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Proposed Local Sewer Rate Increase <br /> Background <br /> The City does not own or operate a wastewater treatment plant. A majority of the City's <br /> wastewater is treated by Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD). The current <br /> average dry weather flow (ADWF) from the City to DSRSD is approximately 6 million <br /> gallons per day (mgd). A small portion of the City's wastewater flows, which originate <br /> from Ruby Hills, are conveyed to the City of Livermore water reclamation plant. The <br /> flow from Ruby Hills to the City of Livermore's plant is approximately 0.25 mgd ADWF. <br /> Once the City's sewer is secondarily treated either at the facilities at DSRSD or the City <br /> of Livermore, the treated sewer is stored and transported through the facilities owned <br /> and operated by the Livermore Amador Valley Wastewater Management Agency <br /> (LAVWMA) to the East Bay Discharge Authority (EBDA) outfall line into the outer Bay. <br /> A City of Pleasanton sewer bill is comprised of the wastewater treatment component <br /> either provided by DSRSD or the City of Livermore, the transport component provided <br /> by LAVWMA and finally the collection component provided by the City of Pleasanton. <br /> The portions of the sewer bill associated with the cost of the treatment and transport <br /> components were increased in July 2008 by both DSRSD and the City of Livermore. <br /> The portion of the sewer bill associated with the collection system has not been <br /> increased since September 2001. <br /> City's Sewer Collection System <br /> The City maintains and operates a sewer collection system. The City's above ground <br /> wastewater system includes 13 sewer pump stations. The below ground sewer assets <br /> consist of both gravity and force mains ranging in pipe diameter from 2 to 42 inches and <br /> the below ground sewer assets include approximately 270 miles of pipe of which a <br /> majority was installed between 1980 and 1990. A majority of the sewer mains are <br /> vitrified clay pipe and are smaller than 12 inches in diameter. <br /> Local sewer service charges are developed to equitably allocate costs to users for asset <br /> operation, pay for debt service incurred for the construction of sewer facilities, and to <br /> perform the necessary maintenance and repairs (or replacement) of the wastewater <br /> collection system. The costs also include the labor and pumping charges associated <br /> with the collection and pumping of raw sewer to the DSRSD and /or City of Livermore <br /> treatment plants. The local portion of the current City rates represents approximately <br /> 36% of the overall bi- monthly sewer bill. <br /> Audit/Review of Expenditures and Cost of Service Increases <br /> Just as experienced in the Water Fund, the City's costs have increased in the Sewer <br /> Fund. Staff started the review by auditing the City's Utility Billing records and found <br /> some billing inconsistencies that have been corrected. In addition, staff was able to <br /> reduce costs prior to developing the expenditures for the rate study and as a result of <br /> this the City is able to avoid a rate increase at this time in its sewer rates. <br /> Page 14 of 20 <br />