Annual Report

Our annual reports describes the services the District provides to the residents in the cities of Campbell, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, two thirds of Saratoga and intervening unincorporated areas of the County of Santa Clara; and its fiscal year challenges and accomplishments.

Reports also include the District’s financial statements and an independent auditor’s assessment. Additional revenue and expenditure information are provided by the California State Controller's office.

2020-2021

It was inconceivable that the spread of the COVID-19 virus would be sustained for over a year and yet is likely to remain relevant through 2021. The impact to the District, as with many other governmental agencies, has significantly altered and affected the daily administration and operations. Despite public health orders to lockdown businesses and offices in early 2020, District staff continued to perform work on site. The District’s refocused in-person efforts included protecting staff from exposure and infection, modification of work policies and procedures required by federal and state governments, absenteeism due to school closures, and miscellaneous additional COVID-19 related tasks that disrupted the District’s ability to make substantial advancement of the adopted strategic plan objectives.

2019-2020

The past few months of this fiscal year have been unprecedented in the history of the District and our community as we addressed the impact of a global pandemic. In response to Governor Gavin Newsom’s actions for a State-Wide Shelter in Place Order to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, the District with regret closed lobby access to the public beginning March 17, 2020 and implemented strict health and safety measures to allow for essential operations. While the public at large sheltered in place, the District quietly continued to provide wastewater collection services using strict health code controls to protect employees and the public.

2016-2017

This fiscal year, the Administration and Information Services Division once again enabled the achievement of the District’s Transparency Certificate of Excellence with the Special District Leadership Foundation, collaborated with the Engineering Department for the implementation of the new Tax and Permit Information System, and continued to take a proactive approach to reduce service costs and increase efficiencies while maintaining the proper internal controls and measures to safeguard District assets.

Faced with the coming challenges dominated by the funding required by the City of San José’s adopted $2 billion Plant Master Plan that identifies more than $1.5 billion in capital improvements over the next ten years, the District is initiating a Cost of Service Study which integrates with rate projections, fees analysis and financial planning to ensure the continued financial health of the District.

2015-2016

This fiscal year, the District is proud to be recognized as the Sewage Collection System of the Year by the California Water Environment Association. The annual award is presented to the agency that has demonstrated excellence in the program and procedures of sewage collection. Considering factors for the award include regulatory compliance, administrative procedures, maintenance, safety and training programs and significant accomplishments including funding and investing in capital projects.

The District has successfully implemented four of the five rate increases allowing the District to fund the treatment plant improvements while meeting our internal financial obligations. The steep funding needs for the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility will still require the issuance of debt. Preliminary work done by the District confirms our ability to obtain AA+ bond ratings. These difficult measures are contributing to a financially healthy agency enabling continued reliable service to the communities we serve.

2014-2015

This fiscal year the District continues to explore and modify the closed circuit television (CCTV) program to improve efficiencies in pursuit of a system wide collection system inspection every eight years. Annual CCTV footage continues to improve using existing staffing by staging the cleaning process in front of the CCTV work. Further refinements are still necessary to achieve the eight-year cycle goal. The additional data from the CCTV will allow the District to further refine its work order system and optimize its cleaning cycles with the goal of focusing on pipelines that have the greatest need of cleaning.

The District witnessed a significant increase in private development projects and commercial improvements reflecting the positive economic trend in the region. There were 15 large private development projects which added approximately 2,300 lineal feet of new sewer mains.

2013-2014

This fiscal year, the District continues to be challenged with significant cost increases for wastewater treatment services. Review of the District’s financial assumptions that ensure fiscal viability, confirmed the District’s adopted Sewer Service and Use Charge rate increase strategy would continue to meet the increasing demands for funding the aggressive capital improvement program initiated for rehabilitating the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility.

An innovative program, Private Lateral Replacement Program (PLRP), was launched this fiscal year to assist property owners replacing their deteriorated private sewer lateral with up to $3,500 as an interest-free five year term loan that is a lien against the property.

