Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County Revenue and Competitors

The Sanitation Districts protect public health and the environment through innovative and cost-effective wastewater and solid waste management, and in doing so convert waste into resources such as recycled water, energy and recycled materials. ORGANIZATION The Sanitation Districts function on a regional scale and consist of 23 independent special districts serving about 5.7 million people in Los Angeles County. The service area covers approximately 820 square miles and encompasses 78 cities and unincorporated territory within the county. GETTING THE JOB DONE The Sanitation Districts were formed in 1923 when a significant number of cities were forming and it was clear that managing wastewater on a regional scale made sense. The Districts were created to construct, operate, and "maintain facilities that collect, treat, recycle, and dispose of domestic and industrial wastewater." Individual districts operate and maintain their own portions of the collection system. Cities and unincorporated parts of the county are responsible for the collection of wastewater through local sewers and for the collection of solid waste. In the 1950s, it became apparent that solid waste management also needed a regional approach. At that time, the Districts were given the responsibility to provide for the management of collected solid waste, including disposal and transfer operations, and materials and energy recovery. To maximize efficiency and reduce costs, the 23 Districts work cooperatively under a Joint Administration Agreement with one administrative staff headquartered near the City of Whittier. Each Sanitation District has a Board of Directors consisting of the mayor of each city, and the Chair of the Board of Supervisors for unincorporated territory within the District. Each District pays its proportionate share of joint administrative costs. GOING THE DISTANCE Approximately 1,400 miles of main trunk sewers and 11 wastewater treatment plants convey and treat about half the wastewater in Los Angeles County. The Sanitation Districts' solid waste management sites similarly provide about one third of the countywide solid waste management needs. The Sanitation Districts operate three sanitary landfills, four landfill energy recovery facilities, two recycle centers, three materials recovery/transfer facilities, and participate in the operation of two refuse-to-energy facilities. BUDGET Overall, wastewater and solid waste management budgets for 2010-11 are $662 million and $260 million, respectively. Both systems provide their essential public services at some of the most competitive service charges in the country.