Riverbank council hears feasibility options for wastewater plant; study recommended

Riverbank Vice Mayor Cindy Fosse urged the City Council on June 24 to commission a feasibility study to evaluate how best to address capacity, permit and long-term costs for the Riverbank Wastewater Treatment Plant.

The study would compare three broad options: complete the city’s planned recycled-water upgrade at the existing plant; construct pump stations and a pipeline to send some or all wastewater to the City of Modesto’s treatment system (regionalization); or redesign the local plant and pursue a surface-water discharge permit to the Tuolumne River. Fosse told the council the feasibility work would likely cost about $50,000 to $75,000 and could include potential cost-sharing by Modesto.

Why it matters: the city has been working on a major upgrade after state regulators raised concerns about groundwater impacts and treatment capacity. Council members and residents said the projected price increases and loan package for the recycled-water project are creating significant rate pressure for households. A feasibility study, proponents said, would give the council better fiscal and technical comparisons before committing to a multi-decade capital plan.

Fosse summarized the three options.…