RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AGENCY- B. YOUNG

Approve domestic wastewater evaluation for various CSAS and $25,000.00 transfer to CSA 45 Rancho Larios and CSA 22 Cielo Vista for wastewater work.

SBC FILE NUMBER: 1110

In February of 2020, a sewage spill occurred at CSA 45 Rancho Larios. Although a transfer agreement was completed with the HOA in 2010, the County of San Benito is still responsible as the permitted agency for the discharge. The Water Board provided direction to RMA staff on how to complete the transfer in 2014. There is no record of anyone following up to resolve the outstanding issues. This has been identified as a high priority to complete the transfer to reduce our future exposure.

Staff recently inspected the wastewater facility at CSA 22. The facility appears to have been neglected and has fallen into an extreme state of disrepair. There is broken equipment and failing building materials requiring immediate intervention. San Benito County is the permitted agency for this facility and is responsible for any failures/violations at this site. Currently the Water Board has four pages of open water quality violations at the facility (water quality not meeting permitted discharge requirements). Staff is following up with our contract operator and conducting a review of processes to attempt to comply with the discharge order.

An evaluation of domestic wastewater systems at the two County Service Areas (CSA) is needed to determine impairments or other system issues and how to resolve them. CSA 45 Rancho Larios, needs $12,500.00 to remedy their immediate situation (spill, preparation of the permit transfer documents) and another $12,500.00 is needed to evaluate the water treatment system at CSA 22 Cielo Vista.  Both Cielo Vista and Rancho Larios do not have funds available (Rancho Larios has not been assessed fees since 2010 when the transfer document was executed). A transfer of $25,000.00 from the General Fund Contingency account is requested to fund the costs for the two CSAs' work.