for the GWRS Final Expansion project; allowing OCWD to
discharge North and South Basin extraction well flows to the Sanitation District sewers; managing
the design and construction efforts of the Plant No. 2 Headworks Modifications Project and the Plant
Water Pump Station Replacement Project (OCWD will reimburse up to $50 million of project cost);
managing and financing the construction of the Ocean Outfall Low Flow Pump Station at Plant No. 2
and the construction of Plant No. 2 primary and secondary facilities to allow segregation of
non-reclaimable flows.
The Sanitation District will continue to maximize the delivery of secondary effluent available to GWRS
and the Green Acres Project in order to maximize full production of purified recycled water for indirect
potable reuse, and industrial and irrigational uses. The Sanitation District has been operating the Steve
Anderson Lift Station to divert more flows to Plant No. 1. The two agencies regularly communicate and
coordinate the Sanitation District operations and construction projects that may have impacts on GWRS
operation and will continue this collaboration effort.
The Sanitation District has adequate flow to maximize the production of the GWRS through final
expansion. Diversion of additional non-wastewater into the sewer system is unnecessary. Non-
wastewater diversions create high flow risks during wet weather conditions and can introduce
constituents of concern to existing water and biosolid reuse programs.
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41STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Initiatives to Support Progress Toward the Policy Goal
• Support the completion of the final phase of the Groundwater Replenishment System and maximize
reclaimable wastewater availability to the Orange County Water District.
• Support Green Acres project water production to provide reclaimed water for industrial and
irrigation uses.
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42 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Environmental Water Quality, Stormwater Management and Urban Runoff Policy
Summary Policy Statement
The Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District) will partner with storm water permittees to
accept up to ten million gallons per day of dry weather urban runoff at no charge in order to improve water
quality in streams, rivers and beaches as long as the constituents within the flow do not adversely impact
the Sanitation District’s worker safety, treatment processes, reuse initiatives, or permit compliance. The
Sanitation District facilities are subject to significant flow increases during wet weather events and are not
capable of accepting stormwater flow volumes.
Background
The Sanitation District’s wastewater collection system is designed to be wholly separate from the
region’s stormwater systems, also referred to as storm sewers and/or storm drains. The Sanitation
District implements a system-specific Sewer System Management Plan in compliance with the California
Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems, Water Quality Order No.
2006-0003-DWQ. In the Sanitation District’s service area, most local sanitary sewer systems are owned
by city municipalities and discharge into the Sanitation District -owned regional sewers. Similarly, many
stormwater systems are also owned and maintained at the local level, referred to as municipal separate
storm sewer systems or MS4. These publicly owned conveyances or a system of conveyances are designed
to collect/convey stormwater, are not combined with sanitary sewers, and not part of the sewage
treatment works. Stormwater runoff is water generated from precipitation events that flows over land or
impervious surfaces including streets, parking lots, and building rooftops — this water does not return to
groundwater basins, because it does not soak into the ground. This runoff accumulates pollutants from
transportation, construction, industrial, and residential sources that can include trash or other solid waste,
chemicals, oil, and other sediments. MS4 stormwater that is not captured for reuse, typically discharges
into regional systems, most notably flood control channels (e.g. the Santa Ana River), that subsequently
flow to the ocean and are regulated by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) that
also regulates the Sanitation District’s discharge to the ocean.
Due to the design and operation of local and regional sanitary sewers, there is not system capacity to
allow ‘wet weather’ stormwater discharges to the sewer. Excessive flows into the sewer beyond its design
capacity can lead to sanitary sewer overflows (also called SSOs), spills, and potential sewage backups. The
Santa Ana River can provide massive storm-flow capacity at approximately 22,000 cubic feet per second
(cfs) of water, and the Delhi Channel at 325 cfs, as compared to the peak wet weather flow for both the
Sanitation District Plant Nos. 1 and 2 combine to less than 1,000 cfs — much of which is utilized for sanitary
sewer service at all times. During ‘dry weather’, stormwater systems collect flow from ‘dry weather urban
runoff’ activities, such as residential or industrial use, irrigation, water released from previous precipitation,
among others. Most sanitary sewer systems are gravity draining, that is, most non-industrial facilities
passively drain to the sewer and do not typically take action to commence discharge of wastewater. As a
result, it’s important that facilities are constructed in such a way that they will not drain active stormwater
or urban runoff flow to the sewer, especially during rain. Additionally, stormwater best management
practices (BMPs) typically dictate that the generation of contaminated stormwater should be mitigated
through proper facility design including berms and grading.
The Sanitation District’s Wastewater Discharge Regulations Ordinance, which sets quality standards and
requirements for facilities discharging to the Sanitation District, includes language to prohibit sewer
users from discharging groundwater, stormwater, surface runoff, or subsurface drainage to the sewer
without written authorization or a permit issued for such a purpose. In addition to the concerns related
to insufficient capacity in the Sanitation District’s sewer collection system, there is a concern that
uncontrolled discharge to the sewer from these types of systems can introduce pollutants that may cause
issues in the Sanitation District’s treatment and reclamation plants, discharge to the ocean, or affect the
agency’s ability to recycle water or reuse biosolids. The Sanitation District’s Ordinance was recently revised
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43STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
to clarify these restrictions and include a prohibition on drainage from non-domestic surface and floor
drains to address these types of uncontrolled discharges.
However, given the public health and environmental protection issues that may arise from runoff-
carried pollutants being transferred into the Sanitation District’s coastal beaches and waters, in April
2000 the Sanitation District initiated a permitting program to assist in the economical and practical
control of these pollutants during dry weather conditions.
Following the Sanitation District’s sponsored legislation (AB 1892), the Sanitation District’s charter
was amended to authorize the Board of Directors to adopt Resolution No. 00-04 establishing a dry
season urban runoff policy that allowed local agencies to obtain a Dry Weather Urban Runoff Permit to
discharge to the Sanitation District. Agencies could apply for this permit type where there was not an
economically or practically feasible alternative (i.e. discharge to storm drain, reclamation/reuse, etc.) to
discharging dry weather urban runoff to the sewer, and the discharger met other conditions including
complying with the Sanitation District’s Wastewater Discharge Regulations Ordinance.
In September 2000, the Sanitation District modified the Dry Weather Urban Runoff Policy (Resolution No.
00-22) to cap discharges received to ten million gallons per day (MGD). Furthermore, the policy revision
established the waiving of fees associated with the program until discharges exceeded four MGD, or
until the policy underwent future revisions. There were a number of other modifications to the policy
that added facility and compliance requirements for Dry Weather Urban Runoff permittees.
The Sanitation District Board Resolution No. 01-07, adopted in March 2001, added language to the
policy clarifying conditions in which the Sanitation District would and would not be indemnified against
liability associated with diversion systems. Indemnification is a critical component of Dry Weather Urban
Runoff agreements necessary to address the risks posed to the Sanitation District associated with water
quality, flooding, trash, infrastructure damage, and other concerns. In June 2013, the Sanitation District’s
current policy was established when Resolution No. 13-09 was adopted. This included a revision where
upon reaching a dry weather urban runoff influent rate of nine MGD, the Sanitation District will take
action to reevaluate the policy.
In addition to Dry Weather Urban Runoff Permits, the Sanitation District’s Ordinance allows for
normally prohibited wastes such as groundwater, stormwater, surface runoff, and subsurface drainage
to be discharged to the Sanitation District as authorized through a Special Purpose Discharge Permit
or written authorization from the Sanitation District; only when no alternate method of disposal is
reasonably available or to mitigate an environmental risk or health hazard.
The Dry Weather Urban Runoff and Special Purpose Discharge permit programs are intended to assist
in the protection of public health and the environment by routing contaminated discharges into the
Sanitation District’s treatment and reclamation plants. For example, the toxic amounts of selenium
in the Upper Newport Bay Watershed have resulted in regulatory requirements to remove selenium
loadings from upstream creeks and channels to protect downstream aquatic life. For dry weather urban
runoff discharges, the Sanitation District is able to accommodate certain waste streams that mitigate
these hazards. However, the Sanitation District treatment and reclamation plants also have limitations
on the loading of pollutants that can be discharged to them — particularly because traditional
sewage treatment plants are not designed to remove toxic pollutants, but are designed to remove
the conventional pollutants typically found in wastewater generated from normal sanitary uses. The
Sanitation District’s Ordinance dictates that permitted users, such as Dry Weather Urban Runoff or
Special Purpose Discharge users, must comply with numeric effluent limit standards for toxic pollutants.
Continuing the example from above, discharges must meet a selenium effluent limit of 3.9 milligrams
per liter (mg/L), a derived value based on the compliance standard, the Sanitation District is held
accountable in order to reuse biosolids. In this example, the Sanitation District may choose to issue a
permit to mitigate a public health or environmental concern, but must do so in such a way as to also
address the potential impact on the Sanitation District’s plants and its reuse initiatives — with permit
numeric limits and conditions.
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44 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Current Situation
As of June 2019, the Sanitation District maintains 21 active Dry Weather Urban Runoff Permits for diversions owned and operated by the City of Huntington Beach, the City of Newport Beach, OC Public
Works, Irvine Ranch Water District, and a LLC responsible for the areas in and around Pelican Point
community. For the June to December 2018 reporting period, the Sanitation District received an average
of 1.03 MGD from these facilities, well below the current ten MGD policy cap and nine MGD action
threshold. Since the program’s inception in 2000, the Dry Weather Urban Runoff Program has treated
9.4 billion gallons of dry weather urban runoff. The success of this program is captured succinctly in
reviewing the Heal the Bay 2018-2019 Beach Report Card. Heal the Bay is an environmental non-profit
organization focused on coastal water and watershed quality, and reported that 92 percent of beaches
in Orange County received an ‘A’ rating during summer dry weather conditions — some the Sanitation
District -service area beaches made the report card ‘honor roll’ with an A+ rating. It should be noted
that this overall rating is negatively impacted by south Orange County beaches that are not in the
Sanitation District’s service area.
Both the permitted Dry Weather Urban Runoff users and the Sanitation District staff collect samples
from Dry Weather Urban Runoff facilities (during dry season discharge) on a semi-annual basis to
evaluate compliance with pollutant limits establish in the Sanitation District’s Ordinance.
Periodically, the Sanitation District works with other organizations and industries that have intentionally
or unintentionally captured stormwater or runoff on-site and seek guidance on disposing of the water.
The Sanitation District may authorize such a discharge request where: there is adequate capacity,
wastewater meets applicable effluent discharge standards, there is no practical alternative method
of disposal, and the wastewater is captured and held until it can be released to the sewer apart
from a high-capacity or storm event. The Sanitation District can utilize written authorizations, special
conditions on an existing wastewater discharge permit, or a Special Purpose Discharge Permit — issued
for planned short-or-long-term discharges. In other instances, the Sanitation District has observed
unauthorized stormwater connections to the sewer during routine inspections of facilities and worked
with the dischargers to mitigate these to prevent potential overflow conditions.
Special discharges described above, where acceptable through a Special Purpose Discharge Permit or
written authorization, are not included in the ten MGD allowance under the Dry Weather Urban Runoff
program.
Key Issues for the Future
Under the current policy, the Sanitation District has the capacity to accept additional dry weather
urban runoff flows (up to ten MGD), however, this allotted capacity is not typically the limiting factor
in increasing the volume of runoff diverted to the Sanitation District. As Dry Weather Urban Runoff
diversion projects are initiated and funded at the local municipality level, capital support for such
projects can be limited. Without funding and operational support from a public agency that has
jurisdiction and authority over surface water runoff and wastewater, this water cannot be diverted.
Diversion systems must be pumped (not gravity-fed) into the Sanitation District’s collection system to
ensure the necessary level of control. Furthermore, diversions cannot be implemented just anywhere. In
order for the Sanitation District to accept this dry weather runoff water, the supporting sewer hydraulic
capacity and infrastructure must already be in place at the specific location where the gravity diversion
exists. Otherwise constructing new Sanitation District facilities to convey diverted waters would require
a significant capital investment from the Sanitation District and its rate-payers. In short, acceptance
of dry weather runoff must be evaluated based on the site-specific capacity of the Sanitation District’s
collection system, i.e. the hydraulic capacity of a specific interceptor/sewer trunkline. In addition,
where the intention is to also recycle this runoff water as well as divert it from the Sanitation District’s
coastal beaches and waters, it must be routed to the Sanitation District’s Plant No. 1 facility in Fountain
Valley where it can discharge to OCWD’s Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS). At present, the
Sanitation District’s Plant No. 2 facility does not discharge wastewater to GWRS for recycling, and the
majority of existing dry weather urban runoff facilities discharge to Plant No. 2.
•
45STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
The Sanitation District is working to divert the majority of Plant No. 2 influent wastewater to GWRS,
however, the expected completion date of this project is not until 2023. It should be noted that the
recycling capacity of GWRS is not unlimited and the plan to divert wastewater from Plant No. 2 is
expected to provide the near maximum level of influent to GWRS. Therefore, the Sanitation District
is not in a position to accept additional wastewater for recycling, and the notion that stormwater is
necessary to augment GWRS influent is not a valid assumption.
Given the above conditions, to expand the current programs to a larger-scale stormwater/rain-event
capture and discharge program, means an investment for stormwater-authority agencies to build water
storage systems in addition to existing or new diversion systems.
The regional benefit for such an initiative would be the increased capture and recycling of water
that would otherwise be discharged to the ocean. The potential risk to the Sanitation District and its
reuse initiatives from pollutants in stormwater and runoff would be directly impacted by our agency’s
future ability to control these wastes — that is permit, inspect, and monitor discharging facilities, and
when warranted — enact enforcement to ensure compliance with the Sanitation District’s Wastewater
Discharge Regulations Ordinance. To protect the Sanitation District, this means issuing stringent
requirements on discharges or suspending a discharge when an existing or potential sewer user
does not meet a compliance obligation. Moreover, the Sanitation District will only be able to accept
stormwater and runoff discharges that can be captured and held beyond storm events, and where that
water can be adequately evaluated before being released for discharge into the Sanitation District’s
system.
The financial impact for the Sanitation District would translate to capital and operational costs where
the Sanitation District is involved in the construction and maintenance of facilities to support these
diversion systems. In addition, a larger-scale stormwater/rain-event capture and discharge program
most certainly will require an investment in additional Sanitation District staff in the workgroup that
oversees the current permitting programs.
The larger question, beyond the scope of this white paper, is to evaluate at a regional level whether
stormwater capture from a rain event will provide an additional source of water significant enough
to offset the costs to capture this water and temporarily store it until it can be reused, including the
associated infrastructure, staff, and other public resources this would require; and considering the
intrinsic restrictions of the current sewer system, GWRS limitations, and the potential risks posed to the
Sanitation District’s existing water and biosolid reuse initiatives.
Initiatives to Support Progress Toward the Policy Goal
In accordance with Resolution No. 13-09, the Sanitation District intends to continue accepting up to
ten million gallons per day of pumped dry weather urban runoff diversion where existing conveyance
capacity exists, and the constituents of the flow will not adversely impact the Sanitation District. The
Sanitation District also intends to continue working with industries, agencies, and other facilities to
offer alternatives to stormwater and runoff disposal through special purpose discharge permits or
other written authorization in accordance with the Sanitation District’s Ordinance, where doing so does
not negatively affect the Sanitation District’s operation or compliance with local, state, and federal
regulations, and wastewater can be held for evaluation prior to discharge.
Additionally, to act as a regional partner in resolving issues associated with disposing of and reusing
stormwater, the Sanitation District intends to work with local jurisdictions to determine the feasibility of
regional wet weather runoff capture, storage, and use projects.
• Issue dry weather urban runoff connection permits up to a total of ten million gallons per day to
other service area local agencies to accept pumped dry weather urban runoff flows where existing
conveyance capacity exists, and the constituents of the flow will not adversely impact the
Sanitation District.
•
46
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47STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Wastewater Management
•
48 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Chemical Sustainability Policy
Summary Policy Statement
The Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District) has a need to use chemicals in its treatment
process to improve plant performance, reduce odor and corrosion potential, and meet its regulatory
requirements. These commodity chemicals are provided by outside vendors through the purchasing
process. Some of these chemicals are subject to price swings due to market condition changes such as energy cost impacts, raw material cost changes, commercial competition changes, and transportation cost volitility. The Sanitation District will identify chemicals key to its operation, investigate the market risks for those chemicals and devise strategies to mitigate identified risks to availability and pricing.
Background
The Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District) treatment plants and collection system use
several bulk chemicals. A sustainable supply of these chemicals is critical to maintaining an acceptable level of treatment and for ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements. The Sanitation District spends about $13 million annually on the procurement of eight key chemicals which generally can be broken down into four categories: coagulants, odor/corrosion control, disinfection, and boiler water treatment. Boiler water treatment chemicals are low volume and readily available and will not be considered here.
Coagulant Chemicals
Coagulant chemicals include ferric chloride, anionic polymer, and cationic polymer. These chemicals are the workhorses of the sewage treatment process. Coagulant chemicals work to clump together organic material so it can more readily be separated from water. Ferric chloride is the first chemical added in the treatment process. It is a powerful settling agent that causes organics to clump together and settle to the bottom of primary basins. It is a double-duty chemical in that it also controls the formation of hydrogen sulfide gas, which is a major odorant, by binding to suspended sulphur compounds and causing them to settle before they can be converted by natural bacterial processes to hydrogen sulfide.
Ferric chloride is an iron salt that is produced by reacting iron with hydrochloric acid. It is generally a byproduct of steel treatment, a leftover pickling agent. Ferric chloride is commonly used in the water and wastewater industries. Historically, this chemical has been the subject of a limited supplier base in Southern California. The Sanitation District has been actively splitting supply contracts to multiple vendors to ensure multiple vendors are available. On-site generation of the chemical is impractical due to the hazardous nature of the manufacturing process and acid handling, the bulk steel handing logistics, and waste products disposal.
Anionic polymer works with ferric chloride to further aid in the coagulation or settling of organic compounds in the primary treatment process. These long-chain molecules are designed to be negatively charged to attract or collect positively charged ferric chloride induced organic clumps or flocculant. The use of ferric chloride and anionic polymer is called Chemically Enhanced Primary Treatment or CEPT. The Sanitation District has been using CEPT for more than thirty years.
Anionic polymers are specially designed chains with many potential variants and multiple vendors. Part of the purchasing process for polymers involves polymer trials to document the efficacy of different products from different vendors to get the best cost-performance balance.
Cationic polymer is generally used to thicken sludge or biosolids in centrifuges or dissolved air floatation thickeners (DAFT). These long-chained, positively charged molecules are essential to the proper operation of centrifuges and DAFT units. Part of the purchasing process for these polymers also involves polymer trials to document the efficacy of different products from different vendors to get the best cost-performance balance. It is important to note that it is entirely possible that four different cationic polymers will be used to optimize the performance of Plant No. 1 dewatering centrifuges, Plant No. 1 thickening centrifuges, Plant No. 2 dewater centrifuges, and Plant No. 2 DAFTs, because the performance can vary greatly depending on the equipment or process. Each process will have its own polymer trial to determine the cost-performance balance for each application.
•
49STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Odor Control Chemicals
The Sanitation District uses several chemicals in the collection system and the treatment plant to reduce the odors normally attributed to sewage and sewage treatment. These chemicals can either
prevent the formation of odor causing compound, called odorants, or they can destroy odorants that
already exist. Chemicals that prevent the formation of odorants include ferrous chloride, calcium
nitrate, magnesium hydroxide, and caustic.
Chemicals used in the collection systems tend to be more benign than chemicals used in the treatment
plants due to their proximity to the public. Ferrous chloride is closely related to Ferric chloride as
described above. It is a powerful settling agent that prevents the formation of hydrogen sulfide by tying
up and settling sulfide compounds in the collection system. It is a preferred chemical because of its
dual role, but it isn’t as benign as other choices.
