In the Manager’s Report, staff outline several WRRF optimization concepts they are beginning to evaluate: adding battery energy storage to leverage daytime solar and reduce nighttime PG&E purchases, implementing sludge drying to cut rising disposal costs at Cold Canyon Landfill (approaching $50,000 per year), expanding the equalization basin to increase wet‑weather storage capacity, and installing additional membrane filters in each treatment tank if the existing pumps and blowers can support them. These ideas are at the early evaluation stage, with staff planning to work with EVOQUA on membrane feasibility and to update the Board periodically, and viable projects may be folded into the District’s five‑year Capital Improvement Plan. This is a clear pre‑RFP signal for vendors in energy storage, dewatering/sludge drying, process engineering, tank and basin design, and membrane treatment to help quantify technical and financial benefits, develop conceptual designs, and prepare business cases for inclusion in the upcoming CIP and rate study.

Drivers include high nighttime power costs despite REC solar, escalating sludge disposal fees, and d...