West Basin recycled-water sales beat budget in first year of Jacobs operations

West Basin recycled-water sales beat budget in first year of Jacobs operationsWest Basin Municipal Water District reported recycled-water sales of 3,374 acre-feet in August, 186 acre-feet above budget. The General Manager said sales over the 12 months since Jacobs assumed facility duties had reached 101% of the district’s budgeted recycled-water volume.

August recycled-water sales were 3,374 acre-feet, 570 acre-feet above the prior-year month and 186 acre-feet above budget.

The district’s fiscal-year-to-date recycled-water sales through August were 6,864 acre-feet, compared with a 6,365 acre-foot budget.

The General Manager said the preceding 12-month period achieved 101% of budgeted recycled-water sales, which he described as the first such performance he could recall.

West Basin plans to present an annual amendment to its five-year Jacobs operations agreement to the Engineering & Operations Committee, potentially next month.

West Basin Municipal Water District has exceeded its budgeted recycled-water sales over the 12 months since its new contract operator, Jacobs, took responsibility for the district’s treatment facilities, the General Manager told the Finance & Administration Committee on 22 September. The district sold 3,374 acre-feet of recycled water in August, 186 acre-feet above budget and 570 acre-feet above the corresponding month of the previous fiscal year. Sales comprised 960 acre-feet of barrier water, 1,940 acre-feet supplied to refineries and 474 acre-feet of disinfected tertiary water. For the first two months of fiscal 2026-27, recycled-water sales totalled 6,864 acre-feet, against a budget of 6,365 acre-feet. Barrier sales were 2,099 acre-feet, refinery sales 3,763 acre-feet and disinfected tertiary sales 1,002 acre-feet. The General Manager said the district had reached 101% of budgeted recycled-water sales across the 12 months after Jacobs took over facility duties on 1 September. “That’s the first time we’ve, that I can recall, ever exceeding our budgeted amount for any 12-month period,” he said. He credited West Basin engineering and operations staff and Jacobs, referring to improved production, water quality delivered and customer satisfaction. The operations agreement has a five-year term, with options to extend it. West Basin staff are now developing the annual amendment to the agreement. The General Manager said the process had identified elements of the contract that were working and others that could be improved. Staff expect to bring the amendment, alongside an update on contract performance, to the Engineering & Operations Committee, potentially in October. The committee chair also requested a fuller update to the board in the new year. The sales report was received as an information item rather than requiring committee action.