J.B. Latham Treatment Plant's Facility Planning Assessment (FPA) Award to HDR Inc.

At its December 11, 2025, SOCWA Board of Directors meeting, Project Committee 2 (PC-2) approved a professional services agreement with HDR, to prepare the JBL Facility Planning Assessment.

The JBL Facility Planning Assessment (FPA) is intended to be a forward-looking framework for facility modernization and long-term reliability. Key goals include completing a 30-year capacity utilization and peaking analysis, conducting high-level process-by-process evaluations of existing assets, and identifying opportunities for capacity right-sizing. The effort will also assess facility resiliency and reliability under varying flow and loading conditions, regulatory uncertainty, flooding risks, and operational constraints, while evaluating biosolids management options, energy efficiency improvements, resource recovery opportunities, and long-term regulatory compliance needs.

Key elements of the assessment will include:

• Conducting a phased facility planning effort to identify potential treatment facility improvement alternatives that will optimize long-term treatment and beneficial reuse opportunities for the JBLTP. 
• Completing a 30-year base capacity utilization and peaking analyses of the JBLTP based upon current and forecast flows, loads and flow characteristics (peaking) from SMWD, SCWD and flows from MNWD delivered to JBLTP under contract with SCWD and other future potential uses of the JBLTP.
• Performing high-level process-by-process assessments to determine existing available capacity, general asset condition, available useful life remaining, and to support assessment of future infrastructure opportunities and capacity right-sizing options. 
• Identifying treatment alternatives that ensure facility resiliency and reliability and manage risks related to variations in flows and loading, flooding, regulatory changes and other operational uncertainties.
• Evaluating potential biosolids treatment technologies to continue sub-Class B solids processing, achieving Class B solids, or as needed based on future regulatory outlook. 
• Developing an effluent utilization strategy to determine the most effective use of the treated wastewater including potential Title 22 recycled water production, potable reuse or continued ocean discharge.
• Identifying project alternatives that reduce energy consumption, improve resource recovery, and enhance environmental sustainability.
• Determining long-term regulatory compliance, permitting needs, and assessing readiness to meet them. 

The project is expected to be completed in the fall of 2027.