STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
December 9, 2025
BUSINESS
26 SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF THE 2025 WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt the 2025 Wastewater Master Plan; and
2. Find that adoption of the 2025 Wastewater Master Plan is a government activity that will not result in a direct or indirect physical change in the environment and therefore does not constitute a “Project” under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) and 15060(c)(3). Individual projects identified in the Plan will undergo separate CEQA review.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
This report presents the 2025 Wastewater Master Plan (WMP) and recommends its adoption by the City Council. The plan provides a comprehensive evaluation of the City’s wastewater system, and establishes a long-term strategy for maintaining regulatory compliance, reliability, and capacity. The WMP supports compliance with the Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements (Order 2022-0103-DWQ) by documenting a planning-level assessment that will guide updates to the City’s Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP). It also forms the technical basis for future wastewater capital improvement planning and the ongoing Sewer Rate Study, to be presented to the City Council in 2026 for consideration.
DISCUSSION
On August 13, 2024, the City Council awarded a professional services agreement to Dudek to prepare the 2025 WMP. The WMP builds on the 2002 and 2009 Sewer System Strategic Plans and reflects over $60 million in wastewater system investments completed since 2002. These investments include major lift station improvements at Main Beach and Victoria I, citywide sewer pipeline lining, comprehensive CCTV inspection and reporting, and various generator replacement and rehabilitation projects to improve overall system reliability.
A progress update was presented at the City Council study session on August 12, 2025. Since that time, Dudek has finalized the hydraulic modeling, completed remaining field condition assessments, and capital project prioritization for all major components of the wastewater system, including 18.7 miles of pipelines, 400 manholes, 26 lift stations, and 25 stormwater diversion structures.
Summary of Findings
Hydraulic Capacity – Flow monitoring and hydraulic modeling confirmed sufficient system capacity under existing and projected (buildout) dry- and wet-weather flow conditions. No capacity issues were observed in the portion of the collection system modeled for the WMP. Based on the capacity stress test and sewer spill analysis performed, installation of five smart manhole covers is recommended at key locations (three along Coast Highway, one on Third Street, and one on High Drive) to monitor flows during peak wetweather conditions and to reduce spill risk.
ADOPTION OF THE 2025 WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN
December 9, 2025
Pipelines – Recommended rehabilitation includes cured-in-place lining, open trench replacement, and excavation point repairs including improvements for North Coast Interceptor Reaches 1–4. Quantities of each rehabilitation/repair method recommended are summarized below.
Rehabilitation Description Number of Segments Quantity (LF or EA) CIPP Lining, 6”, 8”, or 10” Pipe 87 16,581 LF
CIPP Lining, 15” or 18” Pipe 9 2,235 LF
Excavation Point Repair, 6”, 8”, or 10” Pipe 41 EA
Excavation Point Repair and Lining, 8” Pipe 2 258 LF
Replacement, 8” or 10” Pipe 24 4,667 LF
Cut Liner Obstructing Lateral 1 94 LF
Heavy Clean 3 978 LF
Manholes – Rehabilitation recommended through geopolymer mortar, cured-in-place manhole liners, or a combination of both. Quantities of each rehabilitation/repair method recommended are summarized below.
Rehabilitation Description Number of Manholes
Mortar Repair and CIPM Liner 16
CIPM Manhole Liner 13
Mortar Repair with Geopolymer Mortar 137
Lift Stations – All 26 lift stations were inspected; three are recommended for full replacements and the remaining 23 lift stations will include rehabilitation.
Stormwater Diversion Structures – All 25 structures are generally in good condition; minor maintenance will be handled through operations, and no capital projects are recommended for inclusion.
Systemwide Data & GIS Updates – Complete remaining manhole surveys, full system hydraulic model, additional manhole condition scans, and force main GIS updates.
The WMP identifies system needs and recommends capital improvements to address deficiencies, improve reliability, and ensure long-term performance of the City’s wastewater system. Estimated costs are summarized below.
Estimated Costs
The WMP identifies a need for approximately $109.6 million in system-wide capital improvements. This amount includes future cost escalation, using ENR Construction Cost Index and a 4% annual construction inflation rate applied to each project timeframe. The planned timeframes are Near-Term (0 – 5 years), MidTerm (5-15 years), and Long-Term (15+ years). Projects are prioritized based on condition, capacity, and risk to ensure the most critical needs are addressed and to guide phased reinvestment in the wastewater system.
ADOPTION OF THE 2025 WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN
December 9, 2025
Component Project Estimated Cost
Hydraulic Capacity Smart Manhole Installation and Maintenance $85,000 Pipelines Level 1 Priority Pipeline Rehabilitation
Complete Pipe Replacement
Excavation Point Repairs
Excavation Point Repairs and Full CIPP Lining
CIPP Lining
NCI Reach 1 – Reach 4
$2,547,000
$5,482,000
$5,791,000
$490,000
$12,257,000
$31,878,000
Manholes Mortar Repair and CIPM Lining
CIPM Lining
Mortar Repair
$1,215,000
$991,000
$6,970,000
Lift Stations McKnight Lift Station Reconstruction1
Brooks Street Lift Station Reconstruction1
Thousand Steps Lift Station Reconstruction1
Targeted Rehabilitation for all other lift stations
$2,032,000
$1,172,000
$281,000
$34,086,000
Stormwater
Diversion Structures
Existing timeframe (0-5 years)
Near-Term timeframe (5-15 years)
$652,000
$711,000
Systemwide Data &
GIS Updates
Complete System Manhole Survey (2,610 manholes)
Complete System Manhole Scan (2,510 manholes)
Full System Model Update
Force Main GIS Update
$1,316,000
$236,000
$1,165,000
$212,000
Near-Term timeframe (0-5 years)
Mid-Term timeframe (5-15 years)
Long-Term timeframe (15+ years)
Total Estimated Cost
$39,798,000
$60,077,000
$9,694,000
$109,569,000
1Lift station full replacement.
The following major wastewater projects are currently budgeted and already underway:
• Construction for the replacement of the Anita Street Sewer Lift Station with completion anticipated in December 2026.
• Construction for the rehabilitation of the Old Top of the World Sewer Lift Station – Phase 1 with completion anticipated in March 2026.
• Design for the replacement of the Bluebird Canyon Sewer Lift Station with construction anticipated to begin in September 2026.
ADOPTION OF THE 2025 WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN
December 9, 2025
• Design for the rehabilitation of the Victoria II Sewer Lift Station with construction anticipated to begin in September 2026.
• Design and Permitting for the NCI Reach 5 Replacement with construction anticipated to begin in late 2026 or early 2027.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with the adoption of the 2025 Wastewater Master Plan.
However, the Plan identifies approximately $109.6 million in recommended capital improvements to be phased over multiple years. These improvements will inform the ongoing Sewer Rate Study and future budget planning processes. Individual projects will return to the City Council for funding approval as part of the Capital Improvement Program and annual budget cycles.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The adoption of the 2025 Wastewater Master Plan is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3.
Adoption of the WMP does not authorize construction or result in any physical environmental changes.
Individual projects identified in the plan will undergo separate CEQA review at the appropriate stage of development.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2025 Wastewater Master Plan with Appendices
https://www.lagunabeachcity.net/home/showdocument?id=24206&t=639005453956024838 Submitted By: Mark McAvoy Approved: .David A Kiff
Mark McAvoy, Director of Public
Works & Utilities Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Ulises Escalona, Senior Project Manager Thomas Perez, City Engineer Pierre Sawaya, Capital Program Manager