Niland Sanitary District Wastewater Systems Improvements Niland, California

1. Niland Sanitary DistrictWastewater Systems Improvements Niland, California Presented to:Project Sponsor and Agency Stakeholders November 5, 2003

2. Agenda • General Aspects • Environmental and Human Health Indicators • Environmental, Human Health and Sustainable Development Strategies • Technical Approach, Objectives and Funding Plan • Public Participation • Project Development Schedule

3. General Aspects Project Location The community of Niland: • Located in eastern California, in Imperial County; • Approximately 150 miles east of San Diego; • Approximately 50 miles north of the U.S./Mexico Border. Niland

4. General Aspects Project Sponsor Profile • Niland Sanitary District (NSD) • Niland Population: 1,143 (Census 2000) • Slab City – Transient community located 4 miles east of Niland; Impact upon Niland infrastructure is currently inconclusive. • Median Household Income (Census Data): $25,592 • Unemployment Rate: 15.9% • Existing Facilities • Wastewater • 400 Sewer service connections; • Water • Privately owned by Southern California Water Company; • Ineligible for grant funding.

5. General Aspects Existing Water Distribution System • Existing • Water, approximately 60,000 gpd, is obtained from Imperial Irrigation District; • Distribution system is owned and operated by the Southern California Water Company; • Customers may pay a flat rate of $41.78 / month or a metered service charge of $24.10 plus $1.11 per CCF • Concerns • Currently only 60% of the customers are metered; Requirement for 100% meted by 2010; • Difficulty determining illegal connections due to non-metered service; • Inadequate system pressure; • Maintenance problems with 2-inch lines; • Turbidity through the filters at the Treatment Plant has been observed; • Public perception is unfavorable. General distrust for rate increases and inadequate servics and new requirements by PRC. . • Current Improvements • Water Treatment Plant Expansion in Calipatria; • Construction of transmission main to Niland to service both communities. • 1.5 MG storage facility. . Water system privately owned and is ineligible for grant funding to develop improvements.

6. General Aspects Existing Wastewater Collection and Treatment System • Collection • Existing system consists of 32,000 linear feet of sewer lines; • Currently exists 400 service connections. • Lift Station • One wastewater lift station at WWTP; • Treatment • NSD has an aeration pond system constructed in 1993; • Maximum average design flow is 0.5 MGD; • Currently operating at 50%;

7. General Aspects Wastewater System Deficiencies • Collection • Sewer mains constructed over fifty years ago; • Numerous line breaks; • Groundwater infiltration into collection system is suspected. • Lift Station • Internal corrosion due to operation and minimal maintenance; • Emergency provisions are inadequate; • Pump accessibility for maintenance and repairs is limited. • Treatment • Existing screening is inadequate and results in blockage throughout plant; • Elevated levels of copper, selenium and thallium with source unknown; • E. Coli detected in plant effluent; • Overflow at ponds observed; • Minimal maintenance has possibly decreased the pond capacity; • Numerous violations issued for BOD5 and Total Suspended Solids; • Condition of liners is undetermined; • Access to WWTP is hazardous.

8. General Aspects Proposed Wastewater System Improvements Evaluation and inspection of the existing system will assist in selecting and implementing the necessary improvement to include the following possible alternatives: • Collection • Rehabilitation/Replacement of existing system; • Install clean-outs at the dead ends; • Rehabilitation of existing manholes as required. • Lift Station • Rehabilitation of wet well interior; • Equipment upgrades to ensure sufficient redundancy. • Treatment • Upgrade testing laboratory as needed; • Install a commutator to improve the current screening operations; • Improve water transfer between ponds; • Provide additional aerators; • Provide stand-by power; Total Estimated Cost - $TBD

9. General Aspects Existing System

10. General Aspects Existing System

11. General Aspects Existing System

12. Environmental and Human Health Indicators Environmental Indicators • Levels of E. Coli, violating state regulations have been observed in effluent and may pose potential health risk downstream of discharge • Existing plant not designed to treat copper, selenium and thallium at the WWTP and discharge within the effluent may be occurring; • Elevated levels of BOD5 in violation of state regulations have been observed at the WWTP effluent; • Lack of maintenance at plant may have reduced capacity thus reducing efficiency and worsening conditions above; • Numerous lines breaks and manhole leaks have created nuisance condition throughout Niland; • Potential groundwater contamination may affect environmentally sensitive areas including farmland, habitats for protected species and water bodies including the Salton Sea.

13. Environmental and Human Health Indicators Compliance with Environmental Norms & Regulations • Water System • Wastewater System • Administrative Civil Liability Complaint issued by California Regional Water Quality Control Board for numerous violations; • Majority of violations related to BOD5 in effluent; • Levels of copper, selenium and thallium exhibited a reasonable potential to cause an excursion above water quality standards in violation of the priority pollutant monitoring under the California Toxic Rule (CTR).

