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State launches wastewater needs assessment; East Orosi named candidate for sewer‑system administrator
Summary
State Water Board staff described a statewide wastewater needs assessment underway (multiyear contract led by UCLA) and explained that, under AB 805, the board has initiated an administrator‑designation process for the disadvantaged community East Orosi as a pilot to move sanitation work forward.
State Water Resources Control Board staff told a water quality coordinating committee that the board is implementing a statewide wastewater needs assessment and piloting sewer‑system administrator authority under new state law to address communities without adequate sanitation.
Staff said the human right to water movement and earlier drinking‑water needs work inspired parallel attention to sanitation. The board contracted a multiyear study (UCLA as lead investigator under a $4 million contract) to create a statewide inventory of inadequate and at‑risk wastewater systems, develop a risk framework and map communities with sanitation needs. The needs assessment is planned in two phases: Phase 1 (baseline assessment, advisory group engagement and roadmap) is near completion with a Phase 2 start scheduled later in 2025 to create a public working list, mapping tools and cost/solutions analysis to inform future planning and investments.
Staff described legislative tools: SB 1215 (2018) authorizes wastewater consolidation and provides a framework to encourage or require connections of failing on‑site systems to sewers, prioritizing disadvantaged communities; AB 805 (2024) creates a sewer‑system administrator authority and a process to designate inadequate sewer systems and appoint administrators who provide technical, managerial and financing support while a longer‑term solution is developed.
As an initial AB 805 action, staff said the board notified East Orosi Community Sewer District in February 2025 that it qualified for the administrator process; a public meeting was held in April 2025 with Tulare County proposed as administrator and broad community support at the meeting, staff reported. The board’s next step is a water‑quality order and a resolution of findings to be signed by the executive director; the administrator will then produce feasibility, community engagement and post‑administrator transition plans.
Staff emphasized major data gaps and the need to coordinate with regional boards and technical assistance providers. They said advisory‑group meetings have already included representatives from regional boards, community technical assistance organizations, wastewater associations and community groups. Work under the UCLA contract will produce inadequacy and risk criteria for MPDS, WDR, on‑site systems and collection systems and estimate costs for capital and operations for candidate solutions. Staff cautioned that current legislative authority and funding are limited and that the needs assessment will provide the basis for prioritizing future policy, funding and technical‑assistance needs.
Staff urged continued regional engagement and multiple funding and partnership paths — including state, federal and philanthropic resources — and said the assessment is expected to inform statewide strategy and local implementation once phase 2 reporting is complete (contract work runs through 2027).
