Q & A : Novato Sanitary District

Construction on Schedule Plant Operations and Maintenance Update on Collection System Improvement Project Map What's the Problem? The Solution Necessary Upgrades Project Costs & Rates Questions & Answers Timeline: What’s Next Latest News News, Press & Media Documents Project Home Page

Novato Sanitary District
500 Davidson Street
Novato, California 94945 (415) 892-1694
info@novatosan.com
www.novatosan.com

Construction Questions?
Please contact:
Steve Wrightson
(415) 892-5143
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	UPGRADES - Why Needed? UPGRADES - The Solution UPGRADES - Planning and Environmental Issues RATES - General RATES - Effects on Customers RATES - Alternative Funding Sources TIMETABLE - What's Next?

UPGRADES - Why Needed?
Q.	Why is the District planning major wastewater system upgrades?
A.	Our oldest treatment plant facilities are over 50 years old. Even the newest facilities are at least 20 years old. The District has stretched the service of these facilities for as long as possible, gaining every benefit from them. Improvements are now needed to comply with ever-increasing state and federal regulations and to ensure the reliability and safety of your wastewater discharge.
Q.	Besides upgrading treatment facilities, are any other improvements proposed?
A.	Also proposed is an ongoing $2 million-a-year program to upgrade and maintain the District's 200 miles of sewer collection pipelines and 40 pump stations with a total value of $100 million. The projected rates also include funds for needed upgrades to the water reclamation facilities.
Q.	Why have regulations become more stringent and why are they harder to meet?
A.	The public has repeatedly demonstrated its desire to protect the environment, leading to tighter and tighter regulations that are increasingly difficult to meet with old facilities.
Q.	Is it necessary to expand the wastewater system's capacity? If so, why?
A.	A small increase in the system's capacity is needed to meet expected higher future demand as septic tanks are converted to sewers and buildout occurs as forecast in city and county general plans. Specifically, the increase in flow is estimated to grow modestly from 6.5 million gallons per day to 7 million gallons per day over the next 20 years.
Q.	What facilities does the District operate?
A.	The District has been providing wastewater collection, treatment, disposal and recycling to properties in and around the City of Novato since 1949. District facilities include: 200 miles of public sewers, 40 pump stations, 2 wastewater treatment plants and a 800-acre recycled water facility. The operation, maintenance, and replacement of these facilities are funded by both user fees and property tax revenue.
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UPGRADES - The Solution
Q.	What specific improvements are needed for wastewater treatment facilities?
A.	After thorough technical studies by an independent engineering company, Novato Sanitary District has identified the following needed improvements: Replaces most 1950s and 1970s-era equipment. Reuses 1980s-era equipment wherever cost-effective. Upgrades treatment processes to meet current water quality requirements. Adds backup equipment for redundancy. Eliminates worker safety hazards. Improves operational efficiency, decreases electrical power needs. Increases use of methane gas derived from the treatment process to generate electricity. Adds capacity that permits the transfer of remaining septic systems to District service, and to meet needs called for in City and County general plans.
Q.	What is the best alternative to upgrade treatment facilities?
A.	The best alternative, which emerged after a thorough and lengthy study of the issues, involves consolidating treatment facilities in a new and larger Novato plant, converting the Ignacio plant into a pump station and diverting flows entering the Ignacio pump station through a new 16 inch pipeline to the Novato plant. This is considered the superior alternative and the most cost-effective approach. Cost is $90 million.
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UPGRADES - Planning And Environmental Issues
Q.	How has the District used long-range planning?
A.	The District has looked to the future and has designed the upgrades to be flexible and adaptable to meet future needs and regulations without a costly total rebuild.
Q.	Has the District considered alternative points of view?
A.	The District considered all the possible and feasible solutions to the treatment facilities problems, weighed the pros and cons of alternative solutions, took into consideration the pluses and minuses of the various possibilities and listened to various voices on the subject. The solution is a culmination of the exhaustive, lengthy and thoughtful planning process. Among the District's Strategic Plan, Wastewater Master Plan, and participation in Regional Wastewater planning, we have investigated the following: • Constructed wetlands for treatment • Recycling 100% of the wastewater • Decentralized treatment plants with local recycling • Alternative treatment plant sites • Regional recycled water projects
Q.	How has the District kept the public informed about the project?
A.	The District is distributing newsletters to all deliverable addresses in its service area with details about the project. District staff has already held several small group meetings to brief local officials and community leaders on the upgrade project and to obtain their input. The District is also making presentations to community groups, is working with the local press to cover the project, and providing updates on its website.
