Director Reddy Pakala, Water and Sanitation Department, led a tour of the new $14.5 million Piru Wastewater Treatment Plant, Saturday, June 19, 2010. The day included a ribbon cutting with County Supervisor Kathy Long doing the honors. Remarks were made by Janet Bergamo, President, Piru Neighborhood Council. The Project Team included Pakala, Project Manager Eric Keller, Project Inspector Steve Jackson, Design-Build Team, Tetra Tech, and Pascal & Ludwig Constructors.

The Ventura County Waterworks District No. 16 was formed on May 8, 1972. The Ventura County Board of Supervisors is the governing body of the District.

The district provides sanitation services to the community of Piru. It also provides potable water service to properties along Pacific Avenue.

The original wastewater treatment plant was built in 1974. Up until March 2010, the District owned and managed this secondary wastewater treatment plant with a design capacity of 0.26 million gallons per day. The plant was operated and maintained by the Ventura Regional Sanitation district.

The California Regional Water Quality Control Board, Los Angeles Region, issued a Time Schedule Order which stipulated that construction and start-up of a new wastewater treatment plant be completed by February 28, 2010.
In order to comply with the Regional Board permit requirements, the District recommended that a Design-Build approach be pursued. The Ventura County Board of Supevbisors approved the Design-Build project – a first in the County’s history. This approach enabled the district to complete the project on time and save thousand of dollars for the residents of the community.

The new Piru Wastewater Treatment plant was put into operation in February with a capacity to treat up to 0.5 MGD of wastewater.

Funding for construction of the new wastewater treatment plant was obtained by the Ventura County Public Works Agency water and Sanitation Department through a Federal Grant of $8.55 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (aka the Economic Stimulus Bill) and approximately $6 million from a State loan through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.

The Department Director and County Supervisor lobbied the State of California to provide loans for disadvantaged communities at 1% for 30 years. Loans are to be repaid from the customer sewer charges.