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HomeMy WebLinkAboutGM Monthly Report - December 2025 December 10, 2025 TO: Chair and Members of the Board of Directors FROM: Robert C. Thompson General Manager SUBJECT: December Status Report The following status report is submitted for your review and consideration. 1. Public and Environmental Health OC San’s NPDES Renewal Process Since 1974, OC San has operated under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit which is renewed every five years by the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board and United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). This permit allows OC San to provide effective wastewater treatment and safely discharge treated effluent to the ocean. The current 2021 permit expires on July 31, 2026. To prepare for the renewal, OC San has prepared a draft application that includes updated information on flows, effluent quality, pretreatment, operations, initial dilution modeling, reasonable potential assessments, biosolids management, capital improvement projects, and ocean monitoring. OC San will submit the renewal application by January 31, 2026. 2. Sound Finances and Increasing Efficiency Asset Management Plan to be Presented to the Board for Adoption The annually updated Asset Management Plan, an ongoing initiative in OC San’s Strategic Plan, is being presented to the Board for adoption this month. The plan reviews the condition of OC San’s assets and systems, estimates remaining useful life, outlines required service levels, and provides a prioritized strategy for maintaining, rehabilitating, and replacing critical infrastructure. 3. Recovering Valuable Resources Supercritical Water Oxidation (SCWO) Update 374Water continues to make progress developing a six ton per day supercritical water oxidation reactor which will convert biosolids, raw sludge or food waste into Chair and Members of the Board of Directors December 10, 2025 Page 2 of 4 benign compounds and heat. Several significant improvements have been completed to improve the overall performance of the system. The unit has begun factory acceptance testing in Florida. We anticipate receiving the system in the first quarter of 2026. 4. Community Outreach and Transparency Engaging with our Public – Tours and Presentations OC San staff hosted six tours which included groups from Suncoast Preparatory Academy, Jordan High School, and Cal State Fullerton nursing program reaching nearly 100 people. In addition, staff participated in the Spark of Love Toy Drive in collaboration with the Fountain Valley Fire Department. 5. Legislative and Industry Affairs Legislative Update • Federal Congress has resumed session with attention focused on fiscal year 2026 appropriations, including funding for the US EPA. Final action on spending measures is not expected until early next year, and discussions regarding a mark-up of the Clean Water State Revolving Fund continue to be delayed amid funding level disagreements. In addition, the Promoting Efficient and Responsible Mitigation and Infrastructure Techniques Act (H.R. 3898), which includes provisions to extend NPDES permit terms, was debated and voted on the House Floor the week of December 8th. • State Statewide political attention is expected to intensify as the gubernatorial campaign enters a more active phase, with candidates increasing public appearances, policy announcements, and fundraising activity. Several other statewide and legislative races are also advancing, with campaigns solidifying their messaging and organizational structures ahead of the 2026 election cycle. While major legislative action will remain limited during the recess, December is expected to bring a heightened political positioning as candidates and policymakers prepare for a busy election year and the return to formal legislative activity. Chair and Members of the Board of Directors December 10, 2025 Page 3 of 4 •LocalRachel Strong, a local small business owner, former City Commissioner, and 2024 City Council candidate, has been selected to fill the Cypress City Council vacancy left by the recent resignation of Councilman Scott Minikus. Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) Board member LarryDick has announced his retirement from the Metropolitan Water District (MET) Board of Directors. Director Dick, who will continue to represent District 2 on the MWDOC Board of Directors, was first appointed to the MetropolitanBoard in 2003. MWDOC District 5 Director Randall Crane will replace DirectorDick on the MET Board. Staff continue to monitor local elections, Boardappointments, and any potential impacts or changes to OC San’s Board of Directors. •OC San Wins AwardsOC San continues to earn recognition across the region for our work. These recent awards highlight the creativity, dedication, and teamwork that drive ourmission every day. National Association of Clean Water Agencies – National EnvironmentalAchievement Awards •Wastewater 101 Citizens Academy won in the Public Information andEducation category •OC San Headquarters won in the Community Leadership category. Metropolis Magazine Planet Positive Award Civic Winner for the Headquarters project. FRAME Awards Gold in Governmental Interior Category for the Headquarters project. The FRAME Awards is an international competition that celebrates and recognizes outstanding achievements in the field of interior design and product design. World Architecture Festival 2025 Highly Commended recognition in the Production, Energy and Logistics category for OC San Headquarters. Chair and Members of the Board of Directors December 10, 2025 Page 4 of 4 6. Workforce and Administration Administration Offices Closed OC San Administration offices will be closed for the holidays on the following dates: • December 24 & 25 Christmas • January 1 New Years Day Committee Meetings Dark in January As a reminder, the Operations and Administration Committee meetings will be dark in January. The regularly scheduled Steering Committee Meeting and Board Meeting will be held as scheduled on January 28, 2026. Processing Monthly Financial Reports The Payments of Warrants and Demands report for November 2025 is provided in accordance with Resolution No. OCSD 14-13. RCT:clr Attachments