Q.	What efficiency measures were considered in the planning process?
A.	Among the measures built into the plans are use of state-of-the-art computers and automated technologies to reduce maintenance and labor costs and use of more energy-efficient equipment.
Q.	How are environmental issues being addressed?
A.	A formal Environmental Impact Report, prepared by an independent environmental consultant, reviews all environmental issues, categorizes them by their importance, offers ways to mitigate impacts and suggests alternatives. The process included a public review of the EIR and comments. An adequate environmental study (EIR) is required by law before the project can go forward.
Q.	Were alternatives considered that may have been more environmentally friendly?
A.	Yes. Minimizing environmental impacts are an ongoing priority. The District looked at many possibilities and came up with a plan that is both environmentally friendly and provides for the needed upgrades. For example, the upgraded plant will decreases greenhouse gasses by over 13%, and will self generate 40% of its electrical power needs, up from 8%. Lifecycle costs are also being considered in the design.
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RATES - General
Q.	Were new rates required for these upgrades? Are they competitive and reasonable?
A.	New rates that went into effect starting with the 2005-06 tax year are essential to help pay for the system improvements. Even with the increase, our rates are still very competitive with sewer agencies in our region. District rate increases have been lower than inflation for the past 20 years. The District has cut costs, including saving about $170,000 a year through new technology, and greatly reduced energy use. Compared to the rates of other sewer agencies in the area, our new rates are around the mid-point. For the 2005-06 tax year, our monthly rate of $25.16 compared with Napa at $22.83, Tiburon at $25, Vallejo at $31.28 and Santa Rosa at $49.29.
Q.	How are rates developed?
A.	The law requires that the District charge customers the actual cost of wastewater services. This cost is based on the volume and strength of the wastewater. Each residential customer is charged based on household water usage during the winter when it is lowest. Water use in winter can be correlated to the amount of sewage generated by a customer. Non-residential (commercial) customers pay a proportionate charge based on their water use and the strength of the wastewater. The minimum non-residential charge is for one service unit.
	Those that use extremely low amounts of water — 25% or less than average — are charged 0.6 service units. The vast majority of customers – using 26% to 199% of the average for all customers — are charged one service unit. Non–water–metered residential customers are also charged one service unit. Those that use an extreme amount of water — 200% or more than the average — are charged 1.8 service units.
	Non-residential (commercial) customers pay a proportionate charge based on their water use and the strength of the wastewater. The minimum non-residential charge is for one service unit.
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RATES - Effects on Customers
Q.	What is the typical residential bill with the new rates?
A.	The District Board of Directors approved a phased-in rate proposal that raised the typical annual residential bill from $262 to $302 for the 2005-06 tax year, with increases to $342 in 2006-07, $382 in 2007-08, $422 in 2008-09, and $462 in 2009-10.
Q.	Will you provide any relief for a single person living in a small home? Such a person has less of an impact on the sewer system than a family in a large home.
A.	The District already offers relief in the form of a lower-use rate, currently 40% below the regular rate. We are exploring other options to make sure our rates are fair and as easy to pay as possible. Among the options being looked at are: bi-monthly bills, ultra-low use rates, and lifeline rates. The District is also exploring offering help in lowering water use, which lowers sewer bills.
Q.	I am on a septic system. Do I pay for sewer system improvements?
A.	No. You pay no sewer fees until you connect to the sewer system.
Q.	I have seen pipelines being laid to provide wastewater services to new developments. Do I help pay for that?
A.	No. Developers pay the entire cost of providing sewer service to new development. Thus, current customers do not pay for improvements to serve future customers.
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RATES - Alternative Funding Sources
Q.	Has the District considered other funding sources to pay for the needed improvements such as grants, bonds and other sources?
A.	The District has obtained a low-cost state loan to pay a portion of the costs and is pursuing other possible low-cost financial, including long-term revenue bonds, general obligation bonds or certificates of participation. The loans or bonds will be repaid both from connection charges collected from new development and from service charges.


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TIMETABLES - What's Next
Q.	What is the timetable for construction of the treatment facilities upgrading?
A.	Construction, which started in the spring of 2007, will be mostly complete within three years, with all construction completed by 2011. The project is now over 50 percent complete and on schedule and on budget. Change orders to date total less than one percent of the contract.
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