City of Malibu logoThe Malibu City Council will hold a presentation on Monday, February 26 during their regular meeting at city hall to discuss updated wastewater and recycled water rates for properties served by the City’s Civic Center Water Treatment Facility (CWTF) Phase One.

“The City of Malibu and its people have always defined themselves as innovators of environmental protections and programs,” said Mayor Steve Uhring. “Our new water treatment facility puts us ahead of the curve of smart, environmentally sound water management practices while combatting the realities of climate change and drought here in California.”

At the February 26 City Council meeting, the Council will also authorize the mailing of notices to the affected property owners, as required under California Proposition 218. Proposition 218, approved by voters in 1996, requires voter approval for all new local government taxes and property-owner approval for specific property-related fees and assessments.

The initial wastewater and recycled water service rates were adopted in 2017 and expired in 2021. Updated rates were approved in 2021 and are set to expire on June 30. The rates were calculated to ensure the sustainability and efficiency of the CCWTF, wastewater collection system, and the recycled water distribution system.  The rates also generate sufficient revenue to offset the operation, maintenance, and management costs of the CCWTF facilities.

Remote participation will be available via Zoom. The agenda and staff report, with viewing and commenting instructions, will be posted in advance of the February 26 meeting at www.MalibuCity.org/AgendaCenter.

A public hearing is tentatively scheduled for April 22 to establish wastewater and recycled water service rates for Fiscal Years 2024-25, 2025-26, 2026-27, and 2027-28.

For more information, see the recent presentation to the Public Works Commission: https://www.malibucity.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01242024-2220.

Project Background

The CCWTF was developed in response to regulatory actions by the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board and the State Water Resources Control Board prohibiting discharges from septic systems in the Civic Center area.

The $60 million facility completed in October 2018 uses innovate particle filtration, centrifuges, ultra-fine filtration membranes, bio-digestion, and UV light to purify and treat wastewater to produce Title 22 recycled water that can be used for landscape irrigation. At capacity, it can produce 200,000 gallons of recycled water per day, saving the Malibu community 70 million gallons of drinking water every year.

To learn more about the CCWTF, including photos and videos of the facility, visit www.MalibuCity.org/CCWTF.