Calcium nitrate is another choice for collection system odor control. It works in a different way. Calcium
nitrate alters the biological equilibrium in sewage. Generally, bacteria that live by respirating oxygen
are the most robust organisms, followed by nitrogen respirating bacteria, and finally sulfur respirating
bacteria. Adding calcium nitrate to sewage creates an environment where sulfur loving bacteria don’t
thrive or create hydrogen sulfide.
Magnesium hydroxide is a third choice for collection system odor control. It works primarily by raising
the pH of sewage to a point that is not conducive for odor causing bacteria to thrive. Magnesium
hydroxide is the most benign of the chemical choices as it is the main ingredient in Milk of Magnesia.
All three of these chemicals are continuously fed into sewer systems at different points to consistently
control the formation of odorants in the system. Where the Sanitation District doesn’t have the ability to
site a chemical dosing station and persistent odors are being experienced, there is the option to utilize
caustic slug dosing. Caustic slug dosing involves using tanker trucks to discharge up to 6,000 gallons of
sodium hydroxide into a sewer manhole structure. The very high pH has the effect of killing the bio-
slime layer on sewer pipes that creates hydrogen sulfide. This treatment has an instant benefit that
reduces hydrogen sulfide production for days to weeks depending on system conditions.
The final major odor fighting chemical is bleach. Bleach is used in treatment plant chemical scrubbers
to oxidize odorants in air scrubber units. Bleach is an effective neutralizer of hydrogen sulfide, methyl
mercaptan, methyl disulfide, dimethyl disulfide, and many others.
Disinfection
The Sanitation District successfully discontinued disinfection of its effluent to the long outfall.
This means that thousands of gallons of bleach and sodium bisulfate are no longer required to
be purchased or discharged to the ocean. However, in the event of a discharge to the short outfall
or river overflow, disinfection by bleach will be required. Significant on-site storage of bleach and
dechlorination chemical, sodium bisulfite, is necessary for this emergency contingency.
Bleach does have a shelf life of about six months. The Sanitation District rotates its disinfection supply
to its odor control and plant water treatment systems to prevent product waste.
Process Specific Chemicals
The Sanitation District uses pure oxygen to support its activated sludge secondary treatment process
for Plant No. 2. The Sanitation District previously self-generated pure oxygen using a cryogenic oxygen
plant rated at 70 tons per day. This plant was removed because it was inefficient at the current average
utilization of 35 tons per day and was at the end of its useful life. The Sanitation District contracts for
delivery of liquid oxygen and uses a vaporization system to deliver pure gaseous oxygen to the activated
sludge process.
•
50 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Chemical Supply — Purchase vs. Make
The Sanitation District has relied on purchasing bulk commodity chemicals for its treatment plants and collection system. This has proven to be an effective strategy for operational flexibility and to
allow concentration on core business. Operationally, the types and volume of chemicals change over
time. Over time the types of polymers that are most efficient change. There is a need for more or less
volume of chemicals based on sewage flow, sewage quantity, and flow splits between plants. Managing
the generation of specialized chemicals using hazardous materials imposes a significant training
burden on staff, increases the regulatory oversight and requirements, and increases overall risk to the
organization.
The Sanitation District has maintained a policy to split the volume of orders between two vendors to
assure competition exists in the marketplace for ferric chloride. While the Sanitation District generally
cooperates with other public agencies to pool purchasing power to secure the lowest possible cost
through high volume purchasing, some specialty chemicals like ferric chloride require split orders to
maintain competitive market forces.
Current Situation
The Sanitation District is constantly changing and improving its facilities to meet new challenges.
Each of the facility changes offer new opportunities to reconsider how the Sanitation District operates
its processes and how chemicals are used. The best chemical stability outcome is to cost-effectively
eliminate the use of the chemical. This is the strategy behind cessation of bleach disinfection of the
outfall effluent.
Staff are in the process of studying the potential to operate the treatment plants differently to
minimize or eliminate use of selected chemicals. Facilities like centrifuge sludge thickening provide
new opportunities to adjust ferric chloride and anionic polymer usage. Opportunities for substitute
chemicals will be explored to understand overall cost and efficiency savings potential. This includes
iron vs. aluminum coagulant studies, anionic polymer trials, and cationic polymer trials. Staff will also
reevaluate operating parameters such as in-basin sludge co-thickening, primary basin sludge blanket
level parameters, as well as the greater loading of the secondary treatment systems.
When optimized chemical types and dosages are confirmed, staff will review the market conditions for
each important chemical. This will serve as the basis for a procurement strategy for each chemical.
Future Policy Statement
The Sanitation District will thoroughly understand its treatment processes, the potential modes of
operation, and the benefit and cost of chemicals to improve or stabilize its process. The Sanitation
District will create a list of necessary chemicals for optimal treatment operations which will consider
chemical cost, chemical availability, treatment stability, energy utilization, energy creation, nuisance
odor control, biosolids generation/cost, and regulatory permit compliance risks.
Chemicals that are deemed most beneficial will be procured at the lowest overall cost from market
providers to the extent possible. Where there are market stability concerns, the purchasing division
will devise procurement strategies to mitigate procurement risks. Where procurement risk cannot be
satisfactorily mitigated, technical staff will evaluate alternatives such as alternate operating methods,
substitute chemical usage, or on-site generation of a chemical if feasible.
Initiatives to Support Progress Toward the Policy Goal
• Reduce reliance on any particular chemical or vendor and establish flexibility to utilize other
chemicals/processes to accomplish the same operational objectives.
• Update the Sanitation District’s Chemical Sustainability Study and incorporate the results in future
procurement recommendations.
•
51STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Biosolids Management Policy
Summary Policy Statement
The Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District) will remain committed to a sustainable
biosolids program and will beneficially reuse biosolids in accordance with Resolution No. OCSD 13-03
and the 2017 Biosolids Master Plan.
Background
Wastewater solids at both our treatment plants are separated, thickened, digested, and dewatered
before being recycled offsite by contractors for composting and land application. Biogas created from
the digesters is used to generate electricity to offset the need to purchase power from a local utility.
The Sanitation District currently receives sewage sludge from the Irvine Ranch Water District at Plant
No. 1, which is scheduled to cease by 2021 when Irvine Ranch Water District completes their own solids
treatment facility.
Prior to 2019, the Sanitation District produced an average of 800 wet tons per day (~20% solids) of Class
B biosolids dewatered by belt press units. Presently, with the construction and commissioning of co-
thickening sludge and dewatering centrifuges, the Sanitation District has been producing approximately 500-600 wet tons per day (25%-29% solids) with biosolids hauling cost savings of approximately $200,000-400,000/month due to the reduction in volume.
The Sanitation District‘s biosolids program is shaped by federal, state, and local regulations and by the Sanitation District’s biosolids policy (Board Resolution 13-03), our biosolids management system, and the 2017 Biosolids Master Plan (Plan). The Sanitation District manages a high quality biosolids program built on a solid policy that emphasizes the diversification of product markets for Class A and B biosolids utilized as a soil amendment for agriculture and horticulture uses. The policy also sets direction to seek opportunities in emerging markets such as biosolids-to-energy technologies to produce renewable energy in the form of biogas or used as a heating value source.
These marketing principles are aligned and supported by the Plan, which provides the Sanitation District a roadmap and framework for reliable and sustainable biosolids management options while minimizing cost. In addition, the Plan sets future capital facilities improvements over a 20-year planning horizon. The Sanitation District will be implementing the Plan to develop a capital improvement project for Plant No. 2 that will result in a major change to the Sanitation District’s biosolids program; namely, the construction of new mesophilic and thermophilic digesters that will generate Class A biosolids beginning in 2030. These new digesters are needed for operational resiliency against seismic events. Plant No. 1 will continue to produce Class B biosolids.
The Plan evaluated end-use management alternatives for the Sanitation District’s biosolids. This work supports the Sanitation District’s biosolids policy and has taken into account the regulatory initiatives imposed on organic management in California as explained below. The Plan established a roadmap for the Sanitation District’s commitment to beneficial use of its biosolids. The biosolids management portfolio for the Sanitation District is expected to remain similar to the overall current biosolids management end use options as it is today. Currently about half of the annual biosolids production is going to composting (CA and AZ) and half going to Class B land application in Arizona.
The significant shift will begin when the Sanitation District starts reliably generating Class A biosolids at Plant No. 2. Although this is more than 10 years away, the Plan has identified early planning efforts on future end uses which include:
• Emerging markets: This end use refers to either markets in which biosolids have not been tested
in California at this time (e.g. land reclamation) or emerging-technology solutions (e.g. biosolids gasification, supercritical oxidation, fluidized bed combustion, cement kiln drying, pyrolysis etc.).
• Soil blending: This option involves working or partnering with local soil blenders to deliver and blend
Class A biosolids with soil to produce a soil amendment.
•
52 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
• Arizona land application: Land application in Arizona will continue to be a part of the Sanitation
District’s overall biosolids program and serves as a large-capacity outlet for biosolids management.
• California land application: While Class A compost and granules are currently land-applied in
California, land application of Class A cake is still restricted in most counties. However, it is
anticipated that the implementation of California’s organics diversion mandates will loosen local land
applications restrictions.
This programmatic framework described above has led to a reliable and sustainable biosolids
management program that is designed for the beneficial use of the Sanitation District’s biosolids
through the utilization of diverse biosolids management options using multiple biosolids contractors,
markets, and merchant facilities, while maintaining a failsafe backup capacity of at least 100 percent
of the Sanitation District’s daily biosolids tonnage. This forethought is necessary due to the flux of
regulatory, environmental, market, and financial factors that poses potential risks to the biosolids
management in California.
Current Situation
The legislative and regulatory landscapes in California are changing regarding organic management. For
the past 15 years, direct land application of Class B biosolids has been predominately prohibited due to
strict local ordinances and conditional use requirements, which preempts state recycling laws. However,
in recent years there has been a need for organics diversion from landfills, healthy soils, renewable
energy, and reduction of Green House Gases (GHGs), which are reflected in several important bills (laws)
and initiatives that have been adopted:
• AB 1826 (2014) - Mandatory Organics Recycling for Businesses.
• SB 1383 (2016) - 50% organics diversion from landfill by 2020 and 75% by 2025, which includes
biosolids and mandatory organics procurement (compost and biogas) for impacted jurisdiction.
• SB 32 (2016) - 40% Reduction GHG below 1990 levels by 2030
• SB 100 (2018) - 50% renewable resources (i.e. anaerobic co-digestion of food waste) target by
December 31, 2026, and to achieve a 60% target by December 31, 2030
• Increasing soil carbon and carbon sequestration under the Healthy Soils Initiative and Forest Carbon
Plan.
These measures are expanding “organic waste markets,” thereby stimulating interest in siting more
composting facilities and organic waste-to-energy projects and encouraging soil blending and direct
land application of biosolids, opening opportunities for wastewater treatment plants such as the
Sanitation District to locally manage more biosolids. Regulatory agencies such as the State Water
Resource Control Board, CalRecycle, California Department of Food and Agriculture, California Air
Resources Board, and California Energy Commission are developing regulations to implement the new
laws. During the rule making process, the Sanitation District has been actively involved through the
California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) and the Southern California Alliance of POTWs
(SCAP), advocating regulators to open more biosolids management options in California. In particular,
the proposed regulations for SB 1383 will require jurisdictions such as cities and counties to procure
recycled organics such as compost and biogas for beneficial use. This organic market will provide
opportunities for regional public and/or private partnerships for biosolids management options.
Although there is growing interest in California for organics management, there has also been a rising
concern from the regulatory community regarding emerging contaminants such as polyfluoroalkyl
substances (PFAS) and microplastics that may have some potential impact to the wastewater sector.
Although to date there are no regulatory limits of these contaminants in biosolids or wastewater in
California, the Sanitation District has been actively monitoring the development of the science and
regulation concerning these emerging concerns.
•
53STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Future Policy Statement
As the regulatory landscape shapes to stimulate organic waste markets in California, the Sanitation District seeks to leverage its memberships with various industry associations to advocate local, state,
and federal agencies to assure biosolids proposed regulations encourage the beneficial use of biosolids
as a soil amendment, renewable energy, and a healthy end-use market. The Sanitation District also
leverages its memberships to monitor the development of initiatives related to constituents of emerging
concern that may impact the beneficial use of biosolids. The Sanitation District’s leadership role in
these organizations enables us to have a greater influence in key regional, state, and national issues.
The Sanitation District seeks to stay abreast of developments in organic waste markets as they develop
in California. The Sanitation District seeks both public and private partnerships with regional biosolids
management opportunities including new innovative technology options that convert biosolids to
energy and other biosolids recycling operations. This is consistent with the Sanitation District’s biosolids
policy and plan. To accomplish this, the Sanitation District will issue a request for information (RFI) to
research and evaluate available emerging market such as biosolids-to-energy options or other biosolids
recycling operations within a 200-mile radius of the Sanitation District to potentially develop a scope of
work and minimum requirements for a future contract solicitation.
Consistent with the Sanitation District’s Plan, staff will seek to collaborate with OC Waste and Recycling
(OCWR) for regional biosolids management opportunities as well as partnering with OCWR to find local
solutions to meet SB 1383’s organics diversion mandates, including in-county biosolids utilization,
composting, food waste co-digestion, and biogas production.
Initiatives to Support Progress Toward the Policy Goal
• Educate and advocate with the local, state, and federal agencies to assure biosolids will continue to
be safely and legally used as a soil amendment and monitor and research constituents of emerging
concern such as PFAS and microplastics that may impact biosolids.
• Stay abreast of new technology options to convert organics to energy and other regional biosolids
recycling and renewable energy partnerships within Southern California.
• Proceed with implementation of new mesophilic and thermophilic biosolids facilities at Plant No. 2
to enhance biosolids quality and marketability while improving the Sanitation District’s operational
resiliency against seismic events.
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54 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Constituents of Emerging Concern Policy
Summary Policy Statement
The Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District) will partner with other agencies, associations,
and institutions to support the use of sound science to inform policy and regulatory decisions on
constituents of emerging concern (CECs) at the federal, state, and regional levels. Staff will obtain and
maintain current knowledge on CECs under regulatory consideration, including occurrence, analytical methods, regulations, and treatment to support the Sanitation District’s mission.
Background
CECs also referred to as Constituents or Contaminants of Emerging Concern are pollutants that may
or may not be subject to regulatory requirements or statutes yet pose a risk to public health and/or
the environment. The Sanitation District is a recipient of CECs that are discharged along with domestic
and residential wastewater; discharges from industrial, commercial, and other governmental facilities; and tributary discharging jurisdictions. The concept of CECs evolves over time and often the Sanitation District and other entities must acknowledge and understand their impacts to address the effects posed by each CEC.
For more than 50 years, the Sanitation District has adopted and enforced standards and requirements to protect the public health and safety, the environment, and the Sanitation District’s workers and facilities, while collecting and treating wastewater. Initially the primary concern to the Sanitation District was conventional pollutants, those that originate from normal sanitary use and can be addressed by conventional wastewater treatment. With the 1972 amendment to the Clean Water Act, and as required by the Code of Federal Regulations, the Sanitation District implemented a mandated pretreatment program to control discharges containing toxic pollutants at their sources through permitting, enforcement, inspection, and sampling. The Sanitation District’s Pretreatment Program promulgates the Sanitation District’s Wastewater Discharge Regulations Ordinance (Wastewater Ordinance), which governs discharges to the sewer through various types of permits. The Wastewater Ordinance also includes numeric limits, referred to as Local Limits, that control the quality of non-domestic discharges to the sewer. These Local Limits are the result of a technical evaluation and comprehensive sampling and analysis effort, required under the Sanitation District’s permit issued by the state to discharge to the ocean — the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit.
The Sanitation District’s current NPDES Permit requires evaluation and monitoring of CECs. The Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) and EPA required the Sanitation District to study and report on certain newer CECs in the Sanitation District’s effluent and the receiving waters. The CEC study had to include the following categories and specified a set of particular constituents in each category: Hormones (8), Industrial Endocrine Disrupting Compounds (7), Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (13), and Flame Retardants (9). Since 2014, California’s State Water Resource Control Board has been updating its Recycled Water Policy and has identified CECs under consideration for projects that conduct surface spreading of recycled water, including the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS). In addition, to meet the Sanitation District’s obligations to provide a high level of service for biosolids reuse and water reclamation through GWRS, the Sanitation District must evaluate and monitor CECs that affect these initiatives.
Although the Sanitation District has been involved with water reclamation with the Orange County Water District (OCWD) since the mid-1970’s, the Sanitation District’s mission changed significantly in the years leading up to 2008 when the Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) was commissioned. GWRS compelled the Sanitation District to consider impacts to drinking water limits and Notification and Response Levels, which are typically much lower than the standards in place for a wastewater treatment plant. For several critical constituents, OCWD and the Sanitation District established a Level of Service commitments. The Sanitation District and OCWD established a response plan to follow when a constituent becomes a concern to either agency. Where the source can be identified, the plan organizes responsive actions from the Sanitation District and OCWD for industrial and commercial facilities. Domestic and residential sources are typically addressed by way of educational outreach to the public.
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55STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
To determine the constituents that impact the Sanitation District’s operations and reuse initiatives,
the Sanitation District interacts with federal, state, and local agencies and monitors their regulatory
and legislative efforts. Sometimes the job is straightforward, because the federal, state, or local agency
focuses on a specific CEC chemical which yields a concentrated effort; however, sometimes, the effort
can be interpretative. This requires a comprehensive, well-established program and experienced subject
matter experts to identify the CECs that impact the Sanitation District. The Sanitation District must then
evaluate the sources and decide what methods will be employed to control the discharges, if necessary.
Current Situation
With newer equipment and techniques, federal, state, and local government agencies are detecting
constituents at very low concentrations in the drinking water. This has resulted in agencies studying
more constituents and requesting NPDES Permit holders, such as the Sanitation District, to monitor and
report CECs detected in the influent and effluent. However, wastewater is a much more complex matrix
than drinking water, so reproducible low-level analytical methods are much more difficult to develop
and implement for wastewater than drinking water.
The Sanitation District will also be required to develop new methods for addressing some of the CECs
primarily discharged from residential communities or are present in the existing drinking water supply.
The Sanitation District typically attempts to address such discharges through education and outreach
while working with other agencies. Some CECs require the Sanitation District and other agencies to
sponsor legislation and regulation development or to comment on a particular subject to protect the
agency’s interests. For example, the Sanitation District has advocated for minimizing or eliminating the
use of specific CECs in manufacturing or consumer use to the California Department of Toxic Substances
Control. To achieve its mission, the Sanitation District will need to continue supporting a variety of
regulatory and legislative efforts.
Future Policy Statement
If source control, education and outreach, or legislative and regulatory efforts are not successful, the
Sanitation District may be required to implement a technological or operational process change/
investment to address a CEC.
The Sanitation District must align its resources to continue managing CECs throughout the service area
and treatment process in order to comply with the Sanitation District’s existing regulatory requirements
and sustain beneficial reuse of biosolids. The Sanitation District shall acquire and maintain a high
level of subject matter expertise and engagement across the wastewater, water, water reuse, air
quality, ocean monitoring, and biosolids sectors to monitor the threats posed by upstream sources to
its system; to continue to work with other agencies and professional organizations to develop robust
analytical methods; and to evaluate routinely the need to establish sound policies, local limits, or other
regulations and standards based on new local, state, and federal regulations to protect public health
and the environment. The Sanitation District is required to continue implementing its established
response plan by promoting effective source control and treatment, while also preparing for newer CECs
and regulatory obligations. The Sanitation District will continue to work to understand the operational
and financial impacts of current and future CECs by monitoring developing regulations and legislation
and actively engaging regulatory, environmental, academic, industry, and community stakeholders.
