SRCSD - SRWTP 2020 Master Plan

What is a Master Plan?

The Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant (SRWTP) regularly develops detailed long-range plans to determine how it will provide service to the community in the future. This type of broad-based plan - called a Master Plan - addresses issues such as the physical facilities which will be needed during the coming years, specific technologies used in wastewater treatment, changing regulatory requirements, and project funding.

The Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District (SRCSD) Board authorized the preparation of a 20-year wastewater treatment plant master planning effort in the early 1990s. A Master Plan with a planning horizon through the year 2010 was published in 1992 and was later updated in 1994 to reflect changes in regulatory compliance requirements, industrial production, increased effluent diversion requirements, and pilot testing results.

In late 1997, work began to update the Master Plan and extend the planning horizon through the year 2020 (SRWTP 2020 Master Plan).

After preparing the Final Draft SRWTP 2020 Master Plan in 2002, SRCSD focused its efforts on preparing the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) required under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The SRWTP 2020 Master Plan EIR was certified by the SRCSD Board of Directors in June 2004. SRCSD is now working to finalize the 2020 Master Plan and it is anticipated to be published in 2006.

How is a Master Plan Developed?

The creation of the SRWTP 2020 Master Plan is a collaborative process. SRWTP has engaged expert consultants and stakeholders to evaluate a variety of potential technical solutions and develop recommendations.

A major component of the SRWTP 2020 Master Plan was a stakeholder outreach program. Individuals representing a broad range of groups and interests have met at a series of workshops to discuss issues including water quality, regulatory compliance, and wastewater utility rates.

The result of those workshops has been the creation of a Stakeholder Opinion Summary, which has been presented to the SRCSD Board of Directors.

What is involved in updating the SRWTP 2020 Master Plan?

A Master Plan is periodically updated for a number of reasons. These include:

Changes in the size of the community.
The emergence of new wastewater treatment technologies.
A need to expand and upgrade facilities.
To keep pace with the dynamics of changing regulations.
And to ensure sound financial planning.

The SRWTP 2020 Master Plan process involved four basic steps during its development:

Determining the capacity of the existing treatment plant;
Projecting future wastewater flows and loads;
Evaluating existing regulatory requirements and trying to anticipate future regulatory trends;
Evaluating various alternatives to provide treatment for the projected flows and for increasing levels of treatment that may be necessary to meet future regulatory trends.

The SRWTP 2020 Master Plan consists of a layout for the various alternatives, a schedule for construction of the various alternatives, estimated costs and a revenue plan for funding the construction. The Master Plan is updated periodically to reflect recent changes in conditions or extend the planning horizon.

The SRWTP 2020 Master Plan effort included an extensive stakeholder outreach to representatives from industry, environmental groups, water purveyors, ratepayers, regulators, and agriculture. The stakeholder outreach resulted in a Stakeholder Opinion Summary that was heard by the SRCSD Board of Directors on July 26, 2000 and considered by SRCSD staff in the development of the Master Plan.

SRWTP 2020 Master Plan Background

What is the SRWTP 2020 Master Plan?

The purpose of this Master Plan is to identify wastewater treatment and reuse/disposal facility needs through the year 2020 and integrate the overall strategies for wastewater treatment, effluent management, and biosolids disposal into an effective wastewater treatment management program. The major objective of the SRWTP 2020 Master Plan is to provide a phased program of recommended facilities and projects to accommodate planned growth while at the same time maintaining treatment reliability, meeting existing and anticipated future regulatory requirements, and optimizing costs.

The SRWTP 2020 Master Plan is guided by the following objectives:

Capacity - Provide sufficient capacity to meet projected growth in the SRCSD's service area through the year 2020 and provide for orderly and cost-effective expansion of the SRWTP.
Water Quality - Comply with current water quality standards and provide flexibility in the Master Plan to address changes in standards and regulations.
Economic Feasibility - Provide for the most cost-effective facilities and programs from a watershed perspective and share costs of facilities and programs with benefited stakeholders.
Community Relations - Be sensitive to community concerns in relation to the planning, design, construction and operation of the SRCSD facilities and programs.

What is the mission of the SRWTP 2020 Master Plan?

"Working collaboratively with stakeholders, we will develop a wastewater master plan that provides needed services for SRCSD customers, considers innovative alternatives, maintains system reliability, minimizes total costs, and strives for improved environmental quality through a more productive use of our facilities and programs."

What are the goals of the SRWTP 2020 Master Plan?

There are many goals. One key goal is to evaluate how many millions of gallons of wastewater must be treated daily now, and over the next several years - and determine how to best meet regulatory requirements and pay for that need.

In addition there is a strong focus on environmental quality. Because there are many downstream uses of the Sacramento River, it is essential that the water quality meet the needs of many users.

And finally, it is of the utmost importance that these goals be met in a manner that is cost-effective and acceptable to our rate-payers.

Key Contacts

Bob Seyfried, Senior Civil Engineer, SRCSD
SRWTP 2020 Master Plan Project Manager
10545 Armstrong Avenue
Mather, CA 95655
916-876-6068
seyfriedr@sacsewer.com

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