Proposed Increases to Wastewater Rates

The City of Vacaville owns and operates the Easterly Wastewater Treatment Plant which is operated under a permit issued by the State of California. In April 2008 a new permit was issued that requires additional levels of treatment including denitrification, tertiary (third level) filtration, and no wet weather blending.  These new treatment mandates will require major upgrades to the Plant’s processing equipment. In May City staff presented several project alternatives to City Council to meet these State requirements. City Council directed staff to proceed with a Plant upgrade plan, titled the Tertiary Project, at an estimated cost of $150 million.

Tertiary Project Schedule/Timeline

The State of California issued a Time Schedule Order that specifies dates for advanced treatment operations. Based on that Order, the schedule is:

• Public Hearing - adopt the sewer rate increase upon City Council approval - May 11, 2010
• Seek financing for $120 million through loan or bond - underway
• Begin project design - underway per City Council direction
• Begin construction on Plant upgrades - Winter 2011
• Begin operation of nitrate reduction facilities - Winter 2013

The following links offer information about why the rate increase is needed. They include information that was sent to homes and businesses in Vacaville, as well as a PowerPoint presentation that was made to the Vacaville City Council on December 8, 2009.

PowerPoint Presentation (pdf)

Revised Notice of Public Hearing/FAQs

Engineer's Report on Wastewater Rates

Bay Area Dischargers Combined Monthly Rate Comparisons

Effluent Dependent Dischargers Combined Monthly Rate Comparisons