Two families of chemicals, PFAS and PFOA, have been identified as CEC’s with a probability of impacting
water and biosolids reuse. Attached is OCWD’s August 2019 PFOA and PFAS Fact Sheet. This is an
example of a CEC where the Sanitation District must be engaged helping to explore the science and
shape future legislation and regulation to help create practical solutions to real world concerns.
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56 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Initiatives to Support Progress Toward the Policy Goal
• The Sanitation District will continue to actively engage water and wastewater stakeholders to stay
abreast of the scientific progress and any potential operational and financial impacts of CECs and provide timely briefings to the Sanitation District’s Management Team and Board to facilitate informed decision making.
• The Sanitation District will continue to develop capacity to detect, quantify, and characterize CECs
throughout the service area and treatment process in order to promote treatment effectiveness and the communication of credible risks.
• The Sanitation District will proactively research laboratory techniques and other scientific research
to understand the real and potential impact of CECs, like PFAS and PFOA, on the reuse of water and biosolids. The Sanitation District will use science-based knowledge to help shape legislation and regulation to protect the public health and environment.
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57STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Workplace Environment
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58 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Resilient Staffing Policy
Summary Policy Statement
The Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District) will attract and retain high-quality talent
to support its mission and continue to be an industry leader. It will safeguard leadership continuity
and support effective performance of the organization by proactively monitoring the changing work
environment and requirements to ensure development programs are relevant and build a skilled bench of readily available successors for key leadership and mission-critical positions.
Background
At the Sanitation District, employees are the organization’s most valuable resource. With over 600
dedicated employees whose collective efforts make OCSD an industry leader, the Sanitation District
continues to receive national awards and recognition. That is why, OCSD has committed to invest in its
employees, resulting in a highly skilled and educated workforce carrying out the mission of protecting public health and the environment.
The Sanitation District has a diverse workforce and a wide range of expertise with approximately 70
percent of positions requiring a degree, certification, and/or license. Occupations on-site include scientists, engineers, environmental and regulatory specialists, operators, mechanics, construction inspectors, as well as professionals in public affairs, finance, IT, safety and human resources.
To cultivate a committed and engaged workforce in a competitive economy, OCSD must promote initiatives to attract and retain talent and prepare staff for successful careers. Strategic succession management initiatives have been developed and adopted that support the design and implementation of comprehensive workforce planning and development tools accompanied by activities that facilitate the improvement of workforce capability, adaptability, efficiency, and accountability. Strategic workforce planning empowers management to project the loss of knowledge and experience caused by retirement and attrition and utilizes a variety of methods to ensure that the Sanitation District has adequate access to talent internally and externally through the recruitment and selection process.
The Sanitation District has a competitive recruitment process that ensures we hire the best person for the job based on qualifications and merit. Human Resources utilizes an objective multi-hurdle approach to hiring which includes Human Resources review and recommendation, subject matter expert application screening, assessment centers, panel interviews (both for technical skills and fit), skills testing, background checks, and reference checks.
Programs that have proven effective in attracting, retaining and developing highly skilled staff for key positions, include:
• Vocational/Professional Student Internship Programs
Students from the Water Utility Science Program at Santiago Canyon College, and Los Angeles Trade
Technical College work 28 hours a week and rotate through five technical trades for 53 weeks in our
Operations and Maintenance Department. We started the program in 2010 with four positions and
have grown to offer ten positions for each fiscal year. Furthermore, 14 of the program participants have been hired full-time since the program inception. The Sanitation District is piloting the program with other technical colleges in Southern California, to include Cypress College. OCSD offers student and vocational internships, as well as job shadowing and externships.
The Sanitation District’s Professional Student Internship Program offers students an opportunity to work at the professional ranks while attending college full-time for a two-year maximum duration. OCSD partners with Cal State Fullerton, Long Beach, Cal Poly Pomona and UC Irvine, among others.
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59STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
• Employee Development Program
In addition to legally mandated training, the Sanitation District provides training and development
opportunities for the purpose of increasing job knowledge and to maximize skill sets in employees’
current positions and to prepare them for future mission-critical positions. Comprehensive training
programs include technical training through industry-specific associations or groups, local schools,
and professionals as well as informal on the job training. Employees are encouraged to obtain job-
related training necessary to keep OCSD current with recent industry best practices and developments
in their respective fields of expertise and can receive Development Pay in select categories that
the Sanitation District deems mission-critical. As 70 percent of OCSD’s positions require a degree,
certificate and/or license, the Sanitation District also promotes professional development through
its tuition and certification reimbursement programs for courses completed toward obtaining an
associate’s, bachelor’s or master’s degree at accredited colleges, universities, or other institutions or
industry specific certifications that are applicable to the industry.
• Workforce Vulnerability Assessments
Each year, the Sanitation District management conducts an evaluation of their respective departments
and identifies key and vulnerable positions based on three criteria: criticality, retention, and difficulty
to fill. Vulnerability assessments provide a broader view into the areas of the agency that could
potentially be facing a high risk in turnover and are essential to operations. Management is tasked
with identifying positions based on the criteria above, then making recommendations on the level of
action that is required, complete with proposed action plans. Human Resources staff works closely
with management to facilitate workforce vulnerability assessments to develop current and future
staffing plans. It is essential that the Sanitation District continues to focus its efforts on prioritizing
staffing needs.
• Talent Readiness Assessments
The process includes departmental leadership evaluating staff and identifying key employee talent, as
well as possible development efforts. Feeder positions are identified, and talent pools are developed
between employees and management that align with agency goals and builds the talent pipeline.
• Building Leaders and Skills for Tomorrow (BLAST) Program
In 2011, the Sanitation District began a comprehensive leadership development program to
supplement the technical training courses, and includes job shadowing, mentoring, web-based and
instructor-led training on soft skills and leadership development. The goal of this development
program is to ensure OCSD is building leaders at all levels. Development opportunities are offered
to address the potential loss of talent and feed into the Succession Management and Employee
Development programs, primarily focusing on soft skills training. The leadership development
components include a public sector leadership academy with Cal State Fullerton, and a supervisory
training program through Brandman University.
The Sanitation District partnered with University of California, Irvine, California State University, Long
Beach, and California Polytechnic University at Pomona, which provided students an opportunity to
job shadow Human Resources and Engineering staff to gain insight into the profession, employment
in the public sector and the wastewater industry. The Sanitation District employees also serve on
Advisory Councils that weigh in on course curriculum at various schools, both at the high school and
college level, across Southern California.
Throughout the agency, we have several employees who are active members of various professional
associations, serve on a Board, or volunteer in various capacities within the industry. The Sanitation
District staff is regularly asked to present and teach others about resource recovery. Recruiters
attend job fairs, and work closely with universities, professional organizations, and serve on advisory
committees.
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60 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Education and workforce investment programs represent the most important preparation we can
accomplish today to safeguard the agency’s future for tomorrow. Finding an adequate pool of
applicants and retaining qualified workers is increasingly difficult, which we anticipate will continue
on into the future. Retirements are disrupting employment within our industry and changes in
technology have made work more complex.
Current Situation
Academics studying the labor force attribute labor shortages to workforce demographics. Depending
on the source data, the timelines defining the start/end time of these groups may vary but generally —
Baby Boomers are those born between 46-64, followed by Gen Xers 65-81, and lastly Millennials from
82-00. Close to half of staff or 49 percent fall into the “Gen Xers” category, followed by 32 percent
made up of “Baby Boomers” and “Millennials” make up 19 percent of our employee population. The
Sanitation District is currently facing a potential loss of close to half of its workforce — about 45 percent
of employees, primarily from the Baby Boomers group, and some Gen Xers. This represents a potential
loss of about 271 people to retirement alone and does not account for other forms of turnover. Hence
the need to be proactive and strategic in OCSD’s approach to maintain its staffing levels and ensure
continuity of operations.
Currently, the majority of OCSD’s executives are eligible for retirement. Managers, our next level of
leadership, closely follow with 45 percent of them eligible to retire now, and that number increases to
90 percent in five years. The Sanitation District has a little more stability in the trades and professional
occupations with retirement eligibility at 53 percent in the next five years. OCSD has a lot of long-term
employees with vast knowledge in their respective areas of expertise. Some employees have been a
part of the OCSD family for over 35 years; and at last count, ten years was the average years of service.
Looking at OCSD’s total attrition over the last five years, we have lost 3,025 years of knowledge and
experience by 132 individuals leaving the agency since 2014.
In 2010, the Sanitation District proactively implemented a second retirement benefit formula (“classic
open plan”) ahead of the Public Employee Pension Reform Act, which offered candidates moving from
other public sector agencies to OCSD with a retirement benefit of 2.43 percent at 65, with zero employer
paid member contribution. Based on the Sanitation District’s classic open retirement plan, OCSD is
unable to compete for experienced talent from surrounding municipalities, who offer a retirement
benefit of 2.5 percent or 2.7 percent at 55 and pay a portion of the employees’ contribution. Since
implementation of the classic open plan in 2010, only 22 percent of new hires come from other public
sector agencies. The Sanitation District has had experience with public sector candidates withdrawing
from the process or declining job offers once they learn of the impact to the retirement benefit formula.
The vast majority of new hires are coming from private sector and have no public sector experience
requiring additional training. Given the legal restrictions which bind the Sanitation District to the
classic open formula, it is critical OCSD focus its efforts on retaining current staff, attracting qualified
candidates, and investing heavily into developing and growing employees’ knowledge, skills and abilities
for the future, to address any potential talent shortages.
Future Policy Statement
Human Resources will continue to implement strategic initiatives that ensure workforce capabilities
match the work required to meet the Sanitation District’s mission and levels of service. Staff is
dedicated to proactively monitoring the changing work environment and requirements to implement
programs now that address future vulnerabilities. Assessments of changes in business needs, workforce
composition, and legal requirements are necessary to ensure resilient staffing.
Initiatives to Support Progress Toward the Policy Goal
• Maintain and enhance current effective development programs that are in place to provide the
direction to identify, develop and select the next generation of prepared, capable and engaged
leaders, which include:
• Vocational/Professional Student Internship Programs
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61STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
• Employee Development Program
• Workforce Vulnerability Assessments
• Talent Readiness Assessments
• Building Leaders and Skills for Tomorrow (BLAST) Program
• Strengthening Operator Training Programs
• Continue cyclical Classification & Compensation studies to ensure job classifications accurately depict
the work being performed, to set compensation levels accordingly, and stay abreast of market benefit
and salary data.
Prior to the next scheduled Classification & Compensation study, Human Resources will work with the
Board of Directors and meet and confer with the unions to review selected survey agencies based on
recognized classification and compensation standards and the job market in which we compete.
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62 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
Safety and Physical Security Policy
Summary Policy Statement
The Orange County Sanitation District (Sanitation District) will ensure the safety and security of
employees, contractors and visitors through standard practices, policies, and procedures that support
a safe and secure environment, provide an appropriate level of security and safeguard OCSD’s property
and physical assets.
Background
In California, employers must furnish employees with a place of employment free from recognized
hazards that cause death or serious physical harm, that is compliant with all legal requirements and
aligns with industry best practices. The safety and wellness of the public and employees is our number
one priority. OCSD is committed to identifying all hazards through inspection and providing engineering
controls, job specific safety training, and personal protective equipment.
Programs that have proved effective in ensuring the safety and wellness of OCSD’s workforce, visitors
and contractors include:
Safety Assessments and Engineering Controls
In 2014, OCSD conducted a Facility-Wide Safety Assessment Project (SP-145-1) to identify process
equipment design and configuration issues that may impact worker safety, and compliance with
regulations. The main purpose of this effort was to enhance worker safety and ensure compliance with
safety codes. At the same time, safety improvements allow for reliable and efficient operation, so that
our facilities can meet regulatory and process demands, while providing cost effective operation. All
the Project SP-145-1 recommendations to be implemented by OCSD have either been addressed by Maintenance or have been incorporated into the Safety Improvement Project (J-126).
Emergency Management
The Sanitation District must be prepared to control risks to the organization, and routinely recognize,
evaluate, and prepare for emergencies. An emergency can include a major explosion, fire, verified bomb
threat, civil disorder, active shooter situation, or uncontrolled materials release which interrupts OCSD’s
ability to provide safe and environmentally responsible wastewater treatment. The Sanitations District’s protocol to control and respond to emergencies is contained within the Integrated Emergency Response Plan (IERP).
The IERP identifies and assesses hazards regarding emergency events which OCSD may be confronted with and contains policies, plans, and procedures for preparing and responding to emergencies. The Sanitation District’s emergency response organization, called the Incident Command System (ICS), is activated when an emergency condition cannot be effectively responded to under routine operations. Once the immediate emergency has been controlled, then OCSD must resume normal operations. In the event of a prolonged emergency state, the return to normal operations is guided by a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP). In May 2018, a COOP was completed with all divisions contributing to its development. Business continuity planning is an ongoing process for OCSD with plans being updated as information changes.
The Sanitation District collaborates with local agencies to ensure available resources are identified and engaged in the event of an emergency. OCSD has partnered with local agencies in the areas of emergency response for evacuation drills and resource sharing.
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63STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
• The Sanitation District participated in the 2019 Orange Crush Regional Emergency Preparedness
and Training Exercise in January 2019. This county-wide exercise used a scenario of a magnitude
7.8 earthquake strike along the San Andreas Fault. A full Emergency Operations Center activation
occurred for this functional exercise and gave the Sanitation District the opportunity to test the
Integrated Emergency Response Plan.
• The Orange County Sheriff’s Department and the Orange County Health Care Agency established a
Joint Information Center at Plant No. 2 on May 13-14, 2019 to host an enforcement event in Talbert
Park. In addition, the operation was overseen by three federal judges who were present to ensure the
rights of all citizens were not violated by law enforcement or The Health Care Agency. Officials utilized
Plant No. 2 contractor gates for points of entry.
• The Sanitation District is a member and funding agency of the Water Emergency Response of Orange
County (WEROC), which is an organization that is administered by the Municipal Water District of
Orange County (MWDOC). It supports and manages countywide emergency preparedness, planning,
response and recovery efforts among Orange County water and wastewater utilities.
Security
The Department of Homeland Security has designated 16 critical infrastructure sectors, which includes
water and wastewater systems. Wastewater systems are vulnerable to a variety of attacks, including acts
of terrorism, contamination with deadly agents; physical attacks, such as the release of toxic gaseous
chemicals, and cyberattacks. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security indicates that the
average time it takes for a critical incident to take place is up to 12 minutes while the average police
response time can be up to 11 minutes and that time could increase should there be a natural disaster.
Additional security concerns include physical violence, vandalism, theft, and trespassers. With
approximately 100 acres at each site, 600 employees, contractors, and members of the public on site
for tours and meetings, it is essential to maintain a security force that can respond to security threats
promptly.
The Sanitation District contracts with a security firm that supplies four armed and five unarmed
guards to provide round the clock security monitoring of over 80 cameras, monitoring gate access, and
patrolling the perimeter at both plants.
Current Situation
The Risk Management division has been given the responsibility and an adequate budget to assess and
control the safety, security, and health risks that employees, contractors, and guests may be exposed
to from OCSD operations. Assessment and control of risks is achieved collaboratively between Risk
Management staff and internal stakeholders. Risk Management, managers, and staff collaborate to
develop written procedures (e.g., policies) that are used for controlling and eliminating hazards at OCSD;
thus, ensuring compliance with occupational health and safety standards and laws.
Safety
As the health and safety of employees, contractors and visitors is the number one priority, the
Sanitation District strives to achieve safety excellence. This is exemplified by our pursuit of the
California Voluntary Protection Program (Cal/VPP). The Cal/VPP is a program created by Cal/OSHA
to recognize organizations who have implemented safety and health programs that effectively
prevent and control occupational hazards. A Cal/VPP workplace is expected to continually improve
its safety program; which means a safe workplace for all. A reduction in injuries and illness has been
documented at sites that have committed to the VPP approach. Cal/VPP is recognized as a higher level
of protection for the workplace, for this reason, OCSD is pursuing this designation.
In preparation for application to the Cal/VPP program, the Sanitation District conducted a Cal/VPP
readiness assessment in January 2019 and developed an implementation strategy. The assessment
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64 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
included interviews with various OCSD subject matter experts and discussions with employees
during facility tours. OCSD procedures and records were reviewed, and limited visual inspection of
work locations and facilities was conducted. The assessment considered basic Cal/OSHA regulatory
compliance and additional best management practices that are expected to be implemented in VPP
certified workplaces. Based on the results of the VPP assessment, OCSD is working toward applying for
VPP before the end of calendar year 2019. The timing coincides with the implementation of most of the
Safety Improvement Project (J-126), which are critical for success in our VPP pursuit.
This Safety Improvement Project (J-126) is progressing on-schedule. Of the eleven J-126 projects, two
have been completed, seven are in the construction phase, and two are pending contractor award. It
is important to note that interim measures have been taken to ensure worker safety at the locations
identified for safety improvements. Workers are not exposed to hazards while projects are completed.
Eliminating hazards through engineering projects is critical, along with a positive safety culture. In
order to assess the safety culture at OCSD, a survey was conducted from February to April 2019. The
results of this survey indicated employees believe the safety culture is improving, desired an increase in
communication on safety issues, and wanted less online and more hands-on customized safety training.
Emergency Management
The Sanitation District partners with local agencies to ensure available resources are identified and
engaged in the event of an emergency. Collaborations currently scheduled include:
• In conjunction with WEROC, OCSD participated in the development of the Orange County Water and
Wastewater Hazard Mitigation Plan (Plan) which will be submitted for approval to the State. The
Plan provides a framework for participating water and wastewater utilities to plan for natural and
man-made hazards in Orange County. The Sanitation District is an active participant in the Plan, and
developed a hazard mitigation plan, which is Annex C of the Plan. The resources and information
within the Plan will allow OCSD, and participating jurisdictions to identify and prioritize future
mitigation projects, meet the requirements of federal assistance programs and grant applications, and
encourage coordination and collaboration in meeting mitigation goals.
• On July 27, 2019, the Sanitation District partnered with the Fountain Valley Police Department
Explorers during OCSD’s Open House event. The Police Explorers assisted Human Resources and Risk
Management with crowd and traffic control. Their assistance was beneficial in the management of
public during this important event.
Security
The designation of wastewater systems as critical infrastructure by the Department of Homeland Security requires OCSD to be diligent in protecting people and property from security breaches. OCSD
seeks to continually improve the security program. On June 7, 2019, OCSD issued a Request for Proposal
(RFP) for Security Services, which included a potential expansion of security services for OCSD’s new
Headquarters Complex. As part of the RFP evaluation, OCSD will review procedural and technical
enhancements/innovations that may improve the existing program.
In addition, OCSD has established a Security Committee, which includes stakeholders from a cross-
section of the organization, to collect input and assess physical and cybersecurity concerns and
suggestions. Responsibilities of the committee include, but are not limited to, development of a physical
and cybersecurity plan, reviewing orders and policies, reviewing incident reports, and planning drills.
The first meeting of the committee was held on June 6, 2019.
Future Policy Statement
Risk Management has and will continue to implement strategic initiatives that will ensure the safety,
health, and security of its workforce, and proactively plan for emergencies to ensure continuity
of operations. Staff is dedicated to proactively monitoring the changing work environment and
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65STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019
requirements to implement programs now that address future vulnerabilities. Assessments of changes
in business needs, plant processes and legal requirements are necessary to ensure a safe and secure
work environment. The results of improvement will be measured using leading metric indicators and
reported to the workforce to foster employee engagement.
Initiatives to Support Progress Toward the Policy Goal
Safety
• Complete outstanding safety projects, improvements, and corrective actions to apply and obtain Cal/
OSHA Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) status; and continue to foster a culture where employees
are accountable for their safety as well as the safety of others.
Emergency Management
• Support facility and countywide emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts by
partnering with entities, such as, the Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County
(WEROC), Orange County Sherriff Department, and local fire departments to plan and continue to
conduct disaster preparedness training and exercises.
