To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency
Staff Name and Phone Number: Brad Sherwood 707 547-1900
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Second
Title:
Title
Resolution Making Findings of an Emergency Need to Perform Work to Stabilize Hazardous Conditions Resulting from Degradation within the Penngrove Sanitation Zone’s Collections System.
End
Recommended Actions:
Recommended action
Board of Directors Adopt a Resolution:
A) Making findings that there is an emergency need to stabilize hazardous conditions resulting from degraded inverted siphons in the collections system and suspending the requirements for competitive bidding (4/5th Vote Required);
B) Authorizing the General Manager of Sonoma County Water Agency to execute contracts, not to exceed $750,000 per contract, necessary to stabilize the hazardous conditions resulting from a pipeline break; and
C) Ratifying any emergency contracts entered into by the General Manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency relating to these issues.
end
Executive Summary:
This item requests the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) adopt a resolution making findings of an emergency need to stabilize four sections of the Penngrove Sanitation Zone’s Collections System due to breaks in those sections of pipeline.
The Penngrove Sanitation Zone‘s collection system is owned and operated by Sonoma Water. The degradation of pipes comprising two siphons that cross under Lichau Creek has been discovered, which if left unrepaired, poses imminent threat of damage to private property and essential public services, and may allow stormwater to enter the wastewater collections system, potentially overwhelming system capacity and resulting in sanitary sewer overflows.
This item also requests that the Board of Directors for Sonoma Water authorize the General Manager to execute contracts necessary to repair or replace the sections of pipeline and ratify emergency contracts entered into by the General Manager related to these issues.
Pursuant to authority delegated in Resolution No. 06-0649, the Sonoma County Water Agency’s General Manager has the authority to enter into contracts not-to-exceed $750,000 to respond to emergency conditions. The estimated cost of the work is $250,000 based on preliminary investigations, assessments, and an evaluation of available repair options.
Discussion:
On October 22, 2026, the General Manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency, pursuant to authority delegated in Resolution No. 06-0649, declared the existence of an emergency due to the discovery of four sections of inverted siphons within Penngrove Sanitation Zone’s Collection System.
The deficiencies were identified during inspections conducted as part of Sonoma Water’s proactive preparations for the anticipated 2026-2027 El Niño winter season. Staff continue to investigate and assess the pipe sections and are evaluating repair or replacement options, so the full extent of the emergency repair(s) needed is still being determined.
On or about October 13, 2026, at approximately 9:00 a.m., Sonoma Water Collections staff inspected the Penngrove Sanitation Zone inverted siphons in preparation for the upcoming wet season.
1. The initial closed-circuit television inspection identified heavy corrosion and several small to medium holes in a 6-inch diameter cast iron sewer pipe. The affected section of siphon was isolated.
2. Operations Engineering was notified, and staff began evaluating repair options.
3. Clear video could not be obtained on the other three siphons. As an alternative to closed-circuit television inspections, those siphons were pressure tested on October 15, 2026, and did not pass.
4. Staff explored completing the repairs through contractors on Sonoma Water’s existing blanket purchase order list. After discussing the anticipated timelines, staff could not obtain a firm commitment to complete the work within the timeframe needed.
5. An emergency was declared to stabilize the emergency conditions before creek levels rise and damage to private property and interruption of essential public services occur.
6. No active wastewater spill or significant inflow was observed during the inspections. As creek levels rise, water will enter the collection system through the compromised siphons, increasing the risk of wastewater overflows.
The degraded sections of pipe are located in four unique locations within the Penngrove Sanitation Zone Collection System, and all are located within the vicinity of Lichau Creek. The creek is subject to flooding during large storm events which would contribute to inflow and infiltration of the degraded pipes, introducing groundwater into the collection system. Repair of the four pipe sections should be completed as soon as possible to limit impacts to the system from storm events which would interrupt essential public services and potentially damage private property.
Based on the above, there is an urgent need to carry out immediate repairs to the sections of pipeline. The usual contracting process takes two to three months, starting from a minimum advertising period through bid assessment, awarding, and contract execution. This delay would prevent the timely implementation of necessary preventative measures to protect public health and safety and essential public services.
Public Contract Code Section 22050 authorizes Sonoma Water to enter into contracts for public projects as may be necessary to mitigate emergency conditions without giving notice for bids. Additionally, pursuant to Public Contract Code Section 22035, this emergency work may proceed without adopting plans or specifications. If approved, this item will be brought back to the Board every 14 days thereafter to determine by a 4/5th vote if there is a need to continue the action without competitive bidding. The Board is obligated to terminate the waiver of the bid process at the earliest possible date that conditions warrant so that the remainder of the work may be completed under the bid process.
The General Manager has determined that the emergency work is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because the emergency described above came about in a “sudden and unexpected manner” and poses an “imminent danger, demanding immediate action to prevent or mitigate” loss of life and property as those phrases are used in the definition of the word “emergency” contained in section 15359 of the California Administrative Code and as the word “emergency” is used in sections 21080(b)(2) and (b)(4) of the Public Resources Code; however, the General Manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency shall, to the extent they deem feasible in their sole discretion, take steps to mitigate any apparent and significant environmental impacts of the work authorized herein.
Finally, the General Manager of the Sonoma County Water Agency has emergency contracting authority pursuant to Resolution No. 06-0649. Staff recommend ratifying any contracts for the removal/stabilization of dangerous conditions, or related emergency issues described herein, entered into by the General Manager subsequent to the drafting of this report to the date of this Board action. The General Manager will report to the Board of Directors on actions related to the emergency declaration every 14 days until the repair has been made and the conditions are safe.
Prior Board Actions:
Fiscal Summary
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Expenditures |
FY 26-27 Adopted |
FY 27-28 Projected |
FY 28-29 Projected |
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Budgeted Expenses |
$250,000 |
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Additional Appropriation Requested |
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Total Expenditures |
$250,000 |
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Funding Sources |
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General Fund/WA GF |
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State/Federal |
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Fees/Other |
$250,000 |
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Use of Fund Balance |
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Contingencies |
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Total Sources |
$250,000 |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
FY 2026/2027 appropriations for the Penngrove Sanitation Zone Operations Fund may not be sufficient to cover total project cost. No additional appropriations are being requested at this time. If additional appropriations are required, Sonoma Water will return to the Board with an appropriations request after the preferred solution has been identified and project costs are better known.
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Staffing Impacts: |
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Position Title (Payroll Classification) |
Monthly Salary Range (A - I Step) |
Additions (number) |
Deletions (number) |
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
Resolution
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None