2012-2013

This fiscal Year was marked by a change in leadership at the District. After 19 years of service, the District's third District Manager and Engineer, Robert Reid, retired in April, 2012. The transition proved to be smooth, largely due to the continued outstanding performance of District staff. With the change in leadership, the District stepped back and embarked upon the development of a strategic plan to guide the future direction of the organization. This has provided an opportunity for the District to examine and re-establish its vision, mission, values and goals.

City of San José has recently completed a master planning effort for a major rebuild of the San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (RWF) with $680.9 million of capital construction projects over the next five years. Presently, payments to the RWF consist of approximately 30 percent of District’s annual budget; and are projected to increase to approximately 60 percent with these significant improvements. To ensure District revenues are sufficient to meet anticipated capital and operating expenditures in the foreseeable future, the Board adopted significant sewer service charge rate increases of 10 percent in fiscal years 2013-2014 to 2015-2016, 9.5 percent for fiscal year 2016-2017, and 9.0 percent for fiscal year 2017-2018.

2011-2012

The District was challenged with the retirement of two key managers in the Administration and Information Services Department during the year, which resulted in a loss of more than 50 years of experience. The District successfully automated the Operation’s Department by implementing field software and hardware for their use. Now field staff can access sewer system mapping on their laptops instead of using the 1,100 page sewer map book. In addition, work orders are provided to them electronically to allow them to download the completed work information at the end of their shift.

2009-2010

A new computer-based asset management tool will help make better informed decisions, whether in determining the frequency of pipe inspections or in setting priorities for future capital improvement projects. Recently the District has developed another important tool to help manage an aging sewer collection system. Every sewer line in the District’s service area has been classified with a risk ranking based on a variety of factors, including both the likelihood and consequences of failure for the entire District system.

2008-2009

In memory of Stephen H. Goodman, District's first Manager and Engineer (1923 to 2009). Mr. Goodman designed the District's trunk sewer system and managed the District throughout the years of growth and development in silicon valley. Mr. Goodman retired in 1985 after more than 30 years of dedicated service. He was an inspiration to all who knew him.

The District continues to look for ways to improve system operations and make the best decisions to balance the need to reduce risks, provide superior service to the public, and meet high standards of financial prudence and fiscal responsibility. To this end, the District evaluated and purchased new accounting software to accommodate hardware changes, streamline accounting procedures, consolidate the preparation of reports and analysis, and share data with the sewer maintenance management software that will make both systems more effective. Also, the District began a proactive sewer lateral maintenance program and GPS locating existing property line cleanouts. Similar to the District’s sewer main maintenance program; sewer laterals that have been found susceptible to backup and overflows are scheduled for regular cleaning intervals.

2007-2008

Sixty years ago, when the District was created on November 1, 1948, sewage was disposed of in lagoons or discharged without any treatment into the bay. The area the District served was mostly devoted to agriculture, and rapid urban growth was still years in the future. It was forward looking public leaders who anticipated the great changes that were coming, and who took the steps to begin building the wastewater infrastructure we now benefit from.

The District would be remiss if all we did was keep the sewer system operating without planning for tomorrow. No one can predict all that the future will hold, but we can predict that it will be necessary to continue operating, replacing, and upgrading this vital infrastructure; and in that way keep faith with both those who came before us, and those who will come long after we are gone.

2005-2006

This fiscal year was the first time in the District's 58 years of service that the District was fully responsible for all sewer operation and maintenance within our entire jurisdiction, including the Town of Los Gatos, over and above the cities of Campbell, Monte Sereno, two-thirds of Saratoga, and intervening unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County.

The District also completed an agreement with the City of Milpitas in June that resulted in the transfer of one million gallons of wastewater treatment capacity to Milpitas for much needed future growth, and the District gained several million dollars that will help fund our long-term capital improvement program.

2004-2005

This fiscal year after more than three years of discussion and analysis, the District and the Town of Los Gatos began to transfer all sanitary sewer system assets and responsibilities within the Town’s jurisdiction to the District. The Town of Los Gatos has a long history as an independent municipality and also has some of the oldest sanitary sewers in the District’s service area.

