South Coast Water District

The special board meeting focused primarily on the Doheny Desalination Project. Discussions included Task Order Number 18 to GHD consultants for contract development assistance related to the Design-Build-Operate contract, with the goal of releasing RFQ documents in early 2020. Public comment was taken from Stan Williams of Poseidon Water, who shared experience from other projects, particularly regarding risk allocation challenges in Design-Build and Operate agreements. The board also heard a peer review presentation from Richard Swindlin, President of California American Water, regarding the cost estimates for the Doheny Desalination Project. This presentation compared the Doheny project's characteristics (e.g., 5 MGD expandable to 15 MGD, use of slant wells, brine discharge) to California American Water's Monterey Peninsula Water Supply Project (MPWSP), detailing their approved cost cap of $329 million which includes plant construction, engineering, and permitting, and noted their operational costs for power, labor, and purchasing recycled water.

The meeting content focused heavily on issues related to district elections, particularly concerning CVRA demands and the threat of litigation, including discussions about potential court-established litigation costs. Key points included the timeline for divisional elections, the right of voters to vote for all five directors, and the potential impact of a Supreme Court case challenging the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA). A stipulation resolution was put forth regarding voting rights issues and the establishment of a new district election process over an extended timeline, recognizing the delay in census results. A separate resolution was proposed to address disenfranchised voters. Further discussions included approving a task order for public outreach regarding the Doheny Ocean Desal project, and considering a contract for federal lobbying services with Barker Levitt, expanding their scope from solely desalination to include infrastructure funding opportunities related to the COVID-19 economic impact.

The meeting was convened to discuss the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR). The purpose was to accept public comments and questions, with the Board holding a listening role and assuring full responses would be provided in the final Administrative Record (AR). The presentation covered the district's service area, its reliance (85 to 100 percent) on imported water from the Metropolitan Water District, and the district's five-pronged approach to water supply sustainability, including groundwater recovery, maximizing recycled water use, promoting water use efficiency, and partnering on stormwater capture. The need for the project was underscored by regional vulnerability studies showing potential 60-day outages from Metropolitan Water District due to earthquake risks along major aqueduct lines. The project scale (5 Million Gallons per Day Desalination Phase 1) was presented as the best alternative water supply to meet projected drought and system gap needs. The presentation also detailed the early project history dating back to 2003, involving various partner agencies and studies related to slant wells and hydrogeology, with South Coast Water District taking the lead on planning in 2015.

The meeting convened the Administration and Finance Committee. Key discussions centered on the proposed task order for Public Outreach Phase 4 for the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project, structured as a five-month engagement plan from mid-April to mid-September 2020, with a proposed cost of $77,587. Committee members stressed the need for strategic communication regarding the project, especially in light of pending financial study results and the need to manage regional perceptions amidst the ongoing pandemic. Opportunities for public engagement were noted, including Earth Day and Drinking Water Week. Discussion also covered the importance of raising the District's profile as a regional leader in water infrastructure and collaborating with other agencies.

Discussions focused on water loss calculations, clarifying that the metric is proportionate based on water sales divided by water input, resulting in a percentage loss independent of pipe mileage. Significant time was dedicated to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, detailing the implementation of split work schedules (Group A and Group B) starting around March 13, 2020, to maintain operational continuity, followed by stricter measures closing offices to the public for walk-ins subsequent to the Governor's executive order on March 19. Staff, particularly operations, IT, EHS, and inspectors, were recognized for their dedication in maintaining water and wastewater systems. A public plea was made urging customers not to flush non-toilet paper items, such as flushable wipes, due to potential system blockages. The district also confirmed they are working with customers experiencing financial hardship and will not implement shutoffs. Separately, the leadership expressed pride in the district's low water loss figures, attributed to proactive state audits, leak locating efforts, and historical rehabilitation projects, positioning the district as a leader in the state.