Security
• Continually identify and assess vulnerabilities and implement solutions through the Security
Committee and third-party assessments. Prevent/mitigate security breaches using physical security
systems such as video monitoring, access control, and armed security patrols.
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66 STRATEGIC PLAN NOVEMBER 2019 •
Reclamation Plant No. 1 (Administration Offices)
10844 Ellis Avenue • Fountain Valley, California 92708
Treatment Plant No. 2
22212 Brookhurst Street • Huntington Beach, California 92646
For more information
Email: forinformation@ocsd.com • Phone: 714.962.2411
www.ocsd.com
11/2019
9/1/2021
1
Organizational Advocacy and
Outreach Policy
Presented by:
Jennifer Cabral,
Administration
Manager
LaPA Committee
September 13, 2021
Strategic Plan Topic Area
2
PAO Strategic Plan
1
2
9/1/2021
2
3
OC San will create and disseminate
information to our stakeholders with an end
goal to educate, inform, and garner support
for the services provided thus allowing us to
operate in a more efficient and effective
manner. OC San will deliver messages that
are accurate, transparent, and designed to
foster public trust and confidence.
Additionally, legislative oversight will ensure
OC San’s interests are protected.
Policy
Statement
4
Student Educational Outreach
3
4
Youth
Environmental
Summit
9/1/2021
3
5
Infrastructure Outreach
6
Employee Engagement
5
6
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SEWER
CONSTRUCTION
PROJECT
714-378-2965
ConslluCliOrl~
www.ocsan.gov
9/1/2021
4
7
Brand Recognition
8
Legislative Affairs
Legislative and
Regulatory Advocacy
•Federal
•State
•Local
7
8
Follow us: @OCSanDistrict
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2021 Legislative and
Regulatory Plan
9/1/2021
5
9
Relaunch the Vendor Outreach Program with a focus on
Orange County to enhance the competitive bidding
opportunities for OC San. This effort will increase the number
of vendor and contractors soliciting OC San projects thus
expanding the pool and providing a greater variety of partners.
Develop an outreach program for member agencies regarding
inflow and infiltration issues emerging within their sewer
system. The program will aim to educate, inform, and improve
the situation affecting the local and regional sewer system.
Develop an educational display in the Headquarters building to
illustrate OC San’s reuse and recycling efforts in support of the
environment and public health. Display to be revealed when
new building is unveiled.
Initiatives to Support the Policy
10
Commemorate OC San’s achievement of reusing 100
percent of the reclaimable flow upon completion of the
Groundwater Replenishment System’s Final Expansion.
Celebrate the milestone and acknowledge the
accomplishment with staff and stakeholders.
Actively engage, pursue, and monitor activities in California
and Washington, D.C. and take appropriate action in
support of or opposition to legislative and regulatory
initiatives affecting OC San and the wastewater industry
through Monitoring and Analysis, Advocacy Days, Position
letters and Funding Requests (as deemed suitable).
Initiatives –cont.
9
10
9/1/2021
6
11
Next
Steps
September 29 Draft Strategic Plan
November 17 Final Strategic Plan
Adoption
Questions
?
12
11
12
LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Administration Building
10844 Ellis Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2021-1827 Agenda Date:9/13/2021 Agenda Item No:4.
FROM:James D. Herberg, General Manager
SUBJECT:
PUBLIC AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTHS OF JULY AND AUGUST 2021
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Receive and file the Public Affairs Update for the months of July and August 2021.
BACKGROUND
Staff will provide an update on recent public affairs activities.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Maintain influential legislative advocacy and a public outreach program
·Build brand, trust, and support with policy makers and community leaders
·Maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with regulators, stakeholders, and
neighboring communities
·Listen to and seriously consider community input on environmental concerns
PROBLEM
The Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) is well-recognized within the water/wastewater
industry; however, within our service area there is limited knowledge by our customers of the
important work we do to protect public health and the environment. In general, the customers we
serve do not realize that when they improperly dispose of waste into the sanitation system, it can
negatively affect our sewer lines, our treatment plants, and the quality of water we supply to the
Groundwater Replenishment System.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
By providing tours, community outreach, education, and general communication via OC San’s
website, social media outlets, and direct mailings, we can educate the community, local agencies,
and businesses on our messaging such as the What2Flush program, energy production, water
recycling, biosolids, and our source control program. This, in turn, helps improve the quality of
wastewater that is recycled or released to the ocean.
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 9/3/2021Page 1 of 3
powered by Legistar™
OC6SAN
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
File #:2021-1827 Agenda Date:9/13/2021 Agenda Item No:4.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
If we do not educate the community,local agencies,and area businesses about OC San,we may not
have the support necessary to deliver our mission.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ACTIVITIES FOR THE MONTHS OF JULY AND AUGUST 2021
Outreach Report
An outreach report that includes tours,website postings,social media postings,construction
notifications, speaker engagements, and more is included as an attachment to this Agenda Report.
Virtual Tours
To continue engaging with the community and our stakeholders,staff conducts virtual tours of the
Plant which has allowed participants an opportunity to remotely visit OC San and learn how we
protect public health and the environment.For this reporting period,we held five virtual tours
reaching 61 people.
Presentations
We had three speaking engagements during this reporting period.Staff participated in the California
Water Environmental Association Women in Water,and presentations were made to the Cypress City
Council and the Los Alamitos City Council on the upcoming construction of the Western Orange and
Los Alamitos Trunk Sewer Projects.
Plant Nos. 1 and 2 Newsletters
As part of the ongoing outreach efforts to keep our neighbors informed and engaged,the summer
issue of the Neighborhood Connection Newsletter was distributed to residents around Plant Nos.1
and 2.The newsletters include updates on the ongoing construction of the Groundwater
Replenishment System Final Expansion project,the new permitter wall,heal the bay report card,and
more. The current and previous issues are available on our website at www.ocsan.gov/construction.
Construction Outreach Efforts
Outreach has started for the upcoming Los Alamitos Trunk Sewer Project which will take place in Los
Alamitos,Seal Beach,and Cypress.As part of our efforts to keep the community informed,
notifications have been distributed to encourage the public to sign up for text and email alerts and to
frequent our website for project updates.Project details can be found at
www.ocsan.gov/LosAlamitos.
Awards
Organizational Excellence from CASA
OC San’s Asset Management Program won the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA)
Organizational Excellence-Large Agency award.Winners were announced at the CASA Conference
on August 12.OC San’s Asset Management Program was recognized for its thoroughness,
efficiency, and in-house development that has created an example for others to follow.
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 9/3/2021Page 2 of 3
powered by Legistar™
File #:2021-1827 Agenda Date:9/13/2021 Agenda Item No:4.
National Procurement Award
OC San received the National Procurement Award from the National Procurement Institute.OC San
is one of only 182 agencies in the US and Canada,and one of only 36 special districts to receive this
award.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s)may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov)with the complete agenda
package:
·Outreach and Media Summary Report - July and August 2021
·Presentation
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 9/3/2021Page 3 of 3
powered by Legistar™
Outreach and Media
Summary
July- August 2021
O C SAN P u b l i c A f f a i r s O f f i c e
OC ~SAN
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
Table of Contents
OUTREACH REPORT…………………………………………………………PAGE 1
FACEBOOK POSTINGS ……………………………………………...............PAGE 2
TWITTER POSTINGS …………………………………………………………PAGE 8
INSTAGRAM POSTINGS………………………………………………………PAGE 10
LINKEDIN POSTINGS………………………………………………………....PAGE 12
NEWS ARTICLES……………………………………………………………………………. PAGE 16
Outreach Report July and August 2021
Date Tours Attendees Tour Guide
07/20/2021 Cal State Long Beach Nursing 15 Mike Zedek
07/21/2021 Cal State Long Beach Nursing 20 Cortney Light
07/22/2021 Cal State Fullerton Nursing 14 Cortney Light
07/22/2021 Grand Jury Tour 6 Jim Herberg/ Rob
Thompson
07/27/2021 Grand Jury Tour 6 Jim Herberg/ Rob
Thompson
Date Speaking Engagements/Events Attendees Presenter
07/12/2021 Cypress City Council Meeting 10 Jeff Mohr
08/16/2021 Los Alamitos City Council Meeting 15 Kathy Millea
08/30/2021 CWEA Women in Water 100* Violet Renick
*These events have not occurred at time
of this report, therefore # of attendees is
estimated.
Project Area Construction Outreach Notifications # of People
Reached
Website Posts and
Text Alerts
Anaheim Project Update – 2 printed notices 2,000 2 website posts /
3 text & email alerts
Los Alamitos/
Seal Beach 1 printed notice 18,000
Fountain Valley Newsletter and project update 3,850 1 website post
Huntington
Beach Newsletter 1,400
Westminster Project Update 300 2 website posts /
2 text alerts
External
Communications Distribution # of People
Reached
5 Minutes Per
Month 2 434
Board Member
Talking Points 2 100
Website Posts 15 posts 172 views
Facebook 35 posts 4.9k reached
Twitter 27 tweets 19.4 reached
Instagram 28 posts 5k likes
LinkedIn 7 posts 5.3k reached
Facebook Posts
July-August 2021 I
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Jul 2 Jul 5 Jul 9 Jul 13 Jul 16 Jul 20 Jul 24 Jul 27 Jul 31 Aug 4
Published Post Type Targeting Reach Engagement
08/19/2021 The Steering Committe Meeting (5 $ "' 44 I 0 I
11.21 AM pm) and Board of Directors Meeting 2 I
08/19/2021 The Results are In! California •Ill 114 • 19 -9:23AM Association of Sanitation Agencies 13 -
08/17/2021 As part of our infrastructure r• 107 I 3 I
8:19AM improvement efforts exploratory work 3 I
08/15/2021 An OC San Virtual Tour is coming up •Ill 65 I 3 I
9:00AM on Wednesday, August 25 at 2 pm. 3 I
08/13/2021 Its #FridayThe13th and something r• 118 • 0 I
2:02 PM that scares us is seeing 4 I
08/11/2021 Clean Water is the best water. When •Ill 96 I 6 • 9:00AM water leaves your house from the 5 •
08/09/2021 Ever wondered what a sunrise at OC r• 126 • 1 I
9:00AM San looks like? No worries, we'll 6 •
08/07/2021 We love coffee more than we'd like to r• 235 -22 -9:00AM ---admit. Wondering what you should do 7 •
Published Post Type Targeting Reach Engagement
08/05/2021 d Be part of the solution. With 0 I 0
9.00AM -~ #WaterQualityMonth here, we •• 44 3 0
08/03/2021 How do you keep a sewer system ra 221 -10 I
3:48 PM working in tip-top shape? You 12 •
08/03/2021 The spotlight on wastewater. ro 100 • 4
9:00AM Recently senators proposed 2
08/01/2021 Today is National Sister Day and ... 142 • 4 I
10:18AM what better way to celebrate than 12 •
07/30/2021 Construction Alert for ro 221 -5 I
1.59 PM @city_of_anaheim-State College 7 I
07/29/2021 We learn as much from our interns as ra 211 -7 I
9:03AM they learn from us. #lnternDay is here 11 •
Will selfies go out of style? We don't -07/27/2021 ro 362 32
2:06 PM think so. Especially when it's of an 30 -
07/25/2021 ~;::,;"=":". What do you do to keep the beaches ra 130 • 1 I
9:00AM ' clean? At oc San we monitor the 8 I
07/23/2021 Let's throw it back to OC Fair in the ro 221 1111 7 I
9:00AM 90s! OC San used to join the 18 •
07/22/2021 ~ This might not be your everyday ... 92 I 5 I
4:00 PM conversation but OC San #pottytalk is 6 I
07/22/2021 Don't forget to join us on Wednesday, 6 76 I 1
3:28 PM July 28 for the Steering Committee 2
07/19/2021 Maybe it's time for a change? OC ra 106 • 2
11:07AM San has openings that may be that 2
07/17/2021 #SharkWeek is coming to an end but ra 178 -0 I
9:00AM we couldn't let it pass without giving 9 I
07/16/2021 ' OC San successfully sold $134 • 5 I
9:03AM million of Wastewater Refunding ro 157 7 I
07/15/2021 Being recognized two times is better •• 109 • 7 I
11:24AM than one. NACWA recognized OC 10 I
07/14/2021 Where's Wanda? She's working hard ro 326 -75
9:41 AM in the middle of our treatment plant. 17 •
07/12/2021 • Join is this Wednesday, July 14 at 5 6 75 I 0
9:01AM pm for the Administration Committee 2
07/12/2021 Summertime is a great time to grill. ro 187 Ill 7 I
9:00AM But cleanup time is not so great, 12 •
07/10/2021 An oc San Team Member Snagged ra 181 -1 I
9:00AM '! the Pumps & Systems Front Cover 8 I
07/08/2021 It doesn't get better than a 'AAA.' OC IEJ 104 • 3 I
9:00AM San receives highest credit rating 8 I
07/07/2021 :) Five years later and OC San is back IEJ 100 • 3
900AM at it again gaining the National 4
07/06/2021 As we start #CleanBeachesWeek IEJ 178 -7 I
9:00AM let's remember that it is all of our 11 I
07/06/2021 The Legislative and Public Affairs 74 I 1
7:41 AM Meeting is happening next week on 1
07/04/2021 Happy #4thofJuly . Today we IEJ 96 • 0
9:00AM celebrate our Nation's Independence 2
07/02/2021 • The OC San administrative offices IEJ 73 I 0
11:12AM will be closed on Monday, July 5 in 1
07/01/2021 • Join us for our Operations Committee $ 64 I 1
12:16 PM Meeting next week on Wednesday, 1
06/30/2021 As if we didn't already know. The IEJ 139 • 3
9:20AM L-annual Heal The Bay Report Card is 4
06/29/2021 Construction Alert for r• 114 • 9 I
11:27 AM @city _of_anaheim -over the next 3 I
06/28/2021 ;,J OC San is all about protecting public •• 6 I
9:00AM :.21 health and the environment. 76 6 I
06/27/2021 .. FOG goes in the trash! Our video •• 119 • 6 I
9:00AM contest winner, Aminah, knows that. 10 I
Twitter Posts
July- August 2021 I
"JI Analytics HOO'M! Tw:eets More v
Orange County Sanitation District "oc~w111ct
28 day summary with change eve, pre\llOU~ pet'lod
Twr•r1o;; Twl•r1S11r,r-.r..n~
14 +?6.3% 7,599 +50.3%
Aug 2021 • :,:> tl,"IYf. •,o IM
lWLLI 111(..,!IUU•ll'.ll
Top Tweet ea.med G31 1mpresa1ons
Ever wondered what a sunrise at OC San
looks like? No worries, we'll show you.
Leave us a comment tellling us about your
favorite sunrise spot.
pic.twitter.com/satHliv54O
View Tweet aetlvlly View alt Twoet aet,vicy
Top Follower ro11owu<111y 46 people
Alexandra Davenport
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364 +l-1.6% 4 +?0.0%
Top mention eamed !i afl1:jagemenl5
#VXNews Summer Preview.
@ OCSanDisttiet New Board Chair John
Wuhers; HR:&A LA's Andrea Batista
Schlesinger: @ AltaSeaOrg's
@limmcosker & @PortofLA's Mike Galvin
Read on: ma1lch1.mp/verd@xchange/v. __
plc.twltter.com/93Pc6meZBO
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Top media Tweet ,n1rnml 5211mprttSSIOflS
As part of our infrastructure improvement
efforts exploratory work will be done on
Denni St, Moody St, O range Ave. anr1
Bloomfield S1 In the cities ot Cypress. Los
Alamitos and La Palma as part of a futun~
proJect. Work will take place over the next 2
weeks from 9 am -3:30pm.
pic.twltter.com/3ubjGphR0e
---·.:--:·• ~-~.
PREPARING FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS
..,l •.1
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Jul 2021 • 31 days
TWEET HIGHLIGHTS
Top Tweet earned 1,112 impressions
Will selfies go out of style? We don't think
so. Especially when it's of an OC San team
member showing off what he wears to keep
himself and others safe. A virtual high five to
this member of our maintenance team.
#OCSanFamily
p,c.twitter.com/1HwTb8xFgV
t.."12 •
View Tweet activity View all Tweet activity
Top Follower followed by 1,496 people
Brandon
@Br ridonCcl.lJdl FOi.LOWS YOU
Parent. Veteran. Pseudo-Techie. Recovering Floridian.
t:MaskPlusVax
Vtewprofi~
Top mention earned 14 engagements
CWEA
C"A.EA .__cw,a 22
weather looks perfect for a paddle out into
Orange County's Back Bay. A nice shot for
#swimmableCA, thanks to the 10,000
CWEA members across CA on the front
lines protecting #cleanwater. Photos by
Earle K from @OCSanDistrict, entries in
our #WatersWorthlt photo contest.
pic.twitter.com/d3Z3PUHvSg
--
~-=-~~
~--
ViewTwee1
Top media Tweet earned 1,141 impressions
Being recognized two times is better than
one. NACWA recognized OC Son with the
Platinum Peak Performance Award and the
Gold Recognition in Excellence
Management. To learn more visit ocsan.gov
@NACWA pic.twitter.com/slSWgSixLE
t.•.1 .,
View Tweet activity View all Tweet activity
JUL 2021 SUMMARY
Tweet nnpresSJOns
19 14.8K
580 5
6
Instagram Posts
July- August 2021 I
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FOURTH ·:· i OF JULY!
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LinkedIn Posts
July- August 2021 I
Analytics
Last 30 day activity
203
Unique visitors
Share trending articles
32
New followers
3.3K
Post impressions
21
Custom button clicks
Orange County Sanitation District
~SAN 3 270 followers
4d ·~
•32%
0%
• 51%
y 8%
The Results are In! California Associat ion of Sanitation Agencies has awarded OC
San the Organizational Excellence award for our Asset Management Program. We
are so happy to receive this recognition, we work very hard to monitor ... see more
I
Orange County Sanitation District
3,270 followers
3w -~
Today is National Sister Day and what better way to celebrate than g iving a
shoutout to our sister agency the @OCWD, Together we've partnered on the
Groundwater Replenishment System (GWRS) which is currently underg ... see more
Orange County Sanitation District
C~ 3,271 folower~
3Vt ·®
V\.1e learn as: much from our interns. as. they learn trcm us. . .tfnternDay is. .,.Gre and
we want to give them a shoutout for being a huge as5et to OC San and being as
committed to waste wa~e•r trco;;trnent a!. we a,c. Here we have Emmarv .. -;cc mor<-
Orange County Sanitation District
~ 3,270 followers
1rro • ($)
Being recognized two times is better than one. NACWA recognized OC San with
the Platinum Peak Performance Award and the Gold Recognition in Excellence
Manageme1t. To learn more visit ocsan.gov
OC SAN RECEIVES THE PLATINUM PEAK
PERFORMANCE AWARD AND THE GOLD
RECOGNITION IN EXCELLENCE
MANAGEMENT
r l -UI~ i~,,~. \ '("-, , . ,v \ -( f ~ . .
I ~ ..
Orange County Sanitation District
_!....~ 3,270 followers
1mo • ($)
Five years later and OC San is back at it again gaining the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System Permit. To learn more go to ocsan.gov
Orange County Sanitation District
~~~l!! 3,270 followers
lmo •®
Happy #4thofJuly . Today we celebrate our Nation's Independence Day with the 3
F's family, food and fireworks.
********
HAPPY
FOURTH
OF JULY!
********
Orange County Sanitation District
--6~ 3,270 followers
lmo•®
iill ~ ::::~ ~.)~ = ,, •.
L...j. I \ I \ II
1111 A
....... JI ~ = ~ = I I
As if we didn"t already know. The annual Heal The Bay Report Card is in and
Orange County Beaches are amongst the best in California. Visit ocsan.gov to
learn how we help make this happen.
