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Council approves updated Metro wastewater agreement to reflect Pure Water costs and new billing method
Summary
Council unanimously approved the Second Amended and Restated Regional Wastewater Disposal Agreement (SARAH) and an administrative agreement that update billing methodology (functional allocation), allocate Pure Water Program costs and centralize industrial pretreatment enforcement with San Diego.
Imperial Beach council members voted unanimously Wednesday to adopt two regional wastewater agreements that update how Metro system costs are allocated and that set a framework for wastewater reuse costs tied to the Pure Water regional program.
Kathleen Noel, engineering consultant to the Metro JPA, and Metro staff presented the "SARAH" agreement, which replaces portions of a 1998 master disposal agreement and adds a new billing approach called functional allocation billing. That methodology assigns costs to agencies based on usage of specific Metro facilities and includes a new peak‑capacity charge for Pump Station 2 and Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant. Noel said the change was intended to create more accurate bills for participating agencies and to reflect the future operating profile of plants as Pure Water phases come online.
Noel said the fiscal impact to Imperial Beach is expected to be minimal — under $100,000 — and emphasized that the agreement also includes mechanisms to allocate enforcement, fines and pretreatment responsibilities. Administrative Agreement No.1 would centralize industrial wastewater pretreatment and enhanced source control under the City of San Diego for liability purposes while the system moves toward potable reuse.
Councilmembers asked for clarification about billing and capacity charges and thanked staff for preparing FAQ materials. The council adopted both resolutions authorizing the agreements and the mayor to sign them by unanimous vote.