The District implemented a new sanitary sewer overflow response plan to ensure compliance with new sanitary sewer overflow reporting requirements and development of a comprehensive Sewer System Management Plans instituted by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. The national benchmark for well-managed collection systems is no more than six overflows per 100 miles of sewer mains. During this fiscal year the District had under five overflows per 100 miles.

2003-2004

The District has nearly doubled the average annual rate of sewer cleaning over the last two years due to better cleaning tools and technology, improved computer-based analytical capability, and motivational performance incentives for District sewer cleaning crews. In addition, the District's sub-area television

sewer inspection program that was initiated two years ago to assess sewer condition for repairs and to develop future sewer rehabilitation projects; has provided feedback on sewer cleaning effectiveness that resulted in changes to either the type or frequency of cleaning for some sewer lines

The net effect of this combination of sewer system management improvements has resulted in a 35 percent decrease in average main sewer line stoppages and a 50 percent decrease in sanitary system overflows. These operational improvements are particularly important as the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board prepares to require public sewage collection systems to report all sewer overflows and prepare comprehensive Sewer System Management Plans during the coming year.

2002-2003

This fiscal year, upon completion of a comprehensive review of the District’s maintenance operations, the District selected and began the implementation of a new computerized asset management system that includes sewer maintenance history and scheduling, financial reporting, and GIS digital mapping of the District's sanitary sewer system. The innovative spirit of the District, which has resulted in many improvements in service during the last couple of years, was recognized with the first Organizational Innovation Award ever presented to an agency by the California Association of Sanitation Agencies.

2001-2002

This fiscal year, to ensure full compliance with anticipated new EPA regulations for public sanitary sewer systems, the District focused on long range financial planning, systems and operational analysis, and staff development. At the same time new technologies are providing the opportunity to improve both the effectiveness and efficiency of sewer system operation and management. The District implemented new television sewer inspection software which has increased production significantly resulting in immediately identifying and scheduling immediate repairs and more effectively identify future sewer rehabilitation projects.

2000-2001

This year, the District undertook a general reorganization of staff, combining the old departments of Administration, Engineering, and Maintenance into two departments; Administration and Information Services, and Engineering and Operations. The reorganization has ensured greater continuity for maintaining essential District services, improved coordination in developing project priorities, and developed more effective communication and coordination among staff. The District adopted and implemented a comprehensive performance incentive plan for District employees. Achievement of the plan are based on both individuals and employee teams for completing preauthorized objectives in recognition of performance that results in innovation, increased efficiency, and/or cost-savings.

Completed this year was a comprehensive analysis and upgrade of the District's computer hardware and software to prepare for future expansion into digital mapping, basin analysis, and flow monitoring. Work began on integrating the District's existing financial and infrastructure databases into a comprehensive information system that will enable the District to implement and support a complete asset management program.

1999-2000

This year, the District completed a strategic plan to rehabilitate its main and trunk sewer lines. This effort required more than two years of investigation and analysis of each of the District’s 50 sewer system sub-areas. Each sub-area was rated on criteria, including measured sewer flow, age of pipes, and overall maintenance history; and follow-up exhaustive investigations were identified for priority sewers.

The District began an extensive analysis of the its computer systems and processes, with the goal of standardizing equipment, upgrading software, and planning for the district's future information system needs.

1996-1997

99.9 percent of the District’s area is now served by a sanitary sewer system due to the success of achieving the long-range goals of two innovative District programs; the Sewer Extension Revolving Fund (SERF) and the Septic System Abandonment Program (SSAP). An intensive sewer system evaluation and analysis of an area around Los Gatos Town Hall that has been subject to chronic surcharging during winter storms has been completed; and engineering plans are now being prepared to rehabilitate and reconstruct sewers throughout the area.

1994-1995

Long-time Board Member and County supervisor Rod Diridon stepped down from the Board after serving since January 9, 1975.

