The Environmental and Utility Services City Service Area (CSA) is a cross-departmental collection of core services that is administered by the Environmental Services Department and the Department of Transportation. This CSA is focused on maintaining a reliable utility infrastructure, maintaining healthy local waterways, providing clean and sustainable air, land, and energy, and providing safe, reliable, and sufficient water supply
To further these goals, the City has begun undertaking many new projects that will help to improve outdated infrastructure. One such project is the plan to help replace the aging storm sewer, sanitary sewer, and treatment plant infrastructure. 82 percent of the current sanitary sewer system is between 32 and 61 years old and the average age of the City’s 15 sanitary sewer pump stations is 30 years old. Since standard lifespan for the mechanical and electrical components of a pump station is 10 to 25 years, a pump station should be rehabilitated with new pumps, motors and control systems at least every 25 years. Approval and adoptions of these plans will help mitigate the ongoing costs of repair and maintenance that the increasingly aging system needs.
These master plans have been in review stages and are nearing completion. The Storm Master Plan will be completed in July 2013. The Sanitary Sewer Master Plan will be completed in 2011- 2012, with subsequent updates being performed on an as-needed basis. The Plant Master Plan is rounding out a three-year planning effort, currently entering the environmental review stage. A preferred alternative for the Plant Master Plan was approved by City Council on April 19, 2011. Next steps include preparations of a Plant Master Plan Environmental Impact Report and a final Plant Master Plan for public comment and City Council’s consideration in early 2013.
In order to complete these plans and fully authorize construction to begin, the City must first find a specific source of funding and then allocate costs. The current proposal is to increase the present rates to reflect current market prices that other municipalities in the Bay Area charge. Despite these changes, the new rates will still remain well below those of other San José retailers. Below are the changes in rates for each specific system:
- Solid Waste Diversion -- A maximum rate increase of 9% has been requested for Single Family Dwellings and Multi Family Dwellings services to fund increased costs of collecting and sorting garbage and recycling material. This maximum increase will raise the rate for an average 32-gallon garbage cart by $2.47 per month, from $27.50 to $29.97.
- Sewer Service and Use Charge Rate Increase - A 3% residential rate increase is proposed for the Sewer Service and Use Charge for 2011-2012. This will raise the average payment by $0.99 per month, from $32.86 to $33.85.
- Storm Sewer Infrastructure Rehabilitation – A 3% residential rate increase and 4% commercial rate increase are proposed for the Storm Sewer Service Charge for 2011-2012. The rate increase will raise the rate by $0.23 per month, from $7.64 to $7.87.
- Wholesale Water Cost Increases – Due to wholesale water cost increases Municipal Water System rates are proposed to increase by a maximum of 6.5%. The actual rates are to be decided this month by City Council.
These increases in service rates will allow for improved facilities and infrastructure, and will continue the City’s efforts to improve water quality, implement the City’s Green Vision goals, and continue protecting local streams, rivers, and the San Francisco Bay salt marsh habitat. In addition, the Water Pollution Control Plant Master Plan includes long-term capital improvement projects focused on odor control, biosolids, and renewable energy.
