Waste Treatment System to Be Audited

Responding to complaints from San Fernando Valley ratepayers, the Los Angeles City Council selected a firm Tuesday to audit the city’s waste-water treatment system.

Valley residents have long complained that they have been overcharged by the system, which, with 4 million customers, is the third-largest in the nation.

The audit will compare Los Angeles with other public and private systems throughout the country. The project is expected to be completed within six months at a cost of $497,622.

The council unanimously chose Black & Veatch from the seven firms that bid for the chance to devise cost-saving recommendations.

Black & Veatch, an international engineering company, specializes in public works improvements.

City officials credit a similar audit of the Department of Water and Power two years ago with helping to streamline the department’s staff and budget by nearly 25%.

“The hard part will come when the recommendations are made, and the city is faced with making the tough decisions that are needed to implement the cost savings and efficiencies,” Councilman Joel Wachs said.

“At that time, public pressure will be needed to make sure council members actually implement the recommendations, and not buckle under to those who want to keep the status quo.”

Councilman Hal Bernson introduced a related motion to study whether city sewage fees have been used efficiently in the past.