In March 2008, the Sanitation Districts conducted a series of public workshops in Carson, Wilmington, Rancho Palos Verdes, and San Pedro, to solicit community input.After a brief presentation on the Clearwater Program, the workshop attendees broke into work groups to develop a list of questions and issues regarding the program.This input was summarized by each work group at the end of the workshop and provided to the Sanitation Districts.

The Sanitation Districts consider community input as an essential part of the Clearwater Program.We welcome your comments and suggestions.Click here to access a form similar to those used at the public workshops and to provide us with your input.

This 2011 update is intended to provide you with more recent information on the Clearwater Program.

Purpose of the New Plan
Projected Flows Versus Treatment Capacity
The Joint Outfall System
Tunnel/Outfall Study Area
Identified Potential Tunnel Alignments
Identified Potential Shaft Site Locations
Planning Schedule

Purpose of the New Plan The overall goal of the Clearwater Program is to ensure adequate JOS wastewater system capacity and reliability through the year 2050.The specific objectives are as follows: Provide adequate system capacity to meet the needs of the growing population Provide for overall system reliability by allowing for the inspection, maintenance, repair, and replacement of aging infrastructure Provide support for emerging recycled water reuse and biosolids beneficial use opportunities Provide a long-term solution for meeting water quality requirements set forth by regulatory agencies		Click to enlarge
Projected Flows Versus Treatment Capacity The Southern California Association of Governments projects that the population in the Joint Outfall System service area will increase from 5.1 to 6.3 million people over the next 40 years – an increase of 1.2 million residents. This projected population increase will lead to an increase in flows to the Sanitation Districts’ Wastewater Treatment Plants. The treatment plants are expected to reach maximum capacity between 2040 and 2050 – even after adjustments are made for water conservation. By the year 2050, flows to the treatment plants will exceed capacity.		Click to enlarge
The Joint Outfall System The Joint Outfall System (JOS) – the subject of the Clearwater Program – is served by the Joint Water Pollution Control Plant (JWPCP) in the City of Carson and six upstream Water Reclamation Plants (WRPs). There are several potential ways of managing future wastewater flows: Expanding the JWPCP Expanding one or more of the upstream WRP Constructing a new WRP. A combination of expansion of the JWPCP and upstream WRPs is also a possibility. All of these alternatives have been carefully examined in the Clearwater Program.
Tunnel/Outfall Study Area The possible construction of a new tunnel and ocean outfall is another major component of the Clearwater Program. A new tunnel and ocean outfall may be necessary to ensure a safe and reliable wastewater management system that is protective of public health for future decades. Such a tunnel and ocean outfall would be constructed within the yellow-shaded study area (shown on right). This study area was established to maintain sufficient distance from the City of Los Angeles’ Hyperion Outfall, to the northwest, and the Orange County outfall, to the southeast. The Sanitation Districts’ existing 53- and 74-year old tunnels and ocean outfalls (depicted in black) lie within the western edge of the study area. Shown along the eastern edge is the city of Los Angeles’ Terminal Island Treatment Plant outfall (which discharges directly into Los Angeles Harbor). Identified Potential Tunnel Alignments From the study area, potential tunnel alignments (shown on right) were identified that meet the minimum engineering screening criteria: Maximize use of public rights-of-ways (public streets). Minimize distance between the JWPCP and the coast. Avoid sharp turns due to the limited turning radius of the tunnel boring machines.		Click to enlarge
The identified potential tunnel alignments (on-shore) are depicted in orange. Each alignment is approximately six to seven miles in length. The tunnel will be constructed deep below the ground, so there should be virtually no impacts at the surface, except at shaft site locations. From these potential tunnel alignments, not all alignments will become proposals or recommendations because they will have varying levels of feasibility and public acceptance. Identified Potential Shaft Site Locations Should a new tunnel and outfall be identified as necessary to safely and reliably manage wastewater into the future, shafts will be constructed in order to lower equipment and personnel, and to remove excavated soil. Other shaft sites may be required for ventilation and emergency access. Most of the construction impacts would occur at the construction shaft site locations. The minimum screening criteria for shaft site locations are:At least 4-8 acres in size. A regular shape (square or rectangle, not overly narrow or irregularly shaped). Relatively flat. Close to a potential tunnel alignment. Preferably close to the coast, approximately mid-point of the tunnel. One construction shaft site will be located at the JWPCP, where the TBM would be lowered to start tunneling. Potential locations for a second construction shaft site are marked with yellow dots. Potential shaft sites meeting the criteria listed above and necessary to construct and access the feasible tunnel alignments will undergo a comprehensive series of environmental assessments. Four Feasible Alignments Four alignments (shown on right) were identified as feasible and will undergo a comprehensive series of environmental assessments and geotechnical studies. From these four feasible alignments, one alignment will be the recommended project.It will represent a balance between technical, economical, environmental, and social considerations.		Click to enlarge
As in the case of the tunnel alignments, all sites meeting the minimum criteria are being considered at this time, and the work has not progressed to the point where recommendations are being made. One construction shaft site will be located at the JWPCP. Potential shaft site locations for a second construction shaft are marked with yellow dots. The potential shaft sites shown meet the criteria listed above. Environmental impacts have yet to be assessed. Shaft site locations will undergo comprehensive examination and study during the coming year.		Click to enlarge
Planning Schedule The Clearwater Program’s planning phase spans several years and includes continuing public outreach in order to gain as much community input as possible. Public outreach started early in 2007 and will continue throughout the project’s duration. The Clearwater website was established and is regularly updated to reflect the latest status of the Clearwater Program. Over 330 individual and group presentations have been held with community leaders and organizations. A Clearwater video and periodic newsletters have been produced and distributed to the public. A Clearwater video and periodic newsletters have been produced and distributed to public. Four public workshops were conducted in March 2008. The Sanitation Districts released a Notice of Preparation/Notice of Intent (NOP/NOI), in compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and the National Environmental Policy Act in October 2008. This was the initial step to begin preparation of Environmental Impact Reports and Environmental Impact Statements (EIR/EIS). A public comment period and scoping meetings were conducted as part of the NOP/NOI process. A Draft Master Facilities Plan and Draft EIR/EIS will be prepared, incorporating comments received from the public. These documents should be completed by February 2012. The Draft Master Facilities Plan and Draft EIR/EIS will be subject to a public comment period, including a public hearing, before the documents are finalized. The Draft Master Facilities Plan will recommend projects that will provide vital public infrastructure to manage the wastewater management and water reuse needs of the Joint Outfall System. It is anticipated that the Final Clearwater Program Master Facilities Plan and Final EIR/EIS will be presented for approval and certification at a public hearing in mid-2012. If a new tunnel and ocean outfall are approved as part of the program, final design would take approximately three years and construction approximately five to eight years.		Click to enlarge