Orange County
beaches are among
the best in
California
Article Date Resource Link
Southern California beaches score high on
summer water quality 29-Jun-21 LA Daily News
https://www.dailynews.com/2021/06/29/southern-california-
beaches-score-high-on-summer-water-quality/
OC Gets Good Marks for Clean Beaches 29-Jun-21 OC Register
https://www.ocregister.com/2021/06/29/water-off-orange-
county-cleaner-than-in-much-of-the-state-particularly-in-
summer/
Fitch Rates Orange County Sanitation
District, CA Rev Obligations 'AAA'; Outlook
Stable 1-Jul-21 Fitch Ratings
https://www.fitchratings.com/research/us-public-finance/fitch-
rates-orange-county-sanitation-district-ca-rev-obligations-aaa-
outlook-stable-01-07-2021
Moody's assigns Aaa to Orange County
Sanitation District, CA's Wastewater
Refunding Rev. Ob., Series 2021A; outlook
stable 1-Jul-21 Moody's
https://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-assigns-Aaa-to-
Orange-County-Sanitation-District-CAs-Wastewater--
PR_907205728?cid=7QFRKQSZE021
Orange County Water Quality: How Clean
Are OC's Beaches?1-Jul-21 OC Patch
https://patch.com/california/orange-county/orange-county-
water-quality-how-clean-are-ocs-beaches
Orange County launches first water plant to
remove PFAS toxins 6-Jul-21 OC Register
https://www.ocregister.com/2021/07/06/orange-county-
launches-first-water-plant-to-remove-pfas-toxins/
17-million-gallon sewage spill prompts
closure of beaches north of El Segundo 12-Jul-21 Spectrum News 1
https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/orange-county/public-
safety/2021/07/12/sewage-spill-prompts-closure-of-beaches-
north-of-el-segundo
Sewage spill was kept from public for hours 14-Jul-21 LA Tmes
https://enewspaper.latimes.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?gui
d=63516b55-99f5-4bcf-900b-16e5ec7e3b92
Secure California’s future water supply and
invest in recycled water 19-Jul-21 CAL Matters
https://calmatters.org/commentary/2021/07/secure-californias-
future-water-supply-and-invest-in-recycled-water/
Congress Members Lowenthal, McClain,
Introduce Legislation To Create National
Labeling Standard For Non-flushable Wet
Wipes 21-Jul-21
Congressman Lowenthal
Newsletter
https://lowenthal.house.gov/media/press-releases/congress-
members-lowenthal-mcclain-introduce-legislation-create-
national
Senators propose more money for water
sources 24-Jul-21 Santa Barbara Newspress
https://newspress.com/senators-propose-more-money-for-
water-sources/
Western water experts are working to not
only conserve water, but to also reuse as
much wastewater as possible, including
through direct potable reuse.3-Aug-21 Ensia.com
https://ensia.com/features/in-an-arid-u-s-west-water-agencies-
look-to-delive%E2%80%8Br%E2%80%8B-purified-wastewater-
directly-to-customers-faucets%E2%80%8B-despite-yuck-factor/
California Invests in Recycled Water as
Droughts Take a Toll 4-Aug-21 Governing.com
https://www.governing.com/next/california-invests-in-recycled-
water-as-droughts-take-a-toll
State report raises fresh alarms over sea-
level rise 28-Aug-21 OC Register
https://www.ocregister.com/2021/08/27/state-report-raises-
fresh-alarms-over-sea-level-rise/
9/1/2021
1
Public Affairs Update
July and August 2021
Presented by:
Daisy Covarrubias,
Pr. Public Affairs Spec.
Legislative and
Public Affairs
Committee
September 13, 2021
• Plant Nos. 1 and 2 Newsletters
• Factsheets
• Media Relations
• Employee Communication
• Construction Outreach
• Los Alamitos Sewer
• Orange-Western Sewer
• Westminster Blvd. Sewer
• Headquarters Project
• State College Sewer
What We Did
Tours
5 tours / 61 guests
3 speaking engagements
Social Media
Twitter:
27 tweets / 19.4k reached
Facebook:
35 posts / 4.9k reach
Instagram:
28 posts / 5k likes
LinkedIn:
7 posts/ 5.3k reached 2
1
2
9/1/2021
2
What We Are Doing
3
•Annual Report
•Employee Celebrations
•Volunteer Incentive Program
recognition
•Outreach Toolkit
•Construction Updates
•Internal Communication
•Social Media
National Procurement Award from the National
Procurement Institute.
OC San is 1 of only 182 agencies in the U.S.
and Canada, and 1 of only 36 special districts to
receive this award.
Awards
4
Organizational Excellence- Large Agency award
for Asset Management Program
3
4
L':°• National
(flpl Procurement
Institute
~A SA
~ SAN SharePoint
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LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
COMMITTEE
Agenda Report
Administration Building
10844 Ellis Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-7433
File #:2021-1798 Agenda Date:9/13/2021 Agenda Item No:5.
FROM:James D. Herberg, General Manager
SUBJECT:
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE FOR THE MONTHS OF JULY/AUGUST 2021
GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Receive and file the Legislative Affairs Update for the month of July and August 2021.
BACKGROUND
The Orange County Sanitation District’s (OC San) legislative affairs program includes advocating OC
San’s legislative interests; sponsoring legislation (where appropriate); and seeking Local, State, and
Federal funding for projects and programs. Staff will provide an update on recent legislative and
grant activities.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
·Maintain influential legislative advocacy and a public outreach program
·Build brand, trust, and support with policy makers and community leaders
·Maintain collaborative and cooperative relationships with regulators, stakeholders, and
neighboring communities
PROBLEM
Without a strong advocacy program, elected officials may not be aware of OC San’s mission,
programs, and projects and how they could be impacted by proposed legislation.
PROPOSED SOLUTION
Continue to work with Local, State, and Federal officials to advocate OC San’s legislative interests.
Help to create/monitor legislation and grants that would benefit OC San, 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-on-one meetings, and trips to Washington D.C.
and Sacramento.
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 9/3/2021Page 1 of 2
powered by Legistar™
OC6SAN
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
File #:2021-1798 Agenda Date:9/13/2021 Agenda Item No:5.
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
If we do not work with Local,State,and Federal elected officials,legislation could be passed that
negatively affects OC San and the wastewater industry as a whole.Additionally,a lack of
engagement may result in missed funding opportunities.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
In response to the pandemic,Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order granting boards and
agencies modified Brown Act requirements.After a previous extension of the original order,it is
scheduled to expire September 30,2021.The surge in cases resulting from the Delta Variant
highlights the need for the continuation of Brown Act flexibility.As of now,there are two avenues to
pursue an extension:
·A new gubernatorial executive order or a re-extension of the existing executive order; or
·The passage of legislation such as AB 361 (Rivas)which,if passed,would grant local
agencies approval to transition to remote meetings under modified Brown Act requirements
without having to rely on a gubernatorial executive order.AB 361 is in the final stretch of the
legislative process, requiring consideration from the Senate.
On April 12, 2021, OC San submitted a letter of support for Assembly Bill (AB) 361.
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s)may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov)with the complete agenda
package:
·Federal Update - ENS Resources
·Federal Legislative Matrix - ENS Resources
·State Update - Townsend Public Affairs
·State Legislative Matrix - Townsend Public Affairs
·Grant Matrix
Orange County Sanitation District Printed on 9/3/2021Page 2 of 2
powered by Legistar™
Page 1
TO: Rebecca Long
FROM: Eric Sapirstein
DATE: August 22, 2021
SUBJECT: Washington Update
Congress was on its summer recess for the past month and will remain on recess
until mid-September except for a three-day return to work for the House to address
the pending fiscal year 2022 budget resolution. When Congress returns to work, it
faces a substantial must do list of legislation that includes finalizing an
infrastructure bill, considering a $3.5 trillion reconciliation package to address
“soft” infrastructure, debt ceiling increase and finalization of the annual spending
bills. Given the balkanized nature of House Democrats (centrists versus
progressives) each of these priorities face a huge headwind to secure passage. Like
past years, it is a given that Congress will need to pass a stopgap spending bill to
maintain governmental operations. For now, it appears that Congress will work on
these issues well into November and possibly into December to reach compromises
on each of these matters within the House, Senate and the two chambers.
The following summarizes the outlook for congressional activities in the coming
months.
Infrastructure Legislation Key Focus
It now appears all but certain that the Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill,
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (H.R. 3684), will be considered by the
House without amendments later in the fall. Speaker Pelosi continues to be in a
stand-off with approximately nine House moderates. These Members have
indicated that they will not vote on the budget resolution that sets overall spending
limits for the $3.5 trillion soft infrastructure legislation, before voting on the Senate
infrastructure bill that they support. Conversely, Pelosi has made it clear that the
House will not vote on the infrastructure package until such time as the Senate
approves its reconciliation legislation that specifies how the $3.5 trillion authorized
by the resolution will be appropriated. As a result of this situation, when the House
returns to Washington on August 23, it is expected to vote only on a rule setting the
parameters of floor debate on the budget resolution and delay action on an actual
vote on the budget resolution and the infrastructure bill until late September at the
earliest.
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Page 2
However, it is important to note that all indications point to the Senate-passed H.R.
3684 being approved in the House, setting the stage for enactment. Once enacted
the previously reported funding levels for wastewater projects will become
available over five years. For California, this means that the State should receive,
based upon the Clean Water Act’s allocation formula, almost $1 billion in clean
water SRF assistance. An important aspect of the infrastructure funding is the fact
that a state must use 49 percent of the assistance to provide either loan forgiveness
or 100 percent grants assistance to disadvantaged communities. Last, the funding
would be in addition to annual appropriations Congress provides for the State
Revolving Fund (SRF) and other water-related programs.
Soft Infrastructure Package Taking Shape
Both the Senate and House are taking steps to finalize each chamber’s priorities for
the reconciliation package. This package would fund the soft or “human”
infrastructure package that the Biden Administration is seeking. Congressional
committees have been directed by leadership to deliver recommendations on how
to allocate the overall $3.5 trillion spending package. The House Committee on
Transportation & Infrastructure Chairman Peter DeFazio (D-OR), has stated that he
intends to pursue the reconciliation process to boost funding for wastewater
infrastructure needs. DeFazio criticized the Senate infrastructure bill as lacking in
sufficient funding for wastewater programs.
In addition to developing funding recommendations, an effort to roll back the
elimination of state and local tax deductions is under consideration. If a rollback is
included in the reconciliation packaged and adopted, it would reinstate the ability of
taxpayers to deduct from their federal tax liability, the taxes paid to states and local
governments.
Reconciliation only requires a simple majority in the Senate of 51 votes. This avoids
the need to secure sixty votes to avoid a filibuster. Because the Senate is evenly
divided, it makes the outcome uncertain. All Democratic Senators would have to
vote to approve the $3.5 trillion spending level. Due to concerns about the impacts
of such spending on the national debt and inflation, Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV)
and Kristen Synema (D-AZ) have stated they hold deep concerns over the proposed
spending, complicating passage of reconciliation. A similar circumstance exists in
the House where moderate Democrats have signaled doubts about supporting the
spending. Therefore, action on any final reconciliation package will not be seen
until November at the earliest according to congressional staff.
Page 3
Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations
The House and Senate must finalize spending for fiscal year 2022 by October 1,
2021, when the fiscal year begins. The House has approved the United States
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) spending bill, providing $1.8 billion for
the clean water SRF program and other water resources programs such as water
recycling. The Senate Committee on Appropriations has not released its proposed
SRF spending level. It is expected to approve the spending measure in September or
October. As has been the case in past years, Congress is unlikely to finalize all
twelve appropriations bills by the end of September, triggering the need to pass a
stopgap spending bill to continue governmental operations most likely through
November.
Title
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Description
Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface
Transportation in America Act or the INVEST in America Act This bill
addresses provisions related to federal-aid highway, transit,
highway safety, motor carrier, research, hazardous materials, and
rail programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT). Among
other provisions, the bill * extends FY2021 enacted levels through
FY2022 for federal-aid highway, transit, and safety programs; *
reauthorizes for FY2023-FY2026 several surface transportation
programs, including the federal-aid highway program, transit
programs, highway safety, motor carrier safety, and rail programs;
* addresses climate change, including strategies to reduce the
climate change impacts of the surface transportation system and a
vulnerability assessment to identify opportunities to enhance the
resilience of the surface transportation system and ensure the
efficient use of federal resources; * revises Buy America
procurement requirements for highways, mass transit, and rail; *
establishes a rebuild rural bridges program to improve the safety
and state of good repair of bridges in rural communities; *
implements new safety requirements across all transportation
modes; and * directs DOT to establish a pilot program to
demonstrate a national motor vehicle per-mile user fee to restore
and maintain the long-term solvency of the Highway Trust Fund
and achieve and maintain a state of good repair in the surface
transportation system.
Bill Summary: Last edited by Sarah Sapirstein at Aug 23, 2021, 4:13 PM
Comprehensive infrastructure investment package that provides the
biggest infusion of U.S. federal spending on infrastructure in decades,
including $55 billion for water infrastructure. The bill also includes a
Western Water Infrastructure Title to address U.S. Bureau of
Reclamation water infrastructure funding programs.
Introduction Date: 2021-06-04
Federal Legislative Report - August 2021
Last Updated: August 23, 2021
Bills by Issue
Priority: High (13)
Bill Number
HR 3684
Last Action
Message On Senate Action Sent To The House
2021 08 16
Status
Passed Senate
Position
None
Priority
High
OC ~SAN
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
Title
PFAS Action Act of 2021
Description
PFAS Action Act of 2021 This bill establishes requirements and
incentives to limit the use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl
substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, and remediate PFAS in
the environment. PFAS are man-made and may have adverse
human health effects. A variety of products contain PFAS, such as
nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing. The bill directs the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate the PFAS
perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
(PFOS) as a hazardous substances under the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980,
thereby requiring remediation of releases of those PFAS into the
environment. Within five years, the EPA must determine whether
the remaining PFAS should be designated as hazardous
substances. The EPA must also determine whether PFAS should be
designated as toxic pollutants under the Clean Water Act. If PFAS
are designated as toxic, then the EPA must establish standards to
limit discharges of PFAS from industrial sources into waters of the
United States. In addition, the EPA must issue a national primary
drinking water regulation for PFAS that, at a minimum, includes
standards for PFOA and PFOS. Among other requirements, the EPA
must also issue a final rule adding PFOA and PFOS to the list of
hazardous air pollutants, test all PFAS for toxicity to human health,
and regulate the disposal of materials containing PFAS. Finally, the
bill provides incentives to address PFAS, such as grants to help
community water systems treat water contaminated by PFAS.
Bill Summary: Last edited by Sarah Sapirstein at Apr 19, 2021, 4:54 PM
Addresses the public health and environmental risks posed by PFAS
contamination, including addressing, monitoring, and treating for PFAS
contamination in water supplies. Includes directive for USEPA to
designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERCLA, also
known as Superfund law, within one year after enactment of the bill and
within five years determine whether to designate all PFAS substances as
hazardous under CERCLA. Also includes other regulatory measures to
detect, monitor, and treat for PFAS in water supplies.
Introduction Date: 2021-04-13
Bill Number
HR 2467
Last Action
Received In The Senate And Read Twice And
Referred To The Committee On Environment
And Public Works 2021 07 22
Status
In Senate
Position
Monitor
Priority
High
Title
WIPPES Act
Bill Summary: Last edited by Sarah Sapirstein at Aug 23, 2021, 5:53 PM
Pulled out of the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act. Not later than 2
years after enactment, directs FTC, with consultation from U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), to require manufacturers of
single-use wet wipes print a "Do Not Flush" label notice on wipes
product packaging. Below is a summary of the WIPPES Act's key
provisions: - Not later than 2 years after date of enactment, the Federal
Trade Commission (FTC), in consultation with USEPA, will issue
regulations to require wipes manufacturers to print clear and visible "Do
Not Flush" label notices on non-flushable wet wipes product packaging. -
Prohibition on the representation or marketing of flushable attributes,
performance, or efficacy benefits for non-flushable wipes products. - FTC
may bring penalty fines of not more than $2,500 for each day a
manufacturer fails to comply with labeling requirements. Total fine
amount may not exceed $100,000 for a single violation. - FTC will
develop guidance for manufacturers to conduct education and outreach
campaigns on new labeling requirements and provide consumers with
the following information: presence of the new label notice on product
packaging, what products have the new label notice, intended effects of
label notice on consumer behavior regarding the disposal of the
products, and outreach may not promote, advocate, or depict wipes
other than the wipes products defined by legislation.
Introduction Date: 2021-07-21
Title
Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021
Description
Water Quality Protection and Job Creation Act of 2021 This bill
creates, reauthorizes, and revises several grant programs for
infrastructure to treat water pollution, such as wastewater or
stormwater. Specifically, the bill reauthorizes through FY2026 and
revises the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, which
provides communities low-cost financing for water quality
infrastructure projects. It also reauthorizes through FY2026 grants
for * programs to control water pollution; * pilot projects related to
watershed management of wastewater discharges (e.g., sewer
overflows or stormwater discharges) during wet weather; *
alternative water source projects, including projects to reclaim
stormwater; or * measures to manage, reduce, treat or recapture
stormwater, such as sewer overflows. In addition, the
Environmental Protection Agency must award grants to owners of
publicly owned treatment works (i.e., sewage treatment plants) for
the treatment of contaminants of emerging concern, such as
perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to
as PFAS. These substances are man-made and may have adverse
human health effects. A variety of products contain the
compounds, such as nonstick cookware or weatherproof clothing.
Bill Summary: Last edited by Sarah Sapirstein at Jun 21, 2021, 3:52 PM
Bipartisan legislation would authorize $50 billion in direct infrastructure
investment over the next five years to address America’s crumbling
wastewater infrastructure and local water quality challenges. It would
also significantly increase the amount of Federal assistance made
available to States and communities through the successful Clean Water
State Revolving Fund (SRF) program.
Introduction Date: 2021-03-16
Bill Number
HR 4602
Last Action
Referred To The House Committee On Energy
And Commerce 2021 07 21
Status
In House
Position
Support
Priority
High
Bill Number
HR 1915
Last Action
Placed On The Union Calendar Calendar No 48
2021 06 22
Status
In House
Position
Support
Priority
High
Title
Made in America Act of 2021
Description
Made in America Act of 2021 This bill requires that materials used
in carrying out federal infrastructure aid programs are made in the
United States. The term produced in the United States means, in
the case of * iron or steel products, that all manufacturing
processes for the iron or steel product, from the initial melting
stage through the application of coatings, occurred in the United
States; * manufactured products, that the product was
manufactured in the United States and that the cost of the
components of the manufactured product that are mined,
produced, or manufactured in the United States is greater than
50% of the total cost of all components of the manufactured
product; and * construction materials, that all manufacturing
processes for the construction material occurred in the United
States. The Department of Commerce must (1) issue uniform
standards that define the term all manufacturing processes for
purposes of this bill, and (2) take into consideration and seek to
maximize the jobs benefited or created in the production of the
construction material. The bill requires that all steel, iron,
manufactured products, non-ferrous metals, plastic, concrete and
aggregates, glass (including optical glass), lumber, and drywall used
in these programs be produced in the United States. Includes
within infrastructure addressed by this bill federal-aid highways,
railroads, public transportation, civil aviation, drinking water, and
stormwater.
Bill Summary: Last edited by Sarah Sapirstein at Apr 19, 2021, 4:44 PM
Bill strengthens Buy American provisions for tax-payer funded
infrastructure projects by requiring federal funding programs to require
Buy America provisions for construction materials.
