Approve a new five-year agreement with the City of Davis for disposal of the Landfill's leachate and liquid waste. (No general fund impact) (Lindbo/Kieffer)

As part of normal operations, the Yolo County Central Landfill (Landfill) generates leachate and other liquid waste throughout the year. The landfill also accepts other liquid wastes such as septage, chemical toilet wastes and industrial wastewater from various customers throughout the region.  These wastewaters are stored in one of several of the landfill’s surface impoundments for evaporation.  During years of high rainfall, the volume of liquid waste has exceeded the evaporation capacity of the surface impoundments.  Since 1991, the Landfill has periodically discharged its excess wastewater to the adjacent Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) operated by the City of Davis (City) for treatment and disposal.  The existing disposal agreement with the City expires in May 2023 and thus a new agreement is needed.

The City's Sewers and Sewage Disposal Ordinance authorizes special contracts between the City and any industrial user, whereby the City may accept for treatment industrial waste at a charge fixed by special contract provided the waste does not violate any pretreatment standard.  The amount charged by the City pursuant to the special contract should reflect, as close as is reasonably practicable, the cost the City incurs in providing, operating, and maintaining the facilities serving the contracting industrial user. This agreement establishes a special industrial sewer rate for the City’s treatment and disposal of the Landfill’s wastewater at the WWTP.

Under the proposed agreement, the Landfill agrees to pay the City a fixed monthly rate as well as an additional variable rate based on the volume and characteristics of the wastewater discharged.  This new agreement will be for a term of 5 years. The Division estimates the potential maximum compensation to the City of $1,250,000, though actual compensation will likely be less than $250,000 per year.

The County worked on this agreement with the City of Davis and received approval from County Counsel as to form.

A competitive bid process was not applicable for this project.