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, Alex Bodulow 707 521-1823
Vote Requirement: 4/5th
Supervisorial District(s): Second
Title:
Title
Receive Report and Make Findings to Continue Emergency Work to Stabilize Hazardous Conditions Resulting from Degradation within the Penngrove Sanitation Zone’s Collections System.
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Recommended Actions:
Recommended action
Receive Report and Make Findings to Continue Emergency Work to Stabilize Hazardous Conditions Resulting from Degradation within the Penngrove Sanitation Zone’s Collections System. (Second District) (4/5th Vote Required)
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Executive Summary:
This item requests that the Board of Directors of the Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) receive a report and make findings to continue emergency work to stabilize four sections of the Penngrove Sanitation Zone’s Collections System due to breaks in those sections of pipeline.
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.
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.
Progress to Date:
Sonoma Water staff contacted multiple contractors to discuss solutions to repair the cast iron sewer pipes. Fold-and-form PVC was selected as the repair technology, and Miksis Services Inc. was selected as the contractor to perform the repair.
Internal maintenance crews are performing vegetation removal along Sonoma Water’s existing easement to ensure the site can be accessed by the vehicles required to execute the fold-and-form PVC liner. Miksis Services Inc. is scheduled to start cleaning and inspection of the siphons the week of November 2, 2026.
Prior Board Actions:
10/27/2026 Resolution Making Findings of an Emergency Need to Perform Work to Stabilize Hazardous Conditions Resulting from Degradation within the Penngrove Sanitation Zone’s Collection System.
Fiscal Summary
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FY 28-29 Projected |
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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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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
None
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None