FROM: Robert Thompson, General Manager
Originator: Wally Ritchie, Director of Finance
SUBJECT:
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FY 2025-26 USE CHARGES FOR SANTA ANA WATERSHED PROJECT AUTHORITY
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GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Adopt Resolution No. OC SAN 25-XX, entitled: “A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Orange County Sanitation District Establishing Use Charges for the 2025-26 Fiscal Year Pursuant to the Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Agreement with the Santa Ana Watershed Project Authority (“SAWPA”)”.
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BACKGROUND
Currently, the Orange County Sanitation District (OC San) invoices SAWPA on a quarterly basis for the wastewater discharge received from the Santa Ana River Interceptor (SARI) line. Annually, the rates for flow, BOD, and TSS are calculated based upon the fiscal year budget for treatment and disposal costs and the 1996 Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Agreement. The rates calculated for each constituent for FY 2025-26 for wastewater discharge are:
FLOW $307.66 per million gallons of flow
BOD $414.76 per thousand pounds
TSS $520.39 per thousand pounds
The FY 2025-26 rates are an average 4.8 percent increase from the FY 2024-25 rates due to an increase in the treatment and disposal costs in the proposed FY 2025-26 Budget. These rates are separate from the rates charged for additional capacity purchases by SAWPA.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
• Comply with OC San Policy - Establishing Annual SAWPA Treatment and Disposal Rates
• Support of 1996 Treatment and Disposal Agreement with SAWPA
TIMING CONCERNS
Rates should be effective July 1, 2025 (FY 2025-26).
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
Rates would not be established for FY 2025-26 for cost recovery for treatment and disposal of SAWPA’s wastewater discharge.
PRIOR COMMITTEE/BOARD ACTIONS
A resolution is adopted annually in June pursuant to the Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Agreement with SAWPA.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The FY 2025-26 proposed budget to operate, maintain, and manage OC San’s sewage collection, treatment, and disposal system is $246.4 million, an increase of approximately 3.5 percent, or $8.3 million, from the prior year budget. The Operating Budget increase is primarily driven by increased outside contractual, utility, and personnel costs. Inflation that has impacted the nation’s economy over the past year is also driving up OC San’s cost of doing business.
CEQA
N/A
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
N/A
ATTACHMENT
The following attachment(s) may be viewed on-line at the OC San website (www.ocsan.gov) with the complete agenda package:
• Draft Resolution No. OC SAN 25-XX