DATE: NOVEMBER 4, 2025
DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
FROM: DAVID JACOBS, PUBLIC WORKS DEPT. DIRECTOR
BY: ADRIANA ROBLES, CITY ENGINEER
TITLE: SEWER IMPROVEMENTS UPDATE
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
No motion required. Finance Committee to receive an update on the sanitary sewer improvements.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Lake St lift station along with sanitary sewer pipelines in Cesar Chavez Park, Upper Carr Lake and Northridge Mall were identified as priority projects for improvements as part of the Sanitary Sewer Master Plan Update and Sanitary Sewer Rate Study. Staff is working on RFPs for design of the pipelines and an RFQ for design-build of the lift station. Bonding will be required to move the projects forward.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Salinas owns and operates a municipal sanitary sewer system (“sewer system”) that services residents and businesses within its service area. The sanitary sewer system has a service area of approximately 12,430 acres, with over 280 miles of gravity sewer mains and eleven (11) lift stations that convey sewage flows to the Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, operated by Monterey One Water (“M1W”).
On May 2, 2023, through Resolution No. 22648, City Council adopted the Salinas Sanitary Sewer Master Plan Update. The SSMP identified existing hydraulic deficiencies, operation and maintenance repairs, and lift station upgrades required to keep the existing sanitary sewer system operational. Following a Proposition 218 process, City Council approved a sanitary sewer rate increase to address aging infrastructure and improvements on September 23, 2025, through Resolution No. 23332.
Lake Street Lift Station
Lake Street lift station, located on the corner of East Lake Street and East Rossi Street, was identified for a full replacement due to insufficient capacity and aging infrastructure. Lake Street Lift Station is a triplex lift station (3 pumps) with 30 hp pumps and conveys 1,900 gallons per minute (gpm) under average daily flows and 5,800 gpm, under peak flow conditions. This lift station receives flow from roughly 30% of the City, including much of the proposed Future Growth Area (FGA) for the Central and East Area Specific Plan areas.
The SSMP identifies that the Lake Street lift station has insufficient capacity for existing flow, insufficient capacity for future flow, and the existing condition limits operation and maintenance.
Under existing conditions, the current response time when a high-level alarm is triggered is 1 to 3 minutes. Under a lift station failure, a sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) will occur in a manhole in Carr Lake. In 2023, the City had a SSO in Carr Lake which resulted in significant clean up and cost to the City.
It is recommended to replace the existing lift station with a new lift station capable of meeting future flows. The location of the new lift station still needs to be determined. City staff is working with Wallace Group, the City’s sewer consultant, to issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to hire a team to complete the design and construction of the Lake Street Lift Station under a design-build contract. It is estimated that this project could be between $15 and $20 million, and possibly more depending on the siting of the new lift station. Wallace has prepared a preliminary schedule and estimates the design-build process to take approximately 2 years. The SOQ is estimated to be available for release in late November 2025.
Pipeline Improvements
The SSMP and Sanitary Sewer Rate Study (“Rate Study”) identified three pipeline projects as priority (Cesar Chavez Park, Upper Carr Lake and Northridge Mall). Cesar Chavez Park pipeline improvements are needed due to insufficient capacity for existing flows. Upsizing of this main will also support the progress of the planned subdivision at 11 Hill Circle. Upper Carr Lake pipeline improvements are required to try to prevent future overflows in Carr Lake. These improvements would also support proposed improvements along E Laurel Dr and Constitution Blvd. Northridge Mall pipeline was identified to have insufficient capacity for existing and future flow. Improvements for the Northridge Mall pipeline may impact FGA development in the West Area Specific Plan. These projects were estimated to cost approximately $15.4 million, with Cesar Chavez Park pipeline costing $11.7 million.
The SSMP included upsizing of the Abbott Street pipeline as required to support future development. This pipeline was not previously identified as a priority, but staff sees an opportunity to maximize funding by incorporating it into the proposed pavement improvement project. The 2024 5-year Pavement Preservation Street List lists Abbott St pavement improvements in year 2 and 5. As part of the budget process in June 2025, the City Council allocated $6.0 million for pavement improvements along Abbott St. Combining the pipeline upsizing and the pavement rehabilitation into a single project will be far more efficient and eliminate any duplicate repaving efforts required as part of trench restoration following a pipeline project.
Staff is preparing a Request for Proposal to request a design for the abovementioned pipeline improvements from our on-call civil consultants. Design for Abbott St will be pursued more aggressively to align with the anticipated bid date of the pavement project in February. The City anticipates construction on Abbott St and the first phase of Cesar Chavez Park or Upper Carr Lake pipeline improvements to begin in Summer 2026.
Funding
Consistent with the sewer rate financial model, the City will bond for the required funding of the lift station. Bonding may need to be expanded to include the proposed pipeline improvements until the revenue from the sewer rates aligns with the anticipated improvements.
STRATEGIC PLAN INITIATIVE:
Improvements to the sanitary sewer infrastructure helps support the City Council goals of Economic Development, Housing, Infrastructure and Public Service.
FISCAL AND SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT:
The Rate Study identified the first bond issuance in 2026-2027 of approximately $45 million to cover the proposed improvements. Bonds would be repaid through sewer rates.
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Lift Station. In sanitary sewer systems, lift stations pump sewage from lower elevations to higher elevations.
Appendix A, City of Salinas Sewer Rate Study, June 24, 2025
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