Introduction Date: 2021-04-13
Title
Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act of 2021
Bill Summary: Last edited by Sarah Sapirstein at Aug 23, 2021, 6:01 PM
Require the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to develop
effluent limitations guidelines and standards and water quality criteria
for PFAS under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and authorize
$200 million in Federal grants to publicly owned treatment works to
implement such guidelines and standards. Specifically, the Clean Water
Standards for PFAS Act would do the following: • Require USEPA to
develop water quality criteria under the Clean Water Act for all
measurable PFAS chemicals within two years of bill’s enactment and
develop effluent limitations guidelines and standards for all measurable
PFAS chemicals within four years, including establishing pretreatment
standards to prevent introduction of PFAS into POTWs and stopping
PFAS at the source prior to contaminating municipal water systems. •
Identifies nine priority industry categories of industries that USEPA must
establish standards for. • Authorizes $200 million in grants per year
through fiscal years 2022-2026 to assist POTWs with implementation of
developed limitations and standards.
Introduction Date: 2021-05-28
Bill Number
HR 2468
Last Action
Referred To The Subcommittee On
Commodity Exchanges Energy And Credit 2021
06 07
Status
In House
Position
Monitor
Priority
High
Bill Number
HR 3622
Last Action
Referred To The Subcommittee On Water
Resources And Environment 2021 06 01
Status
In House
Position
Monitor
Priority
High
Title
Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act of 2021
Bill Summary: Last edited by Sarah Sapirstein at Aug 23, 2021, 5:59 PM
Companion bill to H.R. 3622. The bill would require the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to develop effluent limitations
guidelines and standards and water quality criteria for PFAS under the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act and provide Federal grants to
publicly owned treatment works to implement such guidelines and
standards. Specifically, the Clean Water Standards for PFAS Act would do
the following: • Require USEPA to develop water quality criteria under
the Clean Water Act for all measurable PFAS chemicals within two years
of bill’s enactment and develop effluent limitations guidelines and
standards for all measurable PFAS chemicals within four years, including
establishing pretreatment standards to prevent introduction of PFAS
into POTWs and stopping PFAS at the source prior to contaminating
municipal water systems. • Identifies nine priority industry categories of
industries that USEPA must establish standards for. • Authorizes $200
million in grants per year through fiscal years 2022-2026 to assist POTWs
with implementation of developed limitations and standards.
Introduction Date: 2021-05-27
Bill Number
S 1907
Last Action
Read Twice And Referred To The Committee
On Environment And Public Works 2021 05 27
Status
In Senate
Position
Monitor
Priority
High
Title
FUTURE Western Water Infrastructure and Drought Resiliency Act
Bill Summary: Last edited by Sarah Sapirstein at Aug 23, 2021, 5:56 PM
The FUTURE Western Water Act is a comprehensive package that aims to
address western water infrastructure and drought response needs,
including: infrastructure development, improved technology and data,
water job training and education, and ecosystem protection and
restoration. Among the provisions, the legislation includes provisions
from Water Recycling Investment and Improvement Act (H.R. 1015),
which increases the authorization level for the Title XVI program to $500
million from the current $50 million. CASA supports H.R. 1015. The bill's
the four major policy components. - Infrastructure Development:
authorizes $750 million for sustainable, multi-benefit water storage
projects, authorizes $500 million for water recycling and reuse projects,
authorizes $260 million for innovative water desalination projects, and
establishes process to authorize new major water storage projects
owned or supported by USDOI. - Improved Technology and Data: invests
in water data and technology to improve water management and
reducing energy and water waste - types of investments include
expanded water technology "X-Prize" to support new stream gages and
the development and deployment of emerging technologies to help
manage and improve water supply availability. - Water Job Training and
Education: Federal support for water education activities, collaborative
water management efforts and training, and professional development
support for water sector workforce. - Ecosystem Protection and
Restoration: To reverse fish and wildlife species decline, eligible
measures include new voluntary incentives for farmers to provide
waterbird habitats, expanded watershed health project funding, support
wildlife refuges, multi-benefit water storage projects that provide
benefits for water supply and wildlife, and improved drought planning
efforts to protect biodiversity.
Introduction Date: 2021-05-20
Title
Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021
Description
Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021 This bill
reauthorizes through FY2026 or establishes a variety of programs
for water infrastructure. Specifically, it supports programs to
provide safe drinking water or treat wastewater, such as sewer
overflows or stormwater. For example, the bill reauthorizes and
revises the clean water state revolving fund (SRF) and the drinking
water SRF.
Bill Summary: Last edited by Sarah Sapirstein at Jun 21, 2021, 4:29 PM
A comprehensive bill that contains Senate clean water and drinking
water provisions that were dropped out of Water Resources
Development Act (WRDA) 2020 during conference negotiations. S. 914
would invest more than $35 billion in water resource development
projects across the country, of which, more than 40% can be directly
used to benefit small, disadvantaged, rural, and tribal communities
through additional subsidization from the State Revolving Loan Funds or
direct grant programs.
Introduction Date: 2021-03-23
Bill Number
HR 3404
Last Action
Referred To The Subcommittee On Water
Resources And Environment 2021 05 21
Status
In House
Position
Support
Priority
High
Bill Number
S 914
Last Action
By Senator Carper From Committee On
Environment And Public Works Filed Written
Report Report No 117 20 2021 05 10
Status
In House
Position
Monitor
Priority
High
Title
Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021
Bill Summary: Last edited by Sarah Sapirstein at Aug 23, 2021, 6:03 PM
Would reduce plastic production, increase recycling, and protect
frontline and fenceline communities from the burden of toxic emissions
from plastic waste by changing the incentives of the industry. The bill
shifts the burden of cleanup to the corporations that produced the
plastics. Would direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
to establish regulations to require covered manufacturers, as defined by
the bill, to print clear and visible “Do Not Flush” labeling notice on
product packaging. Eligible labeling protocol mirrors the protocols
outlined in the state bill. As with the state bill, the “Do Not Flush” symbol
is defined by the INDA and EDANA Guidelines for Assessing the
Flushability of Disposable Nonwoven Products (Edition 4; May 2018).
BFFPPA addresses pollution caused by microfibers from textiles and
general microplastics through the water waste stream. The bill would
establish a new grants program to support projects that reduce
microfiber pollution through either improving industry and
manufacturing best practices to reduce the generation of textile-based
microfiber pollution or improve the filtration technology for textile-
based microfiber pollution in washing machines and at wastewater
treatment plants. The bill does not define an authorization amount for
the program. The legislation would also create a separate USEPA pilot
program to study the efficacy and cost effectiveness of tools,
technologies, and techniques used to remove and prevent the release of
microplastics into the environment. Under the program, studies will be
conducted to test natural and green infrastructure, and mechanical
removal systems and filtration technologies. The bill identifies eligible
locations to carry out testing studies to include wastewater treatment
facilities, stormwater systems, and drinking water systems. The bill does
not define an authorization amount for this new pilot program.
Introduction Date: 2021-03-26
Bill Number
HR 2238
Last Action
Referred To The Subcommittee On
Environment And Climate Change 2021 03 29
Status
In House
Position
Support
Priority
High
Title
Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act of 2021
Bill Summary: Last edited by Sarah Sapirstein at Aug 23, 2021, 6:03 PM
Would reduce plastic production, increase recycling, and protect
frontline and fenceline communities from the burden of toxic emissions
from plastic waste by changing the incentives of the industry. The bill
shifts the burden of cleanup to the corporations that produced the
plastics. Would direct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA)
to establish regulations to require covered manufacturers, as defined by
the bill, to print clear and visible “Do Not Flush” labeling notice on
product packaging. Eligible labeling protocol mirrors the protocols
outlined in the state bill. As with the state bill, the “Do Not Flush” symbol
is defined by the INDA and EDANA Guidelines for Assessing the
Flushability of Disposable Nonwoven Products (Edition 4; May 2018).
BFFPPA addresses pollution caused by microfibers from textiles and
general microplastics through the water waste stream. The bill would
establish a new grants program to support projects that reduce
microfiber pollution through either improving industry and
manufacturing best practices to reduce the generation of textile-based
microfiber pollution or improve the filtration technology for textile-
based microfiber pollution in washing machines and at wastewater
treatment plants. The bill does not define an authorization amount for
the program. The legislation would also create a separate USEPA pilot
program to study the efficacy and cost effectiveness of tools,
technologies, and techniques used to remove and prevent the release of
microplastics into the environment. Under the program, studies will be
conducted to test natural and green infrastructure, and mechanical
removal systems and filtration technologies. The bill identifies eligible
locations to carry out testing studies to include wastewater treatment
facilities, stormwater systems, and drinking water systems. The bill does
not define an authorization amount for this new pilot program.
Introduction Date: 2021-03-25
Title
To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with respect to
permitting terms, and for other purposes.
Description
This bill revises the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) program. Under the program, the Environmental
Protection Agency issues permits to discharge pollutants into
waters of the United States. The bill extends the maximum term for
NPDES permits issued to states or municipalities from 5 to 10
years.
Bill Summary: Last edited by Sarah Sapirstein at Mar 22, 2021, 9:20 PM
Extends the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)
permit to up to, but not exceeding, 10 years from the current 5 years, for
a municipality.
Introduction Date: 2021-03-12
Bill Number
S 984
Last Action
Read Twice And Referred To The Committee
On Finance 2021 03 25
Status
In Senate
Position
Support
Priority
High
Bill Number
HR 1881
Last Action
Referred To The Subcommittee On Water
Resources And Environment 2021 03 15
Status
In House
Position
Monitor
Priority
High
Title
Water Recycling Investment and Improvement Act
Description
Water Recycling Investment and Improvement Act This bill makes
permanent, and otherwise revises, the Bureau of
Reclamation's grant program for the funding of water recycling and
reuse projects. Specifically, the bill removes priority under the
program for projects in areas that, in the preceding four-year
period, have been (1) identified as experiencing severe, extreme, or
exceptional drought; or (2) designated as a disaster area by a state.
Additionally, the bill increases through FY2025 the authorization of
appropriations for the program and otherwise revises provisions
related to program funding.
Bill Summary: Last edited by Sarah Sapirstein at Feb 16, 2021, 3:28 PM
Increases the authorization level for the Title XVI Program to $500
million from the current $50 million and makes it a permanent program.
The bill strikes requirement that projects must be in drought or disaster
areas and strikes the requirement that the projects need to be
designated in an appropriations legislation.
Introduction Date: 2021-02-11
Title
Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of
2021
Description
Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Act of
2021 This bill increases funding for water infrastructure, including
funding for several programs related to controlling water pollution
or protecting drinking water. Specifically, it establishes a Water
Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability Trust Fund. The
fund may be used for specified grant programs. The bill increases
the corporate income tax rate to 24.5% to provide revenues for the
fund. In addition, the bill revises requirements concerning the
clean water state revolving fund (SRF) and the drinking water SRF. It
also creates or reauthorizes several grant programs for water
infrastructure.
Bill Summary: Last edited by Sarah Sapirstein at Mar 22, 2021, 9:43 PM
The Water Affordability, Transparency, Equity, and Reliability (WATER) Act
of 2021 is a comprehensive solution that creates a WATER Trust Fund,
which dedicates nearly $35 billion towards water infrastructure
improvements across the United States.
Introduction Date: 2021-02-25
Bill Number
HR 1015
Last Action
Referred To The Subcommittee On Water
Oceans And Wildlife 2021 03 15
Status
In House
Position
Support
Priority
High
Priority: Medium (1)
Bill Number
HR 1352
Last Action
Referred To The Subcommittee On
Conservation And Forestry 2021 04 05
Status
In House
Position
Monitor
Priority
Medium
Priority: None (2)
Title
COMPOST Act
Bill Summary: Last edited by Sarah Sapirstein at Aug 23, 2021, 6:07 PM
Creates a new Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administered
grant program for state, local, tribal, and territorial governments and for
nonprofits, which would offer three types of grants: planning grants,
measurement grants, and reduction grants. Program would be
authorized at $200 million for each of the fiscal years 2021-2031.
Introduction Date: 2021-07-16
Title
CLEAN Future Act
Description
Climate Leadership and Environmental Action for our Nation’s
Future Act or the CLEAN Future Act This bill creates requirements
and incentives to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The bill
establishes an interim goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to
at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030 as well as a national goal to
achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Each federal
agency must develop a plan to achieve the goals. Beginning in
2023, retail electricity suppliers must provide an increasing
percentage of electricity that is generated without the release of
greenhouse gases into the atmosphere (zero-emission electricity).
By 2035, the suppliers must provide 100% zero-emission electricity
or demonstrate alternative means of compliance. For example, the
suppliers may buy credits under a trading program that allows
entities to buy, sell, and trade credits to demonstrate compliance.
The bill also establishes a variety of requirements, programs, and
incentives to reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions by *
modernizing the electric grid and supporting clean energy
microgrids; * increasing the use of renewable energy and advanced
nuclear power technologies; * increasing energy efficiency in
buildings, homes, and appliances; * supporting clean
transportation, including electric vehicles and related charging
infrastructure; * issuing greenhouse gas standards for certain
vehicles, engines, and aircraft; * promoting manufacturing and
industrial decarbonization, including through buy-clean programs;
* supporting environmental justice efforts; and * reducing
methane, plastics, and super pollutants.
Bill Summary: Last edited by Sarah Sapirstein at Mar 22, 2021, 8:54 PM
H.R. 1512 is a comprehensive legislative package with the goal of
achieving net zero greenhouse gas pollution, combating the climate
crisis, putting Americans back to work,and rebuilding our economy. It
includes limited drinking water provisions, including establishing PFAS
grants program for affected community water systems, authorized at
$500 million. The legislation also includes an extensive environmental
justice title that supports the policy directives from the Administration
that 40% of all future federal funding be delivered to disadvantage and
environmental justice communities.
Introduction Date: 2021-03-02
Bill Number
HR 4443
Last Action
Referred To The Subcommittee On
Conservation And Forestry 2021 08 11
Status
In House
Position
None
Priority
None
Bill Number
HR 1512
Last Action
Referred To The Subcommittee On
Environment And Climate Change 2021 03 03
Status
In House
Position
None
Priority
None
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M E M O R A N D U M
To: Orange County Sanitation District
From: Townsend Public Affairs
Date: August 22, 2021
Subject: Monthly Legislative Report
State Legislative Update
The Legislature reconvened from summer recess on Monday, August 16. Since then, policy and
fiscal committees have continued to meet and consider bills in order to meet deadline constraints.
Of note is the appropriations deadline on August 27, which marks the last day for fiscal
committees to meet and report bills. With the appropriations deadline comes the second house’s
“appropriations suspense file” hearing, where bills determined to have a significant fiscal impact
are placed on “suspense” and either progress to the second house’s floor for consideration or are
held in committee and under submission. The suspense file hearing is expected to filter out active
bills from progressing further in the legislative process.
With only three remaining weeks of the 2021 legislative session, there are a number of
outstanding issues that are of interest to local governments. These include, but are not limited to:
Extension of Brown Act Flexibility
In response to the pandemic and the necessity of remote meetings to promote social distancing,
Governor Newsom issued an Executive Order granting boards and agencies modified Brown Act
requirements. After a previous extension of the original order, it is scheduled to expire September
30, 2021. The surge in cases resulting from the Delta Variant highlights the need for the
continuation of Brown Act Flexibility. As of now, there are two avenues to pursue an extension:
• A new gubernatorial executive order or a re-extension of the existing executive order
or;
• The passage of legislation such as AB 361 (Rivas) which, if passed, would grant local
agencies approval to transition to remote meetings under modified Brown Act
requirements without having to rely on a gubernatorial executive order. AB 361 is in
the final stretch of the legislative process, requiring consideration from the Senate.
The Release of Key Budget Details
Despite the release of funding plans and implementing language for much of the State’s Budget,
there still remain a few pending Budget details. These include the cap-and-trade expenditure plan,
which is expected to direct funding toward projects related to wildfire mitigation, forest
management, and community hardening. Additionally, numerous transportation programs
included in the State Budget are contingent on the passage of additional legislation to specify how
funds are allocated.
T WNSEND
PUBL C AFFAIRS
EST TPA 19 8
2
In addition, several water agencies, led by Metropolitan Water District, are pushing for increased
state investments for water use efficiency, local supply, and groundwater storage projects.
Metropolitan is leading a coalition effort to request an additional $1.3 billion in funding. That
funding request includes:
• Water Use Efficiency:
o $200 million for rebates for leak detection, turf replacement, and commercial
equipment
• Local Supply Projects:
o $650 million for water reuse and recycling
o $100 million for stormwater capture
o $100 million for groundwater remediation and wellhead treatment for PFAS
• Groundwater Storage
o $250 million for groundwater storage
Broadband Infrastructure Deployment
The Governor has signed SB 156, a trailer bill to implement the $6 billion included in the original
budget for broadband infrastructure construction, with priority given to underserved rural and
urban communities throughout the State. The bill’s major provisions include: $2 billion for last-
mile infrastructure to increase connectivity and affordability in underserved rural and urban areas,
$3.25 billion for statewide, open-access middle-mile network, and $750 million to establish a new
loan loss reserve account to provide collateral to local governments issuing bonds for municipal
broadband deployment. In the final weeks of session, the passage of two important broadband
infrastructure measures AB 14, (Aguiar-Curry) and SB 4 (Gonzalez), will help prioritize the
deployment of broadband infrastructure in unserved and underserved communities throughout
California through the ongoing collection of the California Advanced Services Fund surcharge.
These bills also expand the definition of “unserved” communities to include areas with speeds
slightly faster than dial up, which is now an outdated benchmark for determining access speeds.
AB 14 has been placed on the Senate appropriations suspense file. SB 4 is expected to be
considered by the Assembly Appropriations Committee next week.
Housing Reform Policies
This legislative session has featured a focus on housing reform policies. Numerous housing and
land use reform bills have made their way through the legislative process further than similar bills
have in previous sessions. For example, SB 9 (Atkins), which would require cities and counties
to permit ministerially either a housing development of up to two units, or the subdivision of a
parcel into two equal parcels, has passed through both house’s policy committees will move to
the Assembly Floor for consideration. Another bill of interest, AB 215 (Chiu), which would have
created a new, mid-cycle housing needs progress determination process between HCD and
underperforming jurisdictions, has now been significantly amended to remove the mid-cycle
review process with HCD while enhancing the legal enforcement tools of the agency. AB 215 is
expected to be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee next week.
In addition to these priority items being discussed by the Legislature, there are several other
COVID related items that are still a high priority in Sacramento.
3
Governor Announces Testing and Proof of Vaccination Mandate
Governor Newsom announced a new mandate requiring all state and healthcare workers to
provide proof of vaccination or be tested at least once per week. In addition, the Governor hopes
to encourage all local governments and other employers to adopt a similar protocol. Beginning
August 2, all state employees will be required to show proof of vaccination or begin mandatory
COVID testing once per week. Beginning August 9, all healthcare and congregate facility workers
will adopt the same protocol and must be in full compliance by August 23. Those operating in
acute care facilities may be required to be tested twice per week. Implementation of this new
mandate will be accomplished via public health order.
State Rental Assistance Metrics
The Governor announced that the California Rent Relief program continues to build momentum
with over $1 billion in rental assistance requested through the state-administered program and
increasing rates of application and disbursement. The State’s rental assistance program allows
tenants to access rental funds directly if their landlord chooses not to participate and ensures
landlords can receive compensation even if their otherwise income-qualified tenants have already
vacated a unit.
The Program provides a total of $5.2 billion to now cover 100 percent of back-rent and all
prospective rent for several months into the future for income-qualified tenants. The Program also
includes $2 billion for past-due water and utility bills and more money than ever for tenant legal
assistance. This new supportive funding adds to the recent extension of the State’s eviction
moratorium.
COVID Impact on Access to State Capitol Building
California has reinstated a mask mandate for all lawmakers and employees at the state Capitol,
regardless of vaccination status, following an outbreak of coronavirus cases in the building. All
individuals who contracted the coronavirus were staff, four of whom were fully vaccinated. The
announcement from the Secretary of the Senate and the Assembly Chief Administrative Officer
was followed by a letter from Legislative Leadership to Senate and Assembly staff.
Priority Legislation
The below bills have been identified by TPA and OC San staff as priority bills that would have an
impact on OC San.