14. Environmental and Human Health Strategies • Determine the CEQA/NEPA document requirements, an EIS or EA. • Analyze the chemical composition of the wastewater and groundwater to determine the nature and possible source of contaminants existing at the WWTP. • Conduct an analysis of the WWTP influent to detemine the sufficiency of oxygen as it is introduced in the treatment process. • Describe the environmental and human health risks associated with the deteriorated conditions of the existing collection system infrastructure as well as with the WWTP and effluent violations.

15. Sustainable Development Strategies • Two stakeholder workshops to be conducted. The baseline conditions report is complete. • Demonstrate appropriate institutional capacities: • Establish permanent operation staffing Regional Operations – Shared operators with City of Calipatria or other. • Improve rate structure and collections Restructured User Rate collected monthly – Agreement with water provider/Imperial County. • Seek Training NADB UMI; Operator and administrative development • An operation and maintenance program will be developed as part of the project. • Coordinate with water provider to develop a water usage assessment, including possibilities for conservation/reuse. • Determine if there is a need for industrial pretreatment. • 30% design review by system operator

16. Technical Approach,Objectives and Funding Plan • Provide the NSD customers with adequate, affordable wastewater service in compliance with State regulations; • Rehabilitation of existing centralized wastewater collection system and improvement to existing treatment facilities; Project Objectives

17. Technical Approach,Objectives and Funding Plan Recommended Technical Approach PDAP Eligible Tasks: • Preliminary Engineering Report • Quality Assurance Program Plan (QAPP) - TBD • Environmental Report – Complete comprehensive Multi-Agency Environmental Checklist to ensure all requirements are satisfied. • Financial Analysis • Public Participation Program • Final Engineering Design Non-PDAP Eligible Tasks: • Rate study. • Training and institutional strengthening. • Contingency Plans • Project Management • Operation and Maintenance Plan

18. Technical Approach, Objectivesand Funding Plan • Regulatory Compliance Issues • On-going Projects and Planning • Existing Planning • Project Development and Funds Management Institutional Capacity The Frank M. Tejeda Center has been contacted to prepare a Statement of Institutional Capacity of the City of Calipatria addressing the following : • Outsourcing • Operational Capacity • Management Capabilities • Governance Institutional Development RAP Recommendations: • Revised Rate Structure/Collections Procedures • Administration/Operations Staffing – Potentially Regional Effort • Training

19. Technical Approach, Objectives and Funding Plan Project Sponsor Financial Potential • Revenue generated by collections of a $279 annual property tax assessment; • Imperial County has a role in the financial operations; • Fiscal year from July 1st to June 30th for each year; Wastewater Fund Current Rate Structure • 400 service connections; • Annual assessment $279 collected by Imperial County through taxes ($23.25/month); • Annual assessment also includes bond portions.

20. Technical Approach, Objectives and Funding Plan Identified Potential Funding Sources • USDA-RUS • Colonias Grant and Water and Waste Disposal Program. • USDA-RD – In 1993, the NSD received Sewer Revenue Bonds in the amount of $545,000. To date, the City owes approximately $503,000 on this loan. • California Housing and Community Development (HCD) • CDBG Fund - Grants for communities with population <50,000 maximum $500K • CDBG Program Planning and Technical Assistance Grants – Providing funds to small cities for planning and evaluation studies related to CDBG-eligible activity. • State Water Resources control board (SWRCB) • Small commiunity Grants – Provides grants up to 97 ½ % with population < 5,000; • State Revolving Fund – Loans for construction maximum $50M and 20 year payback. • NADBank • BEIF to support construction, service connections, project management and rate transition. A rate study and additional capacity building tasks may be funded through the IDP. • BECC • The community is eligible through the Project Development Assistance Program (PDAP).

21. Public Participation Strategy Potential Obstacles • Largest obstacle is cost associated with repaying loans; • Requirements to establish monthly user rates; • Operation of system currently performed on a part-time basis as available. Sharing a full-time operator with City of Calipatria or other may not be feasible. Local Politics • Niland Township is not incorporated and does not have a local government; • Regulated by Imperial County Board of Supervisors; • The NSD was created in 1970’s, by Imperial County to operate the wastewater facilities, and is managed by a five member Board of Directors. Typically less than 10% of residents participate in the election. Socio-Economic Indicators • Approximately 26.1% of the population, over the age of 25, has completed a high school education; • 2002 Census denotes 6.2% unemployment rate.

22. Project Schedule

23. Action Items BECC • Modify PSP with Final Comments – 11/21. • Develop Scope of Work (SOW), • Send Sample TA Agreement to NSD and assist with resolution. Project Sponsor - NSD • Provide any additional comments – 11/12. • Consider Resolution – Accept PSP, request recommended TA Tasks, and designate lead contact – 11/27. • Participate in development of SOW – approve SOW by letter. • Invite participants for Steering Committee. Stakeholder Agencies • Provide any additional comments – 11/12. • Participate in SOW development – approve SOW.