Soledad approves emergency mutual aid to Gonzales for wastewater disposal amid storms

Soledad’s City Council approved a minute motion Nov. 19 to provide emergency mutual aid to the City of Gonzales for temporary disposal of treated wastewater effluent after storm impacts overwhelmed Gonzales’ ponds.

Carla (city operations staff) told the council that deliveries began Monday and that Soledad had accepted 29 truckloads through Tuesday, with an average of roughly 3,500 gallons per delivery and about 80,800 gallons received so far. Staff said the treatment plant has available capacity (Soledad is operating at roughly 55% of capacity and can accept additional volume) and that the deliveries are constrained to the city’s normal operating hours to avoid overtime.

On billing, staff noted Soledad’s current fee schedule charges for raw wastewater using a standard 250 mg/L baseline for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids (TSS). Because Gonzales’ effluent is already treated and will likely test much weaker (estimates discussed were in the 25–50 mg/L range), staff proposed prorating the fee by concentration — i.e., charging a percentage of the published rate based on how the delivered concentration compares to the 250 mg/L baseline — and said the final invoice would be calculated after delivery volumes and lab results are received.

Councilmembers asked how long Soledad would receive deliveries; staff said the arrangement is open‑ended and tied to Gonzales’ pond freeboard and rain events. Staff also agreed to document a clearer formula for future mutual‑aid billing so rates are more straightforward in later incidents.

Because the need was urgent, the council approved the assistance by minute motion rather than by a formal resolution. Staff will bill Gonzales for treatment per the adjusted formula and will report back with any needed follow‑up.