The South Bay Water Recycling Program (SBWRP), an estimated $136 million project, to deliver non-potable reclaimed water to customers in the cities of Milpitas, Santa Clara, and San José began this fiscal year. The project was implemented to avoid the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board’s “cap” on the amount of treated wastewater effluent being discharge to the Bay. As a tributary agency with the capacity rights in the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant, the District is responsible for paying its share of the SBWRP with most of the District’s share being funded by a bond sale underwritten by the City of San José.

1993-1994

This fiscal year was marked by a change of management at the District. After eight years of dynamic leadership, the District second District Manager and Engineer, Bill Gissler, retired in August, 1993. The transition proved to be smooth, largely due to the continued outstanding performance of District staff. This performance was recognized in April when the district was awarded "Best Collection System of the Year" by the California Water Pollution Control Association (known today as the California Water Environment Association), the second time in seven years that the District was honored with this award.

The District achieved another milestone toward its goal of continuous improvement with the installation of a computer "local area network" and taxroll information system for the collection of the District's Sewer Service and Use Charge. In spite of some start-up problems, the new tax roll system makes it easier for staff to access and update information and provide more effective customer service.

1992-1993

This fiscal year was the 45th anniversary of the District. The milestone event was the initiation of a storm drainage management and revenue program by the District on behalf of the cities of Campbell, Los Gatos, and Monte Sereno to perform maintenance of storm drainage facilities.

With the end of the drought, attention intensified on efforts to maintain the dry weather flow of the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant discharge below the state permit mandated 120 million gallons per day. It is anticipated that the plant discharge will be kept below this amount while continuing water conservation measures, and constructing a water recycling plant determined to be feasible and cost effective.

1989-1990

Following public hearings in April 1990, the board of directors adopted an ordinance establishing a hillside sewer maintenance zone and a $50.00 charge to pay for repairs of sewers damaged by land movement or erosion.

Since the inception of the District Septic System Abandonment Program in March 1986, over 700 residential properties have abandoned their septic tank systems and connected to District constructed sewers by taking advantage of the program’s ten-year low interest payment plan. The engineering department also began developing a computerized mapping system for the District’s hard copy sewer location maps.

1988-1989

The District aggressively continued its septic system abandonment program in this fiscal year. Since the program's initiation in March, 1986, the District has constructed sewers to serve over 700 residential properties. Many of the septic systems were over 25 years old, and their replacement with public sewers alleviated a public health hazard.

A major investment was a joint project with the City of San José to rehabilitate the large interceptor sewers in the vicinity of the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant. During the fiscal year the District expended $559,608 on this project, and expects to spend additional funds as these projects continue into next fiscal year.

1987-1988

The District's name was changed to West Valley Sanitation District. State legislation to permit the name change was submitted in late 1986, signed by the Governor in mid-1987, and became effective January 1, 1988. In April 1988, the Board of Directors passed a resolution officially adopting the name change. The new name provides a better geographic identity with the District's service area.

Engineering design on the initial phases of a joint City of San José and district project to rehabilitate the large interceptor sewers near the treatment plant was completed and construction got underway. Design and construction of subsequent phases will continue for several years.

1986-1987

Modernization and upgrading of the District's administration building, computer systems, and maintenance equipment was the a major accomplishment this fiscal year. The addition of 384 square feet to the administration building, the upgrading of lighting, and the refurbishing or replacement of office equipment was important to overall performance. New maintenance equipment and replacement of 15 and 25-year old trucks and maintenance machines put state-of-the-art equipment into service for the District.

1985-1986

In November 1985, the District experienced a change of managers. After 34 years as the District's first Manager and Engineer, Steve Goodman retired. The District which Steve served so well over the years was formed in 1948 under provisions of the California Health And Safety Code County Sanitation District Act.

Sewer cleaning and maintenance operations continued to be scheduled and performed on an efficient basis by a computer system that has eliminated a free flow test to determine if a sewer line requires cleaning.

