West County Wastewater readies 'Clean and Green' biosolids operations with $2m Richmond sludge pact

West County Wastewater readies 'Clean and Green' biosolids operations with $2m Richmond sludge pactThe California district is expanding its maintenance workforce to handle advanced solids processing, capitalising on a fee-for-service agreement to treat neighboring Richmond's sludge instead of using open-air lagoons.

The Finance & Administration Committee approved adding a maintenance technician at a fully loaded cost of $168,000 to operate new biosolids handling systems.

The equipment is part of the district's Clean and Green energy and infrastructure upgrade project, which is shifting from construction to operations.

Under a fee-for-service arrangement, the City of Richmond will pay $2 million annually for the district to process its sludge into Class A biosolids.

The district noted that while Class A biosolids could eventually generate revenue, current concerns around PFAS mean byproduct sales are not immediately expected.

West County Wastewater District (WCW) in California is preparing to bring its major "Clean and Green" infrastructure project online, prompting the district to expand its operational workforce to manage new advanced biosolids handling systems. During a September 10 Finance & Administration Committee meeting, staff requested the addition of a new maintenance technician to handle the increased workload. The position, which carries a fully loaded cost of $168,000, is necessary to operate and maintain the upgraded plant equipment at a higher standard of preventative maintenance. The staffing addition is financially supported by a recent rate increase and a lucrative fee-for-service agreement with the neighboring City of Richmond. According to the General Manager, Richmond will pay WCW $2 million per year to process its sludge through the new Clean and Green systems. Previously, Richmond sent its sludge to open-air drying lagoons leased from WCW, which produced Class B biosolids. The new processing system will instead generate Class A biosolids. "The priority is clearly to transition this from a project to ongoing operations and to maintain it appropriately," the General Manager noted, adding that the $2 million annual revenue covers capitalisation, operations, maintenance, and chemical costs associated with treating the Richmond sludge. While the new equipment requires more intensive preventative maintenance, the district initially anticipated a reduction in overall maintenance needs when it contracted for the project five years ago, as older, failing equipment was replaced. However, the complexity of the new solids handling and cogeneration systems necessitated the additional dedicated headcount. The committee unanimously recommended the staffing addition to the full board of directors. Staff also noted that while the new Class A biosolids could potentially become a revenue source in the future, current market concerns regarding PFAS mean the district is not projecting immediate byproduct sales.