Planning and Growth Committee
Part 3

III. SEWER TREATMENT SYSTEM

OBSERVATIONS, FINDINGS, AND CONCLUSIONS

The single most important constraint to further development of new residential units in the City of Hollister is the limited capacity of the domestic wastewater treatment plant. It has been operating at near capacity and has been plagued with various problems. Lack of planning by city officials appears to have contributed to the current sewer crisis. All the past excuses of why the city could not take action to resolve the current crisis are neither valid nor acceptable. Other communities have experienced problems similar to Hollister's and have solved them. These communities have information that can be helpful and could save valuable time. 

For example, sixteen years ago, the City of Gilroy faced problems comparable to those presently experienced by the City of Hollister. Gilroy, too, had its "back against the wall;" the sewerage system was at capacity, there was a lack of revenue to solve the problem, and a moratorium on building had been instituted.

The Grand Jury visited the City of Gilroy to find out how it solved its sewerage and wastewater problems. The Grand Jury interviewed Norman Allen, Community Development Director for the City of Gilroy and Rick Smelser, City of Gilroy Engineer, at the beginning of the year. At that interview, the Grand Jury asked what steps the City of Gilroy took to resolve its sewer problem. It was informed by Mr. Allen that it took a great deal of planning, time, and money. He also stated that there was no "quick fix" solution, but a complex ongoing process.

The City of Gilroy chose to build a new 7.5 M.G.D. (million gallons per day) treatment plant rather than update its old plant. This provided for future growth. The City of Hollister plant has remained at 2.69 M.G.D. since 1987 and has projected the treatment capacity to be needed through 2010 to be 3.8 M.G.D. Approval, design and construction of Gilroy's treatment plant took approximately 11 years with a total cost of about 75 million dollars, a ratio of about 10 million dollars per 1.0 M.G.D. Gilroy started by hiring a consultant, Montgomery-Watson of Walnut Creek, to help with design and cost estimates.

New ways of funding Gilroy's new treatment plant had to be found. Impact fees for new developments were increased but were not sufficient. Residential rates had to rise and industrial waste rates had to be recalculated. Impact fees and rates were gradually increased over a period of ten years. This began during the planning and design phase, and well before rate payers and taxpayers had the benefit of the new plant. The increased portion of the fees was earmarked for sewer plant development and construction. That meant less money would have to be borrowed up front and less interest paid back, helping to hold future rates down.

Instead of the usual five (5) and ten (10) year plans; thirty (30), forty (40), and longer-term plans were implemented. The idea that "once something gets into the sewer system, it can't be separated and must be treated," was introduced. This meant that leaks from storm drains into the sewer system were found and plugged. Industrial air conditioning condensation lines were diverted to storm drains rather than the sewer. A citywide program to keep infiltration and contamination of the sewer system down to a minimum was put into place. The City of Gilroy removed its moratorium on building, but continued a very strict building permit allocation on single family residential permits until a long-term working growth and development plan was in place. 

The next problem to be resolved was what to do with treated sewer pond water. The City of Gilroy, after losing time and a great deal of money on a high-tech aerated pond system that didn't work, found that when it comes to sewer ponds low-tech solutions are less expensive and more forgiving. They have since gone back to a percolation pond system, as is used in Hollister.

A common problem with treatment (percolation) ponds is the salt content in the pond water that makes it unsuitable for irrigation. There are ways of overcoming this problem. Controlling what gets into the system in the first place is of primary importance. Blending, which is the method of mixing different quality waters to dilute salt content, is used. Additional treatment processes to remove salt from pond water may also be added at the end, but these are the most expensive options. Depending on the amount of salt in our water, one or all of these methods may need to be used. Although salt removal can be very expensive, it must be dealt with.

In Gilroy, during the dry season when water demands may be up, the treated pond water is used for irrigation in areas such as Eagle Ridge Golf and Country Club and grazing lands. The idea is not to make money on the water but merely to dispose of it. By doing this, ponds are completely dry during the summer to allow for pond maintenance. If maintenance is left undone it will destroy the percolation properties of the pond and will leave them useless. Every summer is used to prepare for the next winter.

The information provided by Gilroy building officials does not cover all information that is needed or is available for the construction and operation of a new sewer treatment plant in Hollister. However, the Grand Jury, in the space of a few hours, acquired information, which can be utilized in solving the problems in this area. 

San Benito County and the City of Hollister also face groundwater quality and high groundwater table problems, which have a direct impact on the sewer treatment system. The increased use of San Felipe water and the decrease in use of local wells contributes to both City and County problems. Cooperation between city and county agencies is imperative. The problems we face resulting from growth and development, such as groundwater, effect us all and have no regard for city or county boundaries. There is a need to improve the quality of our groundwater and find a balance between San Felipe water and well water. Perhaps even exporting groundwater to neighboring counties, such as Santa Cruz or Monterey, which needs water for its salt-water intrusion problem. This would control groundwater tables and help pond percolation.

AFFECTED AGENCIES

Hollister City Council
Hollister City Manager
Hollister City Planning Commission
Hollister City Public Works Director

RESPONSE REQUIRED

California Penal Code, §923, requires that a response to this final report and its recommendations must be delivered to the presiding judge of the Superior Court within 90 days of receipt of this report.