A study by James M. Montgomery Consulting Engineers to develop a program to mitigate sulfide corrosion in the District's trunk sewer system moved to completion.

1984-1985

During the past fiscal year, the City of San José rehabilitated approximately 2,900 feet of reinforced concrete sewer line that transports both City of San José and District wastewater. The reinforced concrete sewer line had been severely corroded by hydrogen sulfide gas produced by the conveyance of wastewater. Additionally, the District employed James M, Montgomery Consulting Engineers to develop a program to identify ways to mitigate sulfide corrosion of its trunk sewer system.

Year two of utilizing the computerized sewer maintenance and operations system has reduced unnecessary cleaning operations, a reduction in footage cleaned by 50%. Although, a slight rise in the number of stoppages has occurred, it is expected to level off as the system is continually used. The saved staff time is being utilized to perform annual comprehensive root control and implement hydrogen sulfide gas corrosion mitigation measures.

The San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board is expected to rescind its pending prohibition on the current discharge of treated wastewater south of the Dumbarton Bridge based on the water quality testing of discharges from San José/Santa Clara and Sunnyvale treatment plants observed in 1982 through 1984 that have resulted in a net benefit to the South Bay environment. Rescinding the wastewater discharge prohibition would eliminate the construction of an extremely expensive effluent pipeline from the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant to a point of discharge north of the Dumbarton Bridge.

1983-1984

The District’s newly implemented computerized sewer maintenance and operations system allowed the District to develop work schedules that perform sewer line cleaning on a priority basis. As a result, only those lines that historically indicated a need of cleaning were cleaned and maintenance personal were made available to address aging sewer lines.

Sewer lines that were found to have root intrusions are now being treated by an herbicidal fumigant made expressly for control of root growth in sewers. The chemical product does not harm trees or vegetation, and has Environmental Protection Agency approval for use in sanitary sewer systems. It is expected that this program will eliminate any major damage and cost for repairs to sewer lines caused by root intrusion.

1982-1983

The District implemented a computerized sewer maintenance and operation system that has been developed Over the last several years in partnership with Union Sanitary District, West Bay Sanitary District, and George S. Nolte and Associates. The computerized system is being run on a District $36,000 mini-computer system. The District’s extensive hard copy sewer location and maintenance records that were input into the computerized system will be used for efficient scheduling of preventive maintenance.

The City of San José capital improvement program intermediate-term improvements to restore the City of San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant's capacity to 143 million gallons per day (mgd) is now estimated to cost $99 million. The plant improvement cost is being allocated to the tributary agencies in an equitable manner, with the District's share being $4.4 million. The improvements are approximately 30 percent complete and when completed, the District's capacity in the plant will be 13.55 mgd, which is expected to accommodate the District's planned growth through year 2000.

1981-1982

The District started collecting a capacity fee, for the treatment plant, on all new connections to reserve capacity at the treatment plant.

The San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant reduced capacity was finally realized to be 101 million gallons per day (mgd) rather than its design capacity of 143 mgd. Subsequently, the City of San José commenced a $113 million capital improvement program to restore the plant’s capacity to 143 mgd. $6.6 million is estimated to be the District’s share and may be less depending on the actual construction costs and receipt of Federal and State Clean Water Grants.

1980-1981

Although the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant was designed to adequately treat 143 millions gallon per day (mgd) of wastewater flow, malfunctions at the plant and a subsequent engineering study revealed that the plant has a reliable capacity of 130 mgd. The reduced capacity of the plant’s reduced the District’s contracted capacity from 13.55 mgd to 12.32 mgd. The engineering study also indicated that the cities of San José and Santa Clara had used some of the District’s reserved capacity; and the cities agreed to compensate the District for use of District’s capacity during fiscal years 1979-80 and 1980-81. Design of plant intermediate improvements are underway to restore the Plant's reliable treatment capacity to 143 mqd.

The State of California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) deferred (for a period of five years) its requirement to discharge effluent from the San José/Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and Palo Alto treatment plants one mile north of the Dumbarton Bridge. Meanwhile, these cities must jointly conduct a monitoring program to determine the effect of discharging highly-treated effluent south of the Dumbarton Bridge.

