South Coast Water District secures five-year extensions for Dana Point runoff diversion agreements

South Coast Water District secures five-year extensions for Dana Point runoff diversion agreementsThe California utility has renewed its pacts to divert dry-weather nuisance flows and Salt Creek treatment backwash into its wastewater systems, stabilizing local stormwater management through mid-2031.

The board unanimously approved the Second Amendment to the Dana Point Diversion Agreement, extending the routing of dry-weather runoff to the J.B. Latham Wastewater Treatment Plant.

A parallel five-year extension was granted for the Salt Creek Diversion Agreement, which directs backwash flows from a city-owned storm drain treatment facility into the district's sewer system.

Both agreements were set to expire in mid-April 2026 and are now secured through April 2031.

The South Coast Water District (SCWD) Board of Directors unanimously approved two five-year agreement extensions with the City of Dana Point on April 9, 2026, ensuring the continued diversion and treatment of municipal runoff and storm drain backwash. The first approval, marking the Second Amendment to the Dana Point Diversion Agreement, authorizes the continuous year-round diversion of dry-weather nuisance runoff into the SCWD's J.B. Latham Wastewater Treatment Plant. The previous five-year agreement was set to expire on April 15, 2026. The newly approved extension secures the diversion framework through April 15, 2031. In a parallel move, the board approved the Fourth Amendment to the Salt Creek Diversion Agreement. This contract allows the City of Dana Point to divert backwash flows from its Salt Creek storm drain treatment facility—which SCWD operates under contract—into the district's broader sewer system. This agreement was similarly extended for a five-year term, expiring on April 14, 2031, with all other operational terms remaining unchanged. The district's General Manager noted during the meeting that the renewals act as necessary administrative measures to maintain uninterrupted environmental management of the city's nuisance water. Both items passed without opposition. Alongside the diversion agreements, the board received a strategic plan update highlighting broader district initiatives. Key operational focuses include ongoing partnership negotiations for the Doheny Ocean Desalination Project, which is expected to produce water with salinity levels between 300 and 350 parts per million. The district is also actively recruiting an asset management program manager and has initiated a likelihood and consequence of failure analysis to guide future infrastructure replacements at the Joint Regional System.