To: Boards of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency, Russian River County Sanitation District, Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency, Russian River County Sanitation District, Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District
Staff Name and Phone Number: Grant Davis 707-547-1911, Garett Walker 707-521-1849
Vote Requirement: 2/3rd
Supervisorial District(s): First, Fifth
Title:
Title
Biosolids Management Services
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Authorize Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager acting on behalf of Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District to execute an agreement with Lystek International Limited, in substantially the form presented to this Board, for biosolids management services through February 28, 2031, in the not-to-exceed amount of $2,620,000. (First District)
B) Adopt a Resolution authorizing adjustments to the Board Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2025/2026 for the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District Operations Fund in the amount of $250,000 for Biosolids Management Services. (First District) (2/3rd Vote Required)
C) Adopt a Concurrent Resolution of the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Water Agency, Russian River County Sanitation District, and Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District determining that the Agreement with Lystek International Limited for biosolids management will not have a significant adverse effect on the environment; adopting Responsible Agency findings pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and authorizing the General Manager for Sonoma Water and the Russian River District, and on behalf of the District, to file a Notice of Determination. (First and Fifth Districts)
end
Executive Summary:
This item requests approval to enter into an agreement with Lystek International Limited (Service Provider) for removal and related services of biosolids from the wastewater treatment plant (Treatment Plant) at Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District (District). Service Provider’s organic materials recovery center (OMRC) can process Class B rated biosolids produced by Treatment Plant into Class A biosolids that are Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-rated for beneficial reuse as a biosolids fertilizer product to decrease the impact to landfills.
Discussion:
HISTORY OF ITEM/BACKGROUND
District’s Treatment Plant produces approximately 2,500 to 3,000 wet tons of biosolids annually as a byproduct of the wastewater treatment process. The biosolids generated by District are Class B solids derived from an activated sludge process, with a percentage solids content ranging between 15 percent and 23 percent. These biocover andt be managed in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local environmental regulations, which have become increasingly stringent and restrictive of the current biosolids management practices of soil amendment, landfill cover, and landfill disposal. District has utilized the services of Service Provider to transport biosolids from the Treatment Plant to Service Provider’s OMRC for further processing and beneficial reuse as a biosolids fertilizer product. Until now, these services have been paid under a County of Sonoma blanket purchase order (BPO). At the request of County Purchasing, Sonoma Water will transition to a professional services agreement because Sonoma Water is the sole user of the BPO, the anticipated expenditure exceeds BPO limits, and the services require a tight turnaround.
Service Provider owns and operates an OMRC at the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District in Fairfield, California, and is authorized to receive third-party material for processing biosolids approved for reuse. Service Provider’s OMRC is located 26 miles from the Treatment Plant-a shorter distance than other alternatives, reducing both hauling costs and the carbon footprint associated with biosolids transportation.
Service Provider‘s OMRC can accept biosolids with solids content ranging from 15 percent to 25 percent, accommodating typical operational variability at the Treatment Plant. The OMRC is equipped to receive biosolids under both wet and dry weather conditions, preventing backup or storage issues during inclement weather, and is permitted to accept biosolids classified as Class B and below. The OMRC further processes these materials into a Class A biosolids product that meets EPA standards for unrestricted use. This advanced treatment expands opportunities for beneficial reuse.
Deliveries are routinely received at Service Provider’s OMRC twelve (12) hours a day, five (5) days a week (Monday through Friday), and with advance notice, Service Provider can accommodate deliveries outside of standard operating hours. Notably, Service Provider does not require a minimum monthly delivery volume, allowing District to adjust deliveries in response to fluctuating biosolids production.
Given District’s fluctuations in biosolids production and variations in solids concentration, a reliable and flexible biosolids processing facility capable of accepting and processing biosolids under diverse operational and varied weather conditions is critical to prevent operational disruptions or potential regulatory noncompliance at the Treatment Plant. The flexibility provided by Service Provider reduces costs, minimizes storage and logistical challenges, and ensures continuous, compliant operation of the Treatment Plant.
In addition to the benefits outlined above, by utilizing Service Provider’s OMRC, District supports the objectives of California State Legislature’s Senate Bill 1383, which aims to reduce organic waste sent to landfills by 75 percent by 2025. While full statewide compliance is still a work in progress, transporting biosolids to Service Provider’s OMRC for beneficial reuse helps the District divert organic material from landfills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions (methane), and contribute to the state’s climate and waste reduction goals.
Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) owns and operates the Russian River County Sanitation District (Russian River District). Russian River District’s wastewater treatment plant requires services for hauling, removal and processing of Class B biosolids derived from the wastewater treatment process. The Russian River District may have future needs for transport and processing of these biosolids to a new location under this contract, and staff propose making CEQA findings concurrent with Sonoma Water and the District.
SELECTION PROCESS
Several other businesses that provide services in the area do accept Class B biosolids for beneficial use; however, there are two main reasons these alternatives were not selected over Lystek’s services. The primary reason is that most businesses rely heavily on land application for the disposal of Class B biosolids, whereas Lystek further processes all accepted material to produce Class A biosolids. Class B biosolids are treated sewage sludge that contain higher levels of pathogens compared to Class A biosolids and therefore require strict handling and application protocols to protect public health. For this reason, it is important for SVCSD to support further processing into a Class A product. Additionally, Lystek’s Facility is located just 26 miles from the Treatment Plant, offering a significant advantage in proximity. This short transport distance reduces both hauling costs and the carbon footprint associated with biosolids transportation.
Given Lystek International Limited‘s (Service Provider’s) unique processing of biosolids and Lystek’s proximity to District’s treatment plant, a competitive selection process was not completed. Attached is the Single/Sole Source Waiver that was obtained from Sonoma Public Infrastructure Department, Purchasing Division.
SERVICES TO BE PERFORMED
Under the proposed agreement, Service Provider will manage District’s biosolids including hauling and processing.
The cost of services will not exceed $2,620,000; the term end date is February 28, 2031.
Through the proposed agreement, the General Manager will be delegated the authority to approve a written amendment to extend the term of the agreement for up to two additional years by providing written notice to the other party thirty days in advance of the term end date and by executing an agreement amendment.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
The Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District, as lead agency pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), completed environmental documentation in accordance with CEQA for the Organic Materials Recovery Center Project (OMRC Project). The Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District prepared an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS/MND) for the OMRC Project. The Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District approved the project, adopted findings, and adopted a Mitigation and Monitoring Reporting Plan on April 27, 2015. A Notice of Determination for the OMRC Project was filed on April 28, 2015.
As responsible agencies under CEQA, Sonoma Water, the Russian River District, and the District staff considered the IS/MND as prepared by the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District. The proposed resolution for the agreement concurs with each of the findings concerning environmental impacts and mitigation measures identified in the IS/MND and the Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District’s findings for the project. The District staff prepared a Notice of Determination in accordance with CEQA, the State CEQA Guidelines, and the District‘s Compliance Procedures under CEQA. The District’s agreement would not have an adverse impact upon the environment.
County of Sonoma Strategic Plan Alignment: N/A
Sonoma Water Strategic Plan Alignment
Goal: Planning and Infrastructure
Strategy: Conduct planning that integrates and balances operational, maintenance, and infrastructure priorities
Action: Continue to engage in planning efforts to support reliable wastewater and flood management services.
Further processing biosolids into a Class A soil amendment strengthens long-term infrastructure planning by ensuring a reliable, sustainable, and regulatory compliant method for managing byproducts of wastewater treatment. This approach supports reliable wastewater services by reducing disposal risks and aligning operational and maintenance priorities with state climate and organic diversion requirements.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
N/A
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
|
$500,000 |
$515,000 |
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
$250,000 |
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$250,000 |
$500,000 |
$515,000 |
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
|
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
$250,000 |
$500,000 |
$515,000 |
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$250,000 |
$500,000 |
$515,000 |
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Additional appropriations are required to process this expense. With Board approval of the attached budgetary resolution, FY 2025/2026 appropriations of $250,000 will be made in the Sonoma Valley County Sanitation District Operations Fund. FY 2026/2027 through 2030/2031 appropriations will be made in those fiscal years.
|
Staffing Impacts: |
|
|
|
|
Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A-I Step) |
Additions (Number) |
Deletions (Number) |
|
|
|
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Attachment 1: Agreement with Lystek International Limited
Attachment 2: Budget Resolution
Attachment 3: Single/Sole Source Waiver
Attachment 4: CEQA Resolution with Exhibit X Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration and Notice of Determination
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
District Notice of Determination