1979-1980

The San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant malfunctioned during September, 1979, and the effluent discharge requirements imposed by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Board were exceeded. The engineering study of malfunction also showed that the combined use of the treatment plant's capacity by the cities of San José and Santa Clara exceeds the amount of capacity reserved for them after deduction of capacity reserved for the other tributary agencies. As a result of this overuse, the District, Cupertino Sanitary District, and the City of Milpitas filed a claim of breach of contract with the cities of San José and Santa Clara seeking restitution for use of their reserved capacities. Negotiations between the parties

to cure the breach of contracts had just commenced at the close of this fiscal year.

The District now has its own television equipment for viewing inside sewer lines currently in use, and inside new sewer lines, by use of a camera pulled through the sewer. The line can be viewed for cracks and other irregularities as well as debris and root growth.

1978-1979

An analysis of all the developed properties in the District that were not being charged for sewer service and had sewers available revealed approximately 500 properties connected to the District's sanitary sewer system.

The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) prepared the proposed common conveyance facility that would convey effluents from the San José/Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and Palo Alto treatment plants to the San Francisco Bay a mile north of the Dumbarton Bridge recommended the "no project" alternative. The tributary agencies are requesting the State of California Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) recognize the EIR recommendation to satisfy the RWQCB requirements.

1977-1978

The District's excellent safety program has resulted in a low incidence of lost time injuries and placing in the top three agencies in the California Association of Sanitation Agencies safety contest for the past eight consecutive years.

In January 1979, advance waste treatment facilities that were added to the plant will begin operation to remove additional pollutants from the wastewater. Public hearings will be conducted early 1979 to determine if a common conveyance facility, consisting of pumps and a large pipeline, should be constructed to transport the effluents from the San José/Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, and Palo Alto water pollution control plants to a point of discharge north of the Dumbarton Bridge. Sludge solids produced by the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant are now being stored in open storage lagoons adjacent to the plant. Plans are now being made for disposal of these solids by use of dewatering and composting facilities to condition the material for both soil enhancement and landfill.

1976-1977

This fiscal year saw a 40% increase in adding sewer service charges to County tax bills due to the District's assuming financial administration of sewer service charges for the Town of Los Gatos. Also the District changed the procedure of direct-billing customers to the less expensive method of adding sewer service charges to tax bills.

Measures, consisting of using greater amounts of wastewater for sewer cleaning and sewer cleaning methods and equipment that reduces the amount of potable water used, were implemented for water conservation.

The proposed common conveyance facility is under study and is projected at $86.1 million, with 79% Federal and State financing anticipated. The Environmental Protection Agency expects to issue a draft environmental impact statement in early 1978, to be followed thereafter by a decision of action statement. The City of San José has retained a consultant to determine and design the most suitable type of facility for disposal of solid wastes removed during treatment of wastewater at the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant. The District's share of the cost of the conveyance facility is estimated to be $1,047,000 and its share of the solid waste disposal facilities is estimated to be $206,000.

1975-1976

In March, 1965, District voters passed a $7,500,000 general obligation bond issue to be used for construction of trunk sewers within the District and capacity acquisition in the City of San José interceptor and trunk sewer systems and the San Jose/Santa Clara water Pollution Control Plant.

Advance waste treatment facilities to remove additional pollutants from wastewater, costing approximately $70,500,000 are now under construction at the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant and are expected to be in operation commencing January 1978.

1974-1975

The solids removed from the wastewater as sludge at the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant is being presently stored in lagoons with about 10 percent of the volume being used by a contractor for production of a soil conditioner. Since storage space for the sludge residual from the wastewater treatment process is limited, it is planned to add facilities to the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant to reduce the volume of sludge at an estimated cost of $25,000,000.

