The Ione City Council authorized staff to proceed with purchasing a new programmable logic controller (PLC) and associated SCADA upgrades for the municipal wastewater system, after staff described multiple PLC failures during recent storms and warned of potential sewage spills if controls failed.

Justin (wastewater staff) told the council the current PLC is more than 30 years old, parts are no longer available and the controller failed multiple times during a recent winter storm, requiring manual resets and technician callouts. He told the council a full failure would create “serious public health and safety” risks by causing pump stations to lose communications and possibly resulting in sewage discharges.

Staff said the proposed upgrade comes from Waterstone Services and will complete roughly 40% of a broader SCADA modernization at a fraction of an earlier estimate. The council approved the purchase and directed staff to proceed through normal procurement processes. One council member recused themself from the vote.

Separately, staff reported on other wastewater actions: crews are in the final stages of a Title 22 tracer study required for recycled-water/effluent compliance; sand-filter rehabilitation is underway with parts expected to arrive within weeks; and staff are preparing documentation to satisfy a cleanup and abatement order related to previously piled solids at the plant. Justin said the city has receipts for hauling solids and expects to submit them to the state as part of closure of that order.

Staff urged the council not to delay the controller replacement, saying the city could face fines and increased risks if alarms and remote monitoring are not improved. Public commenters and several council members supported approving the purchase, citing the risk of more expensive emergency responses or regulatory penalties if the system fails again.