DATE: 06/03/2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
Honorable President and Board Members
FROM: Utilities Department
2026-210
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL AND
CORONA UTILITY AUTHORITY ACTION
SUBJECT:
WESTERN RIVERSIDE COUNTY REGIONAL WASTEWATER AUTHORITY FY 2027 BUDGET
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to ratify the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 budget. Corona’s FY 2027 obligation is $6,809,352, which was included in the City’s FY 2027 Sewer operating budget.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council ratify the proposed Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority Fiscal Year 2027 budget.
That the Corona Utility Authority review, ratify, and to the extent necessary, direct the City Council to take the above actions.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority (WRCRWA) was formed to provide a cost-effective regional water reclamation treatment system for the benefit of its member agencies. The City of Corona is a member of WRCRWA along with the City of Norco, Jurupa Community Services District, Home Gardens Sanitary District, and Western Municipal Water District.
On July 18, 2012, the City Council and the Corona Utility Authority approved the Project and Capacity Agreement for the expansion of the treatment facility from eight million gallons per day to fourteen million gallons per day to meet the operational capacity required by Corona and other member agencies. The WRCRWA treatment plant expansion was completed in FY 2018 and, according to Addendum No. 6 to the Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement creating the Western Riverside County Regional Wastewater Authority (City of Corona Membership), the City of Corona now pays its fair share responsibility of administrative, operating and capital improvement projects cost of the plant. The City’s original allotted treatment capacity was 2.37 million gallons per day, but a transfer agreement with Home Gardens Sanitary District approved by City Council on April 17, 2019, increased that capacity to 2.62 million gallons per day. Additionally, the City owns 2.62 million gallons per day of capacity in the sewer conveyance system.
ANALYSIS:
The WRCRWA FY 2027 proposed budget was approved by the WRCRWA Board of Directors on April 16, 2026. The approved budget requires ratification by each member agency’s governing body. Corona’s FY 2027 obligation is outlined in the following table.
Staff has reviewed the budget documents and recommends City Council approve the item.
Expenditure Category Amount Fund Name
Operations:
Treatment System $1,720,312 Sewer Fund 572
Conveyance System $111,089 Sewer Fund 572
General & Administration $358,727 Sewer Fund 572
Debt Service:
SRF Loan Payment $1,903,189 Sewer Capacity Fund 440
Capital:
Non-Replacement Capital $2,358,018 Sewer Fund 572
Asset Replacement Reserve $358,017 Sewer Fund 572
Total Member Contribution $6,809,352
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funding for the recommended action was included in the Proposed FY 2027 Utilities Department’s operating budget within the Sewer Utility Fund 572.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the common-sense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This action is to receive and file the staff’s presentation. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: ALEX CHOU, BUSINESS SUPERVISOR
REVIEWED BY: TOM MOODY, UTILITIES DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENT:
1. Exhibit 1 – WRCRWA Fiscal Year 2027 Budget