1973-1974

The Water Quality Management Plan developed for discharges into the South San Francisco Bay and prepared by the consortium of Conseor-Townsend Associates and Bechtel Corporation, is being implemented to meet the standards established by San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. Phase one consists of advance waste treatment facilities at the Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, and San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant. The facilities to be added to the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant will provide biological nitrification and filtration of the effluent from the existing secondary facilities. The facilities are estimated to cost $65,000,000 with anticipated 87 percent Federal and State financing; and the District's share will be approximately 10 percent of the net cost. Phase two consists of a pipeline running from the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant and by the Sunnyvale and Palo Alto plants to a point of discharge in San Francisco Bay about one mile north of the Dumbarton Bridge. This common facility is estimated to cost of $65,000,000 with 80 percent anticipated Federal and State grants; and the District's share will be approximately 6 percent of the net cost.

1972-1973

This fiscal year marks twenty-five years of service. In 1972 the Bay Area Sewerage Service Agency (known today as the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies) was created by the State Legislature for the purpose of implementing a coordinated water pollution control program to meet water quality requirements within the nine Bay Area Counties. The Conseor-Townsend Associates and Bechtel Corporation study estimates the cost of the common conveyance and disposal facilities to be shared by the Palo Alto, Sunnyvale and San José sub-regions is $66,285,000; and the advance waste treatment facilities to be constructed as an adjunct to the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant estimated to cost $67,600,000 with both anticipating 80 percent Federal-State financing.

1971-1972

A study by Conseor-Townsend Associates and Bechtel Corporation was completed in March of 1972, formulating a sewage collection and treatment system for the South Bay Dischargers. Tertiary treatment with a biological nitrification unit along with an effluent "polishing" by filtration is proposed as an addition to the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant with discharge into a regional outfall in turn discharging into the San Francisco Bay North of the Dumbarton Bridge.

A project to estimate future flows from the District has been undertaken. The consulting engineering firm of Consoer, Townsend and Associates, have been retained to help make these projections, which will be used in future negotiations for capacity rights in the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant.

1970-1971

During this fiscal year, the Engineering Division commenced the development of a mathematical model to determine the quantity of sewage generated in different areas of the District. Given the the large number of connections, performing these calculations by hand would be impractical. Whereas using computer technology and a mathematical model, quantities of sewage in different trunk sewers can be made more quickly and annual updates will be easier to maintain. Preliminary output of the mathematical model has been field checked with metered sewage flow and results to date have shown close comparisons, which will assist the District in making more informed decisions as to trunk sewer and sewerage treatment plant capacity requirements.

1968-1969

The number of sewer connections provide a measure of the service provided the District, and as of the end of this fiscal year, 7,387 building units within the Town of Los Gatos were indirectly served by the District's sewerage system, and 21,441 building units within the remaining area of the District were directly connected to its sewer system, a 5% increase in unit connections during the fiscal year. Apartment and commercial unit connections increased at about the same rate.

1967-1968

Since September 19, 1962, the effective date of the District ordinance requiring a device for wastewater backflow protection, all buildings connecting to District sewers have been surveyed to determine the need for such devices. A survey of 4,300 new connections has been made since that date and during the past fiscal year. A survey of 1,149 premises connections were made prior to the effective date of the ordinance. A total of 7,852 buildings have been surveyed, representing 43.9 percent of the total sewer connections in the District.

1964-1965

This fiscal year on April 1, 1965, the District and the City of San José executed two sewerage facilities capacity rights agreements; one agreement for joint use of main and trunk sewers in the West Valley area and capacity rights for the District in the City's trunk and interceptor sewers, and a second agreement for District capacity rights in the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant. Approximately $3,500,000 of bond funds were used to purchase these capacity rights.

1963-1964

Negotiations to replace the 1950 contract between the District and the City of San José continued during this fiscal year. Prospects appear good for execution of new contracts for use of the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant and the City of San José sanitary sewer system during fiscal year 1964-65.

A "Report on the Collection, Treatment, and Disposal of the Sewage of County Sanitation District No.4 of Santa Clara County, California" was completed in May 1964 to study the need for supplemental sewage facilities to provide for the anticipated growth of the District through the year 2000.