AB 339 (Lee) – State and local government: open meetings. (OC San: Watch)
AB 339 was amended to remove the above provisions and instead narrow the scope to only
require large cities and counties (over 250,000 in population) to include an opportunity for
members of the public to attend via a telephonic option or an internet-based service option. This
includes the ability to provide public comment both in person and remotely via a telephonic or an
internet-based service option.
4
Status: AB 339 Currently on the Senate Floor.
AB 361 (Rivas) – Open meetings: local agencies: teleconferences (OC San: Support)
Would authorize a local agency to use teleconferencing without complying with the
teleconferencing requirements imposed by the Ralph M. Brown Act when a legislative body of a
local agency holds a meeting for the purpose of declaring or ratifying a local emergency, during
a declared state of emergency or local emergency, as those terms are defined, when state or
local health officials have imposed or recommended measures to promote social distancing, and
during a declared local emergency provided the legislative body determines, by majority vote, that
meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees. The bill would
sunset on January 1, 2024.
Status: AB 361 Currently on the Senate Floor.
AB 377 (Rivas) – Water quality: impaired waters (OC San: Watch)
AB 377 has recently been significantly amended. The bill now requires the State Water Board
and Regional Boards to evaluate impaired state surface waters using the most current integrated
report, and report to the Legislature a plan to bring all water segments into attainment by January
1, 2050. AB 377 also creates the Waterway Recovery Account in the Waste Discharge Permit
Fund. Authorizes funds within the Waterway Recovery Account to be available for the State
Water Board to expend, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to bring impaired water segments
into attainment. Requires an enforcement action taken pursuant to this bill to result in sufficient
penalties, conditions, and orders to ensure the person subject to the enforcement action is no
longer causing or contributing to the exceedance in a surface water quality standard in a surface
water of the state.
Status: AB 377 is a two-year bill and will not be moving forward in 2021.
AB 818 (Bloom) - Solid waste: premoistened nonwoven disposable wipes (OC San: Support)
Would require certain premoistened nonwoven disposable wipes manufactured on or after July
1, 2022, to be labeled clearly and conspicuously with the phrase “Do Not Flush” and a related
symbol. The bill would prohibit a covered entity from making a representation about the flushable
attributes, benefits, performance, or efficacy of those premoistened nonwoven disposable wipes.
The bill would establish enforcement provisions, including authorizing a civil penalty not to exceed
$2,500 per day, up to a maximum of $100,000 per violation, to be imposed on a covered entity
who violates those provisions.
Status: AB 818 Currently on the Senate Floor.
AB 1500 (E. Garcia) // SB 45 (Portantino) – Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought
Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2022 (OC San: Watch)
AB 1500 and SB 45 would have established a general obligation bond that would appear on the
November 2022 ballot. These bond bills would provide funding for a wide variety of natural
resources and climate resilient projects including wildfire prevention, safe drinking water and
water quality, protecting fish, wildlife, and agriculture from climate risks, and protecting coastal
resources.
5
This proposal and conversations around a climate focused bond were put on hold in 2020 largely
due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the framework of Governor Newsom’s Budget includes
record surpluses and federal influxes of pandemic relief dollars. The Governor and the Legislature
both agree that direct water funding through the Budget in 2021 is critical, especially as California
continues to experience one of the driest periods on record. This agreement, which is still being
negotiated, would preclude the need for a general obligation bond this year
Status: AB 1500 and SB 45 have both been held in their respective Rules Committees and
are currently not expected to move forward this year.
OC San
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OC SAN
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
AB 59 Gabriel [D]This bill would increase, for fees and service charges and for fees for
specified public facilities, the time for mailing the notice of the time and
place of the meeting to at least 45 days before the meeting. This bill would
also require that all fees collected in excess of the cost of the service
provided be refunded to the ratepayer. This bill would also change the
statute of limitations for protests filed for disputes of rates, potentially
allowing rate disputes to be filed months or years after adoption.
Two-Year Bill Oppose Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACC-OC - Oppose
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - Oppose
ACWA - Oppose
AB 322 Salas [D]Current law requires the Energy Commission, in administering moneys in
the Electric Program Investment Charge Fund for research, development,
and demonstration programs, to develop and implement the EPIC program
for the purpose of awarding funds to projects that may lead to technological
advancement and breakthroughs to overcome barriers that prevent the
achievement of the state’s statutory energy goals and that may result in a
portfolio of projects that are strategically focused and sufficiently narrow to
make advancement on the most significant technological challenges.
Current law, until January 1, 2023, requires the Energy Commission to
expend certain percentages of the moneys appropriated from the fund for
technology demonstration and deployment at sites that benefit certain
communities. This bill would require the Energy Commission to allocate not
less than 20% of the funds appropriated for the EPIC program to bioenergy
projects for biomass conversion, as specified.
Currently on Senate Floor Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Biosolids and
Biogas - Support
streamlined legislation,
regulations and policies that
encourage the procurement
of biogas, biosolids, and
compost.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Support
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Favor
AB 339 Lee [D]Would, until December 31, 2023, require all open and public meetings of a
city council or a county board of supervisors that governs a jurisdiction
containing least 250,000 people to include an opportunity for members of
the public to attend via a telephonic option or an internet-based service
option. The bill would require all open and public meetings to include an in-
person public comment opportunity, except in specified circumstances
during a declared state or local emergency. The bill would require all
meetings to provide the public with an opportunity to comment on proposed
legislation in person and remotely via a telephonic or an internet-based
service option, as provided.
Currently on Senate Floor Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACC-OC - Oppose
LOCC - Oppose
CASA - Watch
CSDA - Oppose
ACWA - Oppose
Proposed Legislation 2021-2022
High Priority
OC San
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OC SAN
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
AB 361 Rivas [D]Would authorize a local agency to use teleconferencing without complying
with the teleconferencing requirements imposed by the Ralph M. Brown Act
when a legislative body of a local agency holds a meeting for the purpose
of declaring or ratifying a local emergency, during a declared state of
emergency or local emergency, as those terms are defined, when state or
local health officials have imposed or recommended measures to promote
social distancing, and during a declared local emergency provided the
legislative body determines, by majority vote, that meeting in person would
present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees.
Currently on Senate Floor Support Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - Sponsor
ACWA - Favor
AB 377 Rivas [D]Would require, by January 1, 2023, the State Water Resources Control
Board and regional boards to prioritize enforcement of all water quality
standard violations that are causing or contributing to an exceedance of a
water quality standard in a surface water of the state. The bill would require
the state board and regional boards, by January 1, 2025, to evaluate
impaired state surface waters and report to the Legislature a plan to bring
all water segments into attainment by January 1, 2050. The bill would
require the state board and regional boards to update the report with a
progress summary to the Legislature every 5 years. The bill would create
the Waterway Recovery Account in the Waste Discharge Permit Fund and
would make moneys in the Waterway Recovery Account available for the
state board to expend, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to bring
impaired water segments into attainment in accordance with the plan.
Two-Year Bill Watch Guiding Principles: Oppose
redundant regulatory and
legislative requirements that
cause undue constraints on
efficient operations.
ACC-OC - Oppose
LOCC - Oppose
CASA - Oppose
CSDA - Oppose
ACWA - Concerns
AB 564 Gonzalez [D]Would establish the Biodiversity Protection and Restoration Act and would
provide that it is the policy of the state that all state agencies, boards, and
commissions shall utilize their authorities in furtherance of the biodiversity
conservation purposes and goals of certain executive orders. The bill would
require all state agencies, boards, and commissions to consider and
prioritize the protection of biodiversity in carrying out their statutory
mandates. The bill would require strategies related to the goal of the state
to conserve at least 30% of California’s land and coastal waters by 2030 to
be made available to the public and provided to certain legislative
committees by no later than June 30, 2022.
Two-Year Bill Watch Guiding Principles: Oppose
redundant regulatory and
legislative requirements that
cause undue constraints on
efficient operations.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - Watch
ACWA - NYC
OC San
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OC SAN
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
AB 602 Grayson [D]Current law requires a city, county, or special district that has an internet
website to make available on its internet website certain information, as
applicable, including its current schedule of fees and exactions. This bill,
among other things, would require, on and after January 1, 2022, a city,
county, or special district that conducts an impact fee nexus study to follow
specific standards and practices, including, but not limited to, (1) that prior
to the adoption of an associated development fee, an impact fee nexus
study be adopted, (2) that the study identify the existing level of service for
each public facility, identify the proposed new level of service, and include
an explanation of why the new level of service is necessary, and (3) if the
study is adopted after July 1, 2022, either calculate a fee levied or imposed
on a housing development project proportionately to the square footage of
the proposed units, or make specified findings explaining why square
footage is not an appropriate metric to calculate the fees.
Currently in Senate
Appropriations
Committee
Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - Watch
ACWA - NYC
AB 622 Friedman [D]Current law, to protect public health and water quality, regulates a broad
range of consumer products and processes, including water softeners,
water treatment devices, and backflow prevention devices, among others.
This bill would require, on or before January 1, 2024, that all washing
machines sold as new in California contain a microfiber filtration system
with a mesh size of 100 microns or smaller.
Two-Year Bill Support State Priorities: Support
legislation or regulations that
restrict the use of
microplastics and chemicals
of emerging concern in any
product that is disposed of
through the sewer system.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 652 Friedman [D]Would, on and after July 1, 2023, prohibit a person, including a
manufacturer, from selling or distributing in commerce in this state any
new, not previously owned, juvenile product, as defined, that contains
perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) at a detectable level
above an unspecified amount. The bill would establish requirements for
manufacturers when replacing PFAS in juvenile products.
Currently on Senate Floor Watch State Priorities: Monitor
state legislation as well as
State Water Resources
Control Board (SWRCB)
regulatory activity related to
PFAS.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
OC San
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OC SAN
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
AB 703 Rubio [D]Current law, by Executive Order N-29-20, suspends the Ralph M. Brown
Act’s requirements for teleconferencing during the COVID-19 pandemic,
provided that notice requirements are met, the ability of the public to
observe and comment is preserved, as specified, and that a local agency
permitting teleconferencing have a procedure for receiving and swiftly
resolving requests for reasonable accommodation for individuals with
disabilities, as specified. This bill would remove the requirements of the act
particular to teleconferencing and allow for teleconferencing subject to
existing provisions regarding the posting of notice of an agenda and the
ability of the public to observe the meeting and provide public comment.
The bill would require that, in each instance in which notice of the time of
the teleconferenced meeting is otherwise given or the agenda for the
meeting is otherwise posted, the local agency also give notice of the means
by which members of the public may observe the meeting and offer public
comment and that the legislative body have and implement a procedure for
receiving and swiftly resolving requests for reasonable accommodation for
individuals with disabilities, consistent with the federal Americans with
Disabilities Act, as provided.
Two-Year Bill Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - Watch
ACWA - Support
AB 802 Bloom [D]Would require the Water Resources Control Board to identify the best
available control technology for filtering microfibers from an industrial,
institutional, or commercial laundry facility on or before an unspecified date,
and would require the state board to consult with owners and operators of
laundry facilities on the types of filtration systems currently in use and with
universities, scientific organizations, and experts on plastic pollution in
identifying the best available control technology. The bill would also require,
on or before an unspecified date, any entity that operates an industrial,
institutional, or commercial laundry facility to adopt the use of the best
available control technology to capture microfibers that are shed during
washing.
Two-Year Bill Watch State Priorities: Support
legislation or regulations that
restrict the use of
microplastics and chemicals
of emerging concern in any
product that is disposed of
through the sewer system.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - Favor
AB 818 Bloom [D]Would require, except as provided, certain premoistened nonwoven
disposable wipes manufactured on or after July 1, 2022, to be labeled
clearly and conspicuously with the phrase “Do Not Flush” and a related
symbol, as specified. The bill would prohibit a covered entity, as defined,
from making a representation about the flushable attributes, benefits,
performance, or efficacy of those premoistened nonwoven disposable
wipes, as provided. The bill would establish enforcement provisions,
including authorizing a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500 per day, up to a
maximum of $100,000 per violation, to be imposed on a covered entity who
violates those provisions.
Currently on Senate Floor Support Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Source Control -
Support legislation that
regulates the disposal of
flushable wipes.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Support
CASA - Sponsor
CSDA - Support
ACWA - Support
OC San
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OC SAN
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
AB 1001 C. Garcia [D]Would require the California Environmental Protection Agency, on or before
May 1, 2022, to publish, maintain, and update a list of overburdened
communities, as defined. The bill would, on or after July 1, 2022, require a
permitting agency to take certain actions for an application for a new
environmental permit, as defined, or the renewal of an environmental
permit for a facility located in an overburdened community. The bill would
require a permit applicant to prepare an environmental justice impact
statement, to conduct a public hearing in the overburdened community, and
to transmit the environmental justice impact statement to the permitting
agency.
Two-Year Bill Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Air Quality -
Support measures that
maintain and enhance local
decision-making authority,
where appropriate, in the
development and
implementation of air quality
attainment strategies.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Concerns
CSDA - NYC
ACWA - NYC
AB 1200 Ting [D]Would prohibit, beginning January 1, 2023, any person from distributing,
selling, or offering for sale in the state any food packaging that contains
intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS,
as defined. The bill would require a manufacturer to use the least toxic
alternative when replacing PFAS chemicals. The bill would define “food
packaging,” in part, to mean a nondurable package, packaging component,
or food service ware that is comprised, in substantial part, of paper,
paperboard, or other materials originally derived from plant fibers.
Currently in the Senate
Health Committee
Watch State Priorities: Monitor
state legislation as well as
State Water Resources
Control Board (SWRCB)
regulatory activity related to
PFAS.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Support
CSDA - Watch
ACWA - NYC
AB 1271 Ting [D]Current law, beginning January 1, 2021, imposes a penalty for violation of
specified surplus land provisions after a local agency receives the
notification from the Department of Housing and Community Development
and a penalty for subsequent violations. Current law authorizes specified
entities or persons to bring an action against a local agency to enforce the
provisions related to surplus land and allows a local agency 60 days to cure
or correct an alleged violation before the action may be brought, except as
specified. This bill would provide that these surplus land provisions do not
preclude a local agency that purchases surplus land from a disposing
agency from reconveying the surplus land to a nonprofit or for-profit
housing developer for development of low- and moderate-income housing
as authorized under other provisions of law.
Two-Year Bill Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Oppose
CSDA - Watch
ACWA - NYC
AB 1296 Kamlager [D]Current law establishes the South Coast Air Quality Management District
as the district with the responsibility for controlling air pollution from sources
other than vehicular sources in the South Coast Air Basin. Current law
establishes a district board consisting of 13 members to govern the south
coast district. Current law requires one member of the district board to be
appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and one member to be
appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly. This bill would increase the
number of members of the district board of the south coast district to 15
members by adding 2 environmental justice appointees, one appointed by
the Senate Committee on Rules and one appointed by the Speaker of the
Assembly.
Two-Year Bill Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Air Quality -
Support measures that
maintain and enhance local
decision-making authority,
where appropriate, in the
development and
implementation of air quality
attainment strategies.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - NYC
CSDA - Watch
ACWA - NYC
OC San
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OC SAN
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
AB 1434 Friedman [D]Would establish, beginning January 1, 2023, until January 1, 2025, the
standard for indoor residential water use as 48 gallons per capita daily. The
bill would establish, beginning January 1, 2025, the standard as 44 gallons
per capita daily and, beginning January 1, 2030, 40 gallons per capita daily.
The bill would eliminate the requirement that the department, in
coordination with the state board, conduct necessary studies and
investigations and jointly recommend to the Legislature a standard for
indoor residential water use.
Two-Year Bill Oppose Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Water Quality and
Supply - Support legislation
and regulation that promote
improved water use
efficiency through state
assistance in evaluating and
implementing new programs
and technologies and
increasing public awareness
of water use efficiency.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - No
Position
ACWA - Oppose
AB 1500 E. Garcia [D]Would enact the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought
Preparation, Flood Protection, Extreme Heat Mitigation, and Workforce
Development Bond Act of 2022, which, if approved by the voters, would
authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of $6,700,000,000 pursuant
to the State General Obligation Bond Law to finance projects for safe
drinking water, wildfire prevention, drought preparation, flood protection,
extreme heat mitigation, and workforce development programs.
Currently in the Senate
Rules Committee.
Unlikely to move forward
this year
Watch Guiding Principles: Seek
funds for OCSD projects
through grants,
appropriations, or other
means.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - Support if
Amended
ACWA - Support if
Amended
SB 45 Portantino [D]Would enact the Wildfire Prevention, Safe Drinking Water, Drought
Preparation, and Flood Protection Bond Act of 2022, which, if approved by
the voters, would authorize the issuance of bonds in the amount of
$5,510,000,000 pursuant to the State General Obligation Bond Law to
finance projects for a wildfire prevention, safe drinking water, drought
preparation, and flood protection program. Includes $100 million.
Currently in the Senate
Rules Committee.
Unlikely to move forward
this year
Watch Guiding Principles: Seek
funds for OCSD projects
through grants,
appropriations, or other
means.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - Support if
Amended
ACWA - Support if
Amended
SB 54 Allen [D]Would establish the Plastic Pollution Producer Responsibility Act, which
would prohibit producers of single-use, disposable packaging or single-use,
disposable food service ware products from offering for sale, selling,
distributing, or importing in or into the state such packaging or products that
are manufactured on or after January 1, 2032, unless they are recyclable or
compostable.
Two-Year Bill Watch State Priorities: Support
legislation or regulations that
restrict the use of
microplastics in any product
that is disposed of through
the sewer system.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - Watch
ACWA - NYC
OC San
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OC SAN
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
SB 95 Skinner Would provide for COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave for covered
employees, as defined, who are unable to work or telework due to certain
reasons related to COVID-19, including that the employee has been
advised by a health care provider to self-quarantine due to concerns related
to COVID-19. The bill would entitle a covered employee to 80 hours of
COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave if that employee either works full
time or was scheduled to work, on average, at least 40 hours per week for
the employer in the 2 weeks preceding the date the covered employee took
COVID-19 supplemental paid sick leave. The bill would provide a different
calculation for supplemental paid sick leave for a covered employee who is
a firefighter subject to certain work schedule requirements and for a
covered employee working fewer or variable hours, as specified.
Signed into law Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - Oppose
ACWA - NYC
SB 230 Portantino [D]Would require the State Water Resources Control Board to establish,
maintain, and direct an ongoing, dedicated program called the Constituents
of Emerging Concern Program to assess the state of information and
recommend areas for further study on, among other things, the occurrence
of constituents of emerging concern (CEC) in drinking water sources and
treated drinking water. The bill would require the state board to convene, by
an unspecified date, the Science Advisory Panel to review and provide
recommendations to the state board on CEC for further action, among
other duties. The bill would require the state board to provide an annual
report to the Legislature on the ongoing work conducted by the panel.
Two-Year Bill Watch State Priorities: Monitor
state legislation as well as
State Water Resources
Control Board (SWRCB)
regulatory activity related to
PFAS.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - Support
ACWA - Favor
SB 273 Hertzberg [D]Would authorize a municipal wastewater agency, as defined, to enter into
agreements with entities responsible for stormwater management for the
purpose of managing stormwater and dry weather runoff, to acquire,
construct, expand, operate, maintain, and provide facilities for specified
purposes relating to managing stormwater and dry weather runoff, and to
levy taxes, fees, and charges consistent with the municipal wastewater
agency’s existing authority in order to fund projects undertaken pursuant to
the bill. The bill would require the exercise of any new authority granted
under the bill to comply with the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local Government
Reorganization Act of 2000. The bill would require a municipal wastewater
agency that enters into or amends one of these agreements after January
1, 2022, to file a copy of the agreement or amendment with the local
agency formation commission in each county where any part of the
municipal wastewater agency’s territory is located, but would exempt those
agreements and amendments from local agency formation commission
approval except as required by the Cortese-Knox-Hertzberg Local
Government Reorganization Act of 2000.
