| AGENDA ITEM #: 7. DATE: 05/24/2021 AI #:211 |
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CITY COUNCIL ACTION REPORT
| SUBJECT: | APPROVE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE EFFLUENT DISCHARGE AGREEMENT WITH BUCKEYE WATER CONSERVATION AND DRAINAGE DISTRICT |
| STAFF PRESENTER(S): | Barbara Chappell, Deputy Public Works Director |
SUMMARY
The proposed amendment extends the agreement with Buckeye Water Conservation Drainage District (BWCDD) for an additional year and increases the amount of effluent that can be discharged in the BWCDD canal from the Goodyear Water Reclamation Facility from 1 MGD to 2 MGD. Only water that cannot be sent to the city’s recharge facilities is discharged to the canal.
Recommendation
Approve and authorize execution of the Second Amendment to the Effluent Discharge Agreement with the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District. (Barbara Chappell, Deputy Public Works Director)
FISCAL IMPACT
The ability to discharge is already in place through the earlier completion of the Buckeye WCDD Discharge CIP project installing the related discharge valve. This Agreement will allow us to discharge up to 2 MGD with no fees issued by BWCDD for the discharge. All costs related to this are included in the base budget of the utility fund.
BACKGROUND AND PREVIOUS ACTIONS
Class A+ effluent from the Goodyear Water Reclamation Facility is typically pumped north from the plant to the Soil Aquifer Treatment (SAT) facility site at the northwest corner of Yuma Road and Estrella Parkway where it is recharged for Long-Term Storage Credits. Due to operational issues, there are times when a portion of the effluent cannot be pumped to the SAT recharge facility. Historically, the discharge that could not be pumped to the SAT recharge facility had been discharged to the Gila River. However, because levels of naturally occurring metals in the discharge had been slightly elevated, staff sought to avoid potential water quality issues from discharges to the Gila River by finding an alternative to discharging to the Gila River. To that end, the City entered into an agreement with the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District to discharge effluent into its canals.
The original agreement approved by Council on June 24, 2019 had a term of one year with the option of five one-year renewals.
On June 22, 2020 Council approved the First Amendment that provided a one year extension. The current Agreement is set to expire on June 24, 2021. The city would like to extend the agreement for one additional year and increase the amount of effluent that can be discharged into the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District canals from 1 MGD to 2 MGD.
The original agreement approved by Council on June 24, 2019 had a term of one year with the option of five one-year renewals.
On June 22, 2020 Council approved the First Amendment that provided a one year extension. The current Agreement is set to expire on June 24, 2021. The city would like to extend the agreement for one additional year and increase the amount of effluent that can be discharged into the Buckeye Water Conservation and Drainage District canals from 1 MGD to 2 MGD.
STAFF ANALYSIS
It is the city’s policy to recharge all effluent in the SAT site to earn Long-Term Storage Credits in support of the city’s Designation of Assured Water Supply. However, due to operational issues, there are challenges in delivering all of the water to the SAT site. In order to avoid water quality issues and possibly violations by discharging to the Gila River, the city would like to discharge any excess to the BWCDD canal. The discharge point will stay in place for discharge on an as needed basis.
Staff has been able to negotiate the discharge of an additional 1.0 MGD for a total of up to 2.0 MGD with BWCDD. As the city grows, the flows through the plant are increasing so the additional capacity will allow us to discharge any flows that we cannot deliver to the SAT site.
Staff has been able to negotiate the discharge of an additional 1.0 MGD for a total of up to 2.0 MGD with BWCDD. As the city grows, the flows through the plant are increasing so the additional capacity will allow us to discharge any flows that we cannot deliver to the SAT site.