SURFACE WATER
DISCHARGE PROJECT
City Council Regular Meeting
June 10, 2024 - Item 2.4
B A C K G R O U N D
Wastewater from the City of Lathrop is treated at two
separate facilities:
1. City of Lathrop’s Consolidated Treatment Facility (CTF)
2. City of Manteca’s Water Quality Control Facility
Treated wastewater from the Manteca WQCF is primarily
discharged to the San Joaquin River.
Treated wastewater from the Lathrop CTF was previously
discharged to land via ponds and spray fields.
• Inefficient and costly to operate
• Significant long term maintenance costs
• Large foot print, estimated build out would require 1,500 acres valued near $200 Million
Historically wastewater treatment and disposal has been expensive and a barrier for development.
The Surface Water Discharge Project is one of the most significant utility projects undertaken by the City to date. The Project established a direct discharge of highly treated recycled water from the CTF to the San Joaquin River.
P R O J E C T D E S C R I P T I O N
River Outfall Structure CTF Modifications
• Dechlorination Facility
• Cooling Ponds
• Pump Station
Pipeline
• Repurposed
• New
T I M E L I N E
14 consultants from
various disciplines
Evaluation of alternative
designs and repurposing
of existing infrastructure
Engineering
Jan 2021
Lathrop staff initiated
discussions with the
Central Valley Regional
Water Quality Control
Board (Central Valley
Water Board)
Regionalization,
Reclamation, Recycling
Report (2019)
Project Starts
Apr 2017
Environmental Impact
Report (EIR)
• 800 pages
• 2 Years to complete
• Public engagement
City Council approved
Final EIR (March 2021)
Environmental
Oct 2020
Central Valley Water Board
approved Lathrop’s
National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) Permit
11 permitting agencies in
total (Local, State &
Federal)
Permitting
Feb 2022
• CTF modifications
• 1.5 miles of pipeline
• Railroad crossing
• Freeway crossing
• Levee and River work
Council accepts
improvements (June 2023)
Construction
2022-2023
T H E T E A M
Public Agencies
Central Valley Water Board
• Patrick Pulupa
City of Lathrop Staff
• Engineering
• Construction
• Utility Operations
• ISD
Consultants
RBI
PACE
Ascent
KPFF
Buchalter
TRC
EKI
MBK
KSN
Pacific Pipeline
Monk & Associates
Woodard & Curran
Engeo
Primex
FGL
Development
River Islands Development
Saybrook (Central Lathrop)
Richland Communities
Contractors
Teichert
• Pipeline
• River Outfall Structure
Cushman
• CTF Modifications
P R O J E C T B E N E F I T S
Ratepayers Land Use City Buildout Environmental
Sewer rates are directly tied to the
cost of operating and maintaining
the sewer system.
The Project allows for a more
efficient operation, avoids long
term maintenance costs.
Additional development will reduce
long term sewer costs through
economies of scale.
Cost to purchase wastewater
treatment is more affordable.
Land tied up as ponds and
application sites will be converted
into developed area.
Provide for planned City buildout
and development based on the
City’s General Plan.
Without the project, land slated for
development would have been tied
up as ponds and land application
sites.
Maximize use of recycled water in
the City presently and in the
future.
During the warmer summer
months, recycled water is used in
parks and streetscapes. During
the cooler non irrigation season,
recycled water is sent to the river.
R I V E R O U T F A L L P I C T U R E S
C T F P I C T U R E S