Clark County Water Reclamation District (CCWRD)

This document, presented to a Citizens Advisory Committee, outlines a comprehensive Capital Improvement Program designed to enhance wastewater management infrastructure. Key focus areas include operations, maintenance, replacement, rate structuring, and reserve policies. The Capital Improvement Program, a 15-year long-range plan spanning from FY 2017-18 to FY 2032-33 with a projected $1.5 billion investment, prioritizes capacity expansion, rehabilitation, and replacement of collection systems, treatment facilities, and support facilities. The plan aims to enhance system reliability, accommodate future growth, and adapt to evolving regulations and technologies.

This document outlines a 15-Year Capital Improvement Program for the Clark County Water Reclamation District, focusing on substantial investments in capital capacity/expansion, oversizing, and rehabilitation/replacement projects. It presents various financial scenarios for funding these initiatives, including proposed increases in sewer service charges and connection fees, and the issuance of new debt. The plan aims to ensure the long-term sustainability and adequacy of wastewater infrastructure, with projections extending to 2032, and includes a recommendation for the acceptance of the program.

The meeting focused on addressing "Parking Lot" items from the previous session, specifically staffing levels, where the composition of technical/scientific positions was reviewed. A significant portion of the meeting involved a review of the Clark County Water Reclamation District's Capital Improvement Program (CIP), which includes 72 projects over a 15-year horizon, with discussions centering on capacity-related projects versus rehabilitation/replacement projects, and growth determination methodology. The committee also reviewed various rate models to address a projected 10-year funding gap of $721M. Scenarios involving different levels of debt financing and connection fee phasing were analyzed, with members generally leaning toward Scenario 5B, which optimizes rates by increasing debt slightly while managing the sewer service rate increase. Final recommendations summarized included accepting the CIP, establishing a regular review schedule for the funding mechanisms, and recommending Scenario 5B (or 5A if sales tax is excluded).

The committee meeting included a presentation overviewing the Clark County Water Reclamation District's purpose, financial structure, and long-term funding strategy goals. Staff provided detailed information on the District's history, the scope of its collection system (including pipeline mileage and manhole count), and wastewater treatment processes. Key technical discussions involved the life expectancy of PVC pipe, the composition of influent, odor and corrosion control measures, and the use of UV and membrane/ozone filtration treatments. The committee also discussed the importance of treated water returning to Lake Mead to secure Return Flow Credits, and the difference between direct reuse and environmental return. Clarification was provided regarding the responsibilities for treating and distributing drinking water versus the quality standards of reclaimed water returned to the lake.

This report, titled "Investing in Clean Water," provides an overview of the Clark County Water Reclamation District's operations, emphasizing its role in cleaning and returning 108 million gallons of water daily to the environment. It details the extensive infrastructure, including over 2,300 miles of pipeline and 6 treatment facilities, and highlights the substantial capital investment required for system rehabilitation, replacement, and expansion, amounting to $1.31 billion over a 15-year period. The document also presents an analysis of annual sewer service charges, noting that their rates are among the lowest in the nation despite recent increases.