Project Highlights:
- Threatened litigation
- Wastewater brine line discharge issues concerning flow, TSS and COD
- Multiple rate alternatives were developed and presented
- Consensus was reached with a large group of stakeholders with varying interests
- A fair solution was achieved for all parties thereby avoiding the need for litigation
- The industrial group saved millions of dollars and in avoided capital and O&M costs
EEC Environmental (EEC) was the sole consultant representing nine industries in the Inland Empire that were facing a massive wastewater rate increase involving the Non-Reclaimable Waste System (NRWS) brine line that leads to Los Angeles County Sanitation District (LACSD). In an effort to avoid costly litigation, EEC worked closely with the industries and an attorney to host workshops and propose alternative funding sources to Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) to reduce the rate increase to a reasonable level.
EEC evaluated flow, total suspended solids (TSS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) data from all the industries and the historic IEUA and LACSD data to develop options for recovering capital and operation and maintenance (O&M) costs through gradually increasing rates over the next 30 years. The consensus was reached on a fair alternative and all the stakeholders were satisfied that a resolution was reached without the need for litigation.