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PUC outlines $2.7 billion Phase I SSIP program, biosolids and green infrastructure moves ahead
Summary
The Commission received the final 2014 quarterly update on the Sewer System Improvement Program: Phase I comprises 64 projects and $2.7 billion in scope, with $115 million spent to date and major biosolids digester work moving into alternatives analysis and CEQA next year.
Karen Kubik, Director of the Sewer System Improvement Program, gave the last quarterly SSIP update of 2014 and outlined the program’s Phase I status and near‑term schedule.
Kubik said Phase I has initiated 64 projects (56 in planning and design, four in construction, one at bid/award and one completed). Phase I represents approximately $2.7 billion and, to date, the program has expended about $115 million—roughly 4.2% of Phase I—though construction activity is expected to ramp up in 2015.
The three largest Phase I projects—biosolids digesters, Southeast Headworks and the Central Bayside redundancy—are in planning with alternatives analyses underway. Kubik said the Alternatives Analysis Report for biosolids equipment selection will be delivered on New Year’s Eve, after which CEQA and conceptual engineering will begin. Digester construction sequencing, expected to begin in 2017, will include phased overlap so the facility can be proven before older units are retired; Digester 7 was reported to return to service in 2015 and full digester roof repairs are expected to complete by March 2017.
Kubik also described green-infrastructure pilots and a flagship Mission Valencia Gateway project; staff applied for a State Revolving Loan Fund for Holloway EIP to secure low‑interest financing. She described outreach including charrettes and community meetings; Southeast stakeholders requested accessible, educational facility design elements for biosolids projects.
Commissioners and public commenters discussed opportunities to phase the new facility online to retire the worst parts of the old plant sooner; staff said they would study such options.