A program to minimize the possible backflow of sewage into buildings, including a field inspection of proposed building sites and existing buildings, brought about installation of 75 devices for wastewater backflow protection for buildings being constructed. Notification to owners of existing buildings requiring wastewater backflow protection has also been started.

1961-1962

This fiscal year on February 28, 1962, the District and the City of Campbell entered into an agreement to transfer the title of the sanitary sewerage system within the former Campbell Sanitary District to the District.

Construction of the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant expansion started in February, 1962 and is scheduled for completion in 1963 with a cost of approximately $21,100,000. The District cost for a capacity of 8 million gallons per day will be approximately $2,600,000.

1960-1961

This fiscal year effective January 1, 1961, the District assumed title and all responsibility for the maintenance and operations of the City of Saratoga sewerage system, contained within the former Saratoga Sanitary District and the City.

The City of San José is presently preparing plans and specifications for sewage treatment facility capacity expansion and for secondary treatment. The estimated cost is approximately $27,000,000. The District is expected to reserve a capacity of 8 million gallons per day at an estimated cost of $2,300,000.

The District has been separately considering the feasibility of constructing a sewage treatment-water reclamation plant in partnership with the Santa Clara Valley Water Conservation District (known today as Valley Water). Preliminary estimates indicate that the District could construct and operate the sewage treatment-water reclamation plant at the same cost for treatment of its sewage in the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant sewage treatment plant, providing the Santa Clara Water Conservation District purchase the reclaimed water produced at the rate of $10.30 per acre foot.

1959-1960

The District continued negotiations with the City of San José and the San Jose/Santa Clara Sewage Treatment Plant Advisory Committee (TPAC) for participation in the proposed expansion of the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant on a cash basis. The Advisory Committee participation proposal, based on its ratio of assessed valuation to the assessed valuation of all agencies using the treatment plant, was deemed inequitable in the District Manager's April 1960 response report. The response report also indicated the feasibility of the District constructing its own sewage treatment plant, if an equitable agreement is not reached.

On June 30, 1960, the District proposed cash participation in the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant on a fixed reserve capacity basis with representation in plant management and a right to expand the District's boundaries.

1958-1959

The consulting engineering firm of Brown and Caldwell continued its pilot plant studies leading to the preparation of plans for secondary sewage treatment facilities at the site of the City of San José's primary treatment plant. The City indicated that other entities using the City's treatment plant will be expected to participate in the construction of additional facilities on a cash basis. The District recognizes the equity of the proposal, and has asked the City to furnish an estimated amount the District is expected to pay for its capacity in plant expansion, in order to program financing for the District share.

1957-1958

On February 15, 1958 the District office building and corporation building and yard were dedicated and occupied by District personnel and equipment. The office building contains 1,800 square feet of floor space and the corporation building 1,300 square feet of floor space. Approximately $54,000 was spent acquiring land, constructing all of the facilities, and grounds improvements.

In June 1958 the Board of Directors adopted Resolution No. 247.4, establishing a method for participation by the District in extensions of trunk sewers to facilitate subdivisions of land and to eliminate septic tanks within existing subdivisions. Funds in the amount of $78,000 have been included in the 1958-59 fiscal budget to finance this trunk sewer extension program.

1956-1957

In November, 1956 the City of San José put into operation its primary sewage treatment plant at Alviso. Due to renegotiation proceeding for a new contract between the City and the District, the District has not been rendered a statement of its share of the cost of sewage treatment. In anticipation of this cost, the District, on January 1, 1957, increased the sewer service charge from $0.40 to $1.10 per month for a residential unit, and a corresponding amount for the other classifications of premises.

At the close of this fiscal year, the District had purchased 1.23 acres of industrially zoned land on Sunnyoaks Avenue in Campbell for an office building and a corporation building/yard. Completed plans call for a 1,920 square foot office building and a 1,280 square foot corporation building with a projected occupancy by January, 1958.

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