Currently in Concurrence
pending amendments
from the Assembly
Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Co-
sponsor
CSDA - Support
ACWA - Favor
OC San
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OC SAN
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
SB 274 Wieckowski [D]The Ralph M. Brown Act requires meetings of the legislative body of a local
agency to be open and public and also requires regular and special
meetings of the legislative body to be held within the boundaries of the
territory over which the local agency exercises jurisdiction, with specified
exceptions. Current law authorizes a person to request that a copy of an
agenda, or a copy of all the documents constituting the agenda packet, of
any meeting of a legislative body be mailed to that person. This bill would
require a local agency with an internet website, or its designee, to email a
copy of, or website link to, the agenda or a copy of all the documents
constituting the agenda packet if the person requests that the items be
delivered by email. If a local agency determines it to be technologically
infeasible to send a copy of the documents or a link to a website that
contains the documents by email or by other electronic means, the bill
would require the legislative body or its designee to send by mail a copy of
the agenda or a website link to the agenda and to mail a copy of all other
documents constituting the agenda packet, as specified.
Currently on Assembly
Floor
Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - Watch
ACWA - Favor
SB 323 Caballero [D]Current law prohibits a local agency from imposing fees for specified
purposes, including fees for water or sewer connections, as defined, that
exceed the estimated reasonable cost of providing the service for which the
fee is charged, unless voter approval is obtained. Current law provides that
a local agency levying a new a water or sewer connection fee or increasing
a fee must do so by ordinance or resolution. Current law requires, for
specified fees, including water or sewer connection fees, any judicial action
or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, or annul an ordinance,
resolution, or motion adopting a new fee or service charge or modifying an
existing fee or service charge to be commenced within 120 days of the
effective date of the ordinance, resolution, or motion according to specified
procedures for validation proceedings. This bill would apply the same
judicial action procedure and timelines, as stated above, to ordinances,
resolutions, or motions adopting, modifying, or amending water or sewer
service fees or charges adopted after January 1, 2022, except as provided.
Currently in the Assembly
Judiciary Committee
Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Support
CASA - Watch
CSDA - Support
ACWA - Sponsor
OC San
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OC SAN
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
SB 342 Gonzalez [D]Current law establishes the South Coast Air Quality Management District
vested with the authority to regulate air emissions from stationary sources
located in the South Coast Air Basin and establishes a district board,
consisting of 13 members. This bill would add 2 members to the district
board, appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and the Speaker of
the Assembly. The bill would require the 2 additional members to reside in
and work directly with communities in the South Coast Air Basin that are
disproportionately burdened by and vulnerable to high levels of pollution
and issues of environmental justice.
Two-Year Bill Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Air Quality -
Monitor SCAQMD’s
development of regulations
and guidelines associated
with AB 617 in the following
areas: (1) implementation of
best available retrofit control
technology (BARCT)
requirements for existing
stationary sources; (2)
deployment of air monitoring
systems in selected
communities; and (3)
implementation of emissions
reduction plans in selected
communities.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - Watch
ACWA - Watch
SB 351 Caballero [D]Current law establishes the State Water Resources Control Board for the
purposes of providing for the orderly and efficient administration of the
water resources of the state. This bill, the Water Innovation Act of 2021,
would create the Office of Water Innovation at the California Water
Commission for the furtherance of new technologies and other innovative
approaches in the water sector. The bill would require the office, by
December 31, 2023, to take specified measures to advance innovation in
the water sector. The bill would make findings and declarations regarding
the need for water innovation.
Two-Year Bill Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Biosolids and
Biogas - Support
streamlined legislation,
regulations and policies that
encourage the procurement
of biogas, biosolids, and
compost.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Watch
CSDA - Support
ACWA - Favor
SB 695 Ochoa Bogh [R]Would prohibit a local agency from imposing a housing impact requirement
adopted by the local agency on a housing development project, as defined,
unless specified requirements are satisfied by the local agency, including
that the local agency prepare and adopt a nexus study, as specified. The
bill, for purposes of these provisions, defines “housing impact requirement”
as a fee imposed under the Mitigation Fee Act, dedications of parkland or in-
lieu fees imposed under the Quimby Act, or a construction excise tax. This
bill would require a local agency to adopt a nexus study that is used to
demonstrate compliance with these provisions, subject to specified public
participation requirements. This bill would prohibit a housing impact
requirement from exceeding the amount necessary to maintain the existing
level of service identified in the nexus study for the type of capital facility for
which the housing impact requirement is imposed.
Two-Year Bill Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Oppose
CSDA - Watch
ACWA - NYC
OC San
State
Bills of Interest
BILL AUTHOR SUMMARY LATEST ACTION OC SAN
POSITION LEGISLATIVE PLAN OTHER
POSITIONS
SB 791 Cortese [D]Would, upon appropriation by the Legislature, establish the California
Surplus Land Unit within the Department of Housing and Community
Development with the primary purpose of facilitating the development and
construction of residential housing on local surplus property, as defined. In
this regard, the bill would authorize the unit to, among other things, facilitate
agreements between housing developers and local agencies that seek to
dispose of surplus land; provide advice, technical assistance, and
consultative and technical service to local agencies with surplus land and
developers that seek to develop housing on the surplus land; and
collaborate with specified state agencies to assist housing developers and
local agencies with obtaining grants, loans, tax credits, credit
enhancements, and other types of financing that facilitate the construction
of housing on surplus land.
Currently in Assembly
Appropriations
Watch Legislative and Regulatory
Policies: Special Districts -
Oppose further state
regulations that adversely
impact special district
financing, operations, and
administration.
ACC-OC - NYC
LOCC - Watch
CASA - Oppose
CSDA - No
Position
ACWA - 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
ACWA - Association of California Water Agencies
CSDA - California Special Districts Association
OC San's Grant and Loan Funding Tracker 2021-2022
Name of Grant/Loan Synopsis of Grant/Loan Amount of Grant/Loan Amount
Applying for Applying Y/N Project/Program Reason Match Deadline Category Rcvd Grant/
Financing Y/N
Proposition 1 IRWM Grant
The Proposition 1 IRWM Grant Program, administered by DWR, provides funding for
projects that help meet the long-term water needs of the state, including: Assisting
water infrastructure systems adapt to climate change;
Providing incentives throughout each watershed to collaborate in managing the
region's water resources and setting regional priorities for water infrastructure; and
Improving regional water self-reliance, while reducing reliance on Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta.
with $7.18 Million from this total designated for North
and Central Orange County.TBD TBD TBD No Projects Currently
Identified
We will review the possible funding
opportunity to determine if it is a fit for
the Sanitation District.
TBD
Notice will become
officially available
October 2021
Water TBD
Organics Grant Program (CalRecycle)
The grant program is to lower overall greenhouse gas emissions by expanding existing
capacity or establishing new facilities in California to reduce the amount of California-
generated green materials, food materials, and/or Alternative Daily Cover being sent to
landfills.
TBD if FY 2021 Grant Applications will be
available TBD TBD
Food-Waste Co-Digestion facility
at Plant No.2 in Huntington
Beach to accept up to 150 wet
tons per day (wtpd) of pre-
processed source separated
organics.
We will review the possible funding
opportunity to determine if it is a fit for
the Sanitation District.
TBD TBD Energy/Recycling No
Zero-Emission Freight and Marine
Program Solicitation California Air
Resources Board/Volkswagen
Environmental Mitigation Trust
Assisting water infrastructure systems adapt to climate change;Up to $423 million NA No Forklift Replacement We did not meet the requirements of
the grant.Yes 6/16/2021 Environment No
CalOES Grant- Community Power
Resiliency Allocation to Special
Districts Program
Providing incentives throughout each watershed to collaborate in managing the
region's water resources and setting regional priorities for water infrastructure; and $300,000 $300,000 No Portable Generators We did not meet the requirements of
the grant.NA 10/30/2020 Renewable energy No
Integrated Regional Water
Management (IRWM) Grant Program
Improving regional water self-reliance, while reducing reliance on Sacramento-San
Joaquin Delta.TBD NA No NA
TPA and OCSD are monitoring the
grant program development from the
Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority
(SAWPA). Currently, Round 2 has yet
to be announced. TPA and OCSD will
continue to watch this. OC IRWM
expected to receive $7.5 million total, in
2022.
50%NA. Will return in
2021/2022 for Round 2 Water No
STATE
Updated 8/23/2021
OC San's Grant and Loan Funding Tracker 2021-2022
Name of Grant/Loan Synopsis of Grant/Loan Amount of Grant/Loan Amount
Applying for Applying Y/N Project/Program Reason Match Deadline Category Rcvd Grant/
Financing Y/N
Economic Development Administration
Funding provided under the American Rescue Act of 2021. The available funding will
help communities and regions devise and implement long-term economic recovery
strategies through a variety of non-construction and construction projects to assist
communities and regions impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
$5 million for construction and non-construction
related activities related to COVID-19.TBD TBD. We have not identified any
available projects at this time TBD We will apply if this grant comes to
fruition and if we meet the eligibility TBD 3/1/2022 COVID-19 TBD
The Water Infrastructure Improvements
Act (WIIN)
The Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects funding opportunity allows for
sponsors of water reclamation and reuse projects that are congressionally authorized
or are eligible under section 4009(c) of the WIIN Act to request cost-shared funding for
planning, design and/or construction of those Projects. Water reclamation and reuse
projects provide improved efficiency, flexibility during water shortages and diversifies
the water supply.
Reclamation is making up to $20 million
available for those projects authorized under the
WIIN Act.
$20 million Pending FOA Final Expansion of GWRS
Headworks (P2-122)
The Sanitation District developed a
proposal for last year that could be
used as a basis for a new submittal.
$20mm or 25% of
project costs
whichever is less.
6/28/2019 Water/ Infrastructure Pending FOA
Department of Health and Human
Services
Department of Health and Human Services is in the process of allocating
approximately $116 million to the state to provide agencies with assistance to cover
arrearages.
$116 million TBD TBD COVID - 19 Funding We will apply if this grant comes to
fruition and if we meet the eligibility TBD TBD COVID-19 TBD
FEMA Funding
The President’s Memo changed the federal reimbursement amount for previously
approved projects from the beginning of the disaster to January 20, 2021. It did not
change the eligibility. All work eligible under FEMA’s existing COVID-19 policies,
including increasing medical capacity, non-congregate sheltering, and emergency
feeding distribution will be reimbursed at 100 percent federal share. For projects that
have already been approved, FEMA will amend the existing awards to adjust the
federal funding amounts. No action will be required by the applicants.
TBD $260,000 (at this
time)Yes COVID - 19 Funding We are working with the local agency
CAL OES on the funding eligibility.Match Cost Share TBD Infrastructure TBD
WaterSMART Grants: Small-Scale
Water Efficiency Projects
Purpose: To support projects that conserve and use water more efficiently; mitigate
conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict; and accomplish other
benefits that contribute to water supply reliability in the western United States.
Total Funding Available: $3 million NA No-not qualified Project Request - Planning Study
Plant and Reclaimed Water
They do not fund studies within the
parameters of the grant.
Cost-Share: 50% or
more of total project
costs.
3/15/2021 Water/ Infrastructure No
FEDERAL
Updated 8/23/2021
OC San's Grant and Loan Funding Tracker 2021-2022
Name of Grant/Loan Synopsis of Grant/Loan Amount of Grant/Loan Amount
Applying for Applying Y/N Project/Program Reason Match Deadline Category Rcvd Grant/
Financing Y/N
Stormwater and CSO Grant Program In addition, the President’s directive allows FEMA to expand the activities eligible for
reimbursement for work conducted after Jan. 21, 2021 and until Sept. 30, 2021. Funding cost-share is not identified in the law TBD TBD. We will monitor for possible
funding opportunities/A TBD FY 2020 - $28 million Yes Anticipate by July 2020 Water/ Infrastructure
USEPA published
allocation formula
with deadline for
public comments
9/3/2020. Expect
formal allocation to
State within next two
months.
The Department of Energy (DOE),
USBR and USEPA
The DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency is likely to continue to be funded by Congress to
support such efforts as biogas, biosolids and green energy.
Through the WaterSmart program, USBR will
issue solicitations for innovative approaches to
managing water and water treatment through
technology and processes for FY 2020 - $60
million
TBD TBD. We will monitor for possible
funding opportunities
Project Funding Opportunity:
Energy production to reduce
costs of recycled water through
innovative technologies.
Innovative water monitoring
technology that can produce
efficient real time monitoring and
data analysis, Biogas
Management and Use
Improvements.
We will review the possible funding
opportunity to determine if it is a fit for
the Sanitation District.
N/A TBD Energy/Water/Infrastructure TBD
USEPA Climate Resiliency TBD TBD TBD
Anticipate that USEPA will issue
FOA's to promote studies and
plans to address resiliency
needs and strategies
We will review the possible funding
opportunity to determine if it is a fit for
the Sanitation District.
Unclear TBD Climate TBD
Community Partnering Program Grant Metropolitan Water District
The primary focus of the Community Partnering
Program (CPP) is sponsorship of water
conservation and water-use efficiency programs
and activities. Applications must be submitted
30 days prior to the start date of the event or
program.
Requests for a maximum $2,000 award will be
reviewed year-round and funds are awarded
throughout the year. Funds are limited,
however, and may be depleted prior to the
ending of this fiscal year (June 30).
$2,000 Yes For Plant No. 1 Signage Applied Match ongoing Education Yes
Mass Timber Competition CalGovOps
The California Government Operations Agency
(GovOps) will award $500,000 in grants as part
of the statewide California Mass Timber
Building Competition. Grants will be awarded to
selected proponent teams presenting viable and
repeatable mass timber solutions for
commercial and multi-family projects in
California. The competition is being hosted by
GovOps and administered by WoodWorks –
Wood Products Council.
$40,000 Yes Headquarters Building Applied No 03/18/19 Environment Yes
Other
Updated 8/23/2021
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
COMMON ACRONYMS
ACWA Association of California
Water Agencies LOS Level Of Service RFP Request For Proposal
APWA American Public Works
Association MGD Million Gallons Per Day RWQCB Regional Water Quality
Control Board
AQMD Air Quality Management
District MOU Memorandum of
Understanding SARFPA Santa Ana River Flood
Protection Agency
ASCE American Society of Civil Engineers NACWA National Association of Clean Water Agencies SARI Santa Ana River Interceptor
BOD Biochemical Oxygen Demand NEPA National Environmental Policy
Act SARWQCB Santa Ana Regional Water
Quality Control Board
CARB California Air Resources
Board NGOs Non-Governmental
Organizations SAWPA Santa Ana Watershed
Project Authority
CASA California Association of
Sanitation Agencies NPDES National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System SCADA Supervisory Control And
Data Acquisition
CCTV Closed Circuit Television NWRI National Water Research
Institute SCAP
Southern California
Alliance of Publicly Owned Treatment Works
CEQA California Environmental
Quality Act O & M Operations & Maintenance SCAQMD South Coast Air Quality
Management District
CIP Capital Improvement
Program OCCOG Orange County Council of
Governments SOCWA South Orange County
Wastewater Authority
CRWQCB California Regional Water
Quality Control Board OCHCA Orange County Health Care
Agency SRF Clean Water State
Revolving Fund
CWA Clean Water Act OCSD Orange County Sanitation District SSMP Sewer System Management Plan
CWEA California Water Environment Association OCWD Orange County Water District SSO Sanitary Sewer Overflow
EIR Environmental Impact Report OOBS Ocean Outfall Booster Station SWRCB State Water Resources
Control Board
EMT Executive Management Team OSHA Occupational Safety and
Health Administration TDS Total Dissolved Solids
EPA US Environmental Protection Agency PCSA
Professional
Consultant/Construction
Services Agreement
TMDL Total Maximum Daily Load
FOG Fats, Oils, and Grease PDSA Professional Design Services
Agreement TSS Total Suspended Solids
gpd gallons per day PFAS
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl
Substances WDR Waste Discharge
Requirements
GWRS Groundwater Replenishment
System PFOA Perfluorooctanoic Acid WEF Water Environment
Federation
ICS Incident Command System PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid WERF Water Environment & Reuse Foundation
IERP Integrated Emergency
Response Plan POTW Publicly Owned Treatment
Works WIFIA Water Infrastructure
Finance and Innovation Act
JPA Joint Powers Authority ppm parts per million WIIN Water Infrastructure Improvements for the
Nation Act
LAFCO Local Agency Formation
Commission PSA Professional Services
Agreement WRDA Water Resources
Development Act
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
ACTIVATED SLUDGE PROCESS – A secondary biological wastewater treatment process where bacteria reproduce at a high rate with the introduction of excess air or oxygen and consume dissolved nutrients in the wastewater.
BENTHOS – The community of organisms, such as sea stars, worms, and shrimp, which live on, in, or near the seabed, also known as the benthic zone.
BIOCHEMICAL OXYGEN DEMAND (BOD) – The amount of oxygen used when organic matter undergoes decomposition by microorganisms. Testing for BOD is done to assess the amount of organic matter in water.
BIOGAS – A gas that is produced by the action of anaerobic bacteria on organic waste matter in a digester tank that can be used
as a fuel.
BIOSOLIDS – Biosolids are nutrient rich organic and highly treated solid materials produced by the wastewater treatment process. This high-quality product can be recycled as a soil amendment on farmland 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.
CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION (COP) – A type of financing where an investor purchases a share of the lease revenues of a program rather than the bond being secured by those revenues.
CONTAMINANTS OF POTENTIAL CONCERN (CPC) – Pharmaceuticals, hormones, and other organic wastewater contaminants.
DILUTION TO THRESHOLD (D/T) – The dilution at which the majority of people detect the odor becomes the D/T for that air sample.
GREENHOUSE GASES (GHG) – 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 SYSTEM (GWRS) – 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 OCSD provides 70
million gallons per day of drinking quality water to replenish the local groundwater supply.
LEVEL OF SERVICE (LOS) – Goals to support environmental and public expectations for performance.
N-NITROSODIMETHYLAMINE (NDMA) – A N-nitrosamine suspected cancer-causing agent. It has been found in the GWRS
process and is eliminated using hydrogen peroxide with extra ultra-violet treatment.
NATIONAL BIOSOLIDS PARTNERSHIP (NBP) – An alliance of the NACWA and WEF, with advisory support from the EPA. NBP is committed to developing and advancing environmentally sound and sustainable biosolids management practices that go beyond regulatory compliance and promote public participation to enhance the credibility of local agency biosolids programs and improved communications that lead to public acceptance.
PER- AND POLYFLUOROALKYL SUBSTANCES (PFAS) – A large group (over 6,000) of human-made compounds that are resistant to heat, water, and oil and used for a variety of applications including firefighting foam, stain and water-resistant clothing, cosmetics, and food packaging. Two PFAS compounds, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) have been the focus of increasing regulatory scrutiny in drinking water and may result in adverse health effects including developmental effects to fetuses during pregnancy, cancer, liver damage, immunosuppression, thyroid effects, and other effects.
PERFLUOROOCTANOIC ACID (PFOA) – An ingredient for several industrial applications including carpeting, upholstery, apparel, floor wax, textiles, sealants, food packaging, and cookware (Teflon).
PERFLUOROOCTANESULFONIC ACID (PFOS) – A key ingredient in Scotchgard, a fabric protector made by 3M, and used in numerous stain repellents.
PLUME – A visible or measurable concentration of discharge from a stationary source or fixed facility.
PUBLICLY OWNED TREATMENT WORKS (POTW) – A municipal wastewater treatment plant.
SANTA ANA RIVER INTERCEPTOR (SARI) LINE – A regional brine line designed to convey 30 million gallons per day of non-reclaimable wastewater from the upper Santa Ana River basin to the ocean for disposal, after treatment.
SANITARY SEWER – Separate sewer systems specifically for the carrying of domestic and industrial wastewater.
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.
ORANGE COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICT
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
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.