FROM: Robert Thompson, General Manager
Originator: Wally Ritchie, Director of Finance
SUBJECT:
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FY 2026-27 USE CHARGES FOR SANTA ANA WATERSHED PROJECT AUTHORITY
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GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
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RECOMMENDATION: Recommend to the Board of Directors to:
Adopt Resolution No. OC SAN 26-XX, titled: "A Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Orange County Sanitation District Establishing Use Charges for the 2026-27 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 2026-27 for wastewater discharge are:
FLOW $342.39 per million gallons of flow
BOD $461.58 per thousand pounds
TSS $579.14 per thousand pounds
The FY 2026-27 rates are an average 11.3 percent increase from the FY 2025-26 rates due to an increase in the cash outlays on capital jobs and reclassification of construction projects to operating costs. 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, 2026 (FY 2026-27).
RAMIFICATIONS OF NOT TAKING ACTION
Rates would not be established for FY 2026-27 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 Agreeme...
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