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Local Leader Elected President of State-Wide Sanitation Association
Ventura
Regional Sanitation District (VRSD) Board Member and Camarillo City Councilwoman
Charlotte Craven was elected president of the California Association of
Sanitation Agencies (CASA) at its annual conference in San Diego in August,
2005. The mission of CASA is to provide proactive leadership, innovative
solutions, and timely education and information to CASA members, legislators,
and the public, and to promote partnerships on wastewater issues with other
organizations, so that sound public health and environmental goals may be
achieved. The organization’s members provide service to more than 90% of the
state’s sewered population. The CASA President presides over meetings of the
Council, the Executive Board, and the Association's conferences, and she shall
exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be assigned to her from
time to time by the Council or prescribed by the bylaws.
Charlotte has dedicated over 19 years of service to the public trust, and a good portion of that service has been devoted to the ongoing battle to secure safe, affordable wastewater disposal and safe drinking water for the residents of Ventura County and its surrounding environs. Charlotte has served on the City Council of the City of Camarillo since 1986 and has been a VRSD Board Member for 17 years (between 1987 and 2005), serving twice as Chairman. Other posts include five years (1994-1999) sitting on the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board where she served as Vice-Chair for three years, and three years serving on the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Authority as a Director. Additionally she has served on the countywide Landfill Siting Committee and the Calleguas Creek Watershed Committee.
Charlotte has served on CASA's Executive Board since 1999, serving as a Director-at-Large for three terms, as well as President-Elect. She previously served as the Chair of the Directors Committee, Program Planning Committee, and State Legislative Committee. As a public servant, Charlotte Craven has dedicated herself to the preservation of the public trust and stewardship of the public resources, most notably in the sanitation field. Her hallmark has always been proactive leadership seeking innovative solutions. She has worked diligently to promote partnerships on wastewater issues, to assure sound public health and to assist Ventura County agencies in reaching their environmental goals.
Congratulations to CASA’s 2005/2006 President, Charlotte Craven. For more information about the California Association of Sanitation Agencies, log on to www.casaweb.org.
District Welcomes General Manager
The Ventura Regional Sanitation District (VRSD) is pleased to announce that Mark Lawler has been selected as the District’s new General Manager. Mr. Lawler comes to the District from the City of Simi Valley where he has served as Deputy Director of Public Works and City Engineer since 2001. Prior to working for the City of Simi Valley, Mr. Lawler worked for the Sonoma County Water Agency and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, as well as serving many years in the aerospace industry.
The Ventura Regional Sanitation District is an enterprise public agency providing sanitation and solid waste management services to the residents of Ventura County. With over 26 years of experience in engineering and 12 years in private and public sector management, Mr. Lawler brings a rich mix of talents to the District. His education includes a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Florida Institute of Technology and a M.S. in Civil Engineering from Loyola Marymount University, rounding out a palette of education and expertise which will prove a valuable benefit the District, its stakeholders and the residents of Ventura County. Mr. Lawler joined the District on June 6, 2005.
Tri Counties CWEA Engineering Award Conferred
The Ventura Regional Sanitation District (VRSD) is proud to announce that the agency was named winner of the 2004 California Water Environment Association Engineering Achievement Award (Tri-Counties Section). Mark Capron, VRSD’s Senior Engineer accepted the award for VRSD’s role in the Saticoy Treatment Plant Upgrade at the CWEA annual award conference on Friday January 28th in Santa Barbara.
This project converted a community simple septic tank to a secondary system with nutrient removal, which significantly enhances the health and safety benefits to Saticoy (as well as all downstream communities). This effort has significantly enhanced effluent quality in the Saticoy area, improving soil and water quality.
VRSD and the Saticoy Sanitary District have received numerous awards for this project, including the 2004 California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) Achievement Award for Organizational Innovation, the 2003 American Public Works Association Project of the Year (Ventura County) and being acknowledged as the Public Agency Deal of the Year Award by the Pacific Business Times.
VRSD Wins CASA Achievement Award for Organizational Innovation
The Ventura Regional Sanitation District (VRSD) is proud to announce that the California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA) has named the District as the winner of the 2004 Achievement Award in the category of Organizational Innovation for its part in the Saticoy Wastewater Collection and Treatment Plant Improvements.
In June 2000, the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board issued a ban on septic systems in the Oxnard Forebay. The ban protects aquifers serving 500,000 people from nitrate and pathogen contamination and becomes effective in 2008. For the small, semi-rural community of Saticoy with a median annual household income of $21,000, this meant that the residents and businesses would have to abandon their antiquated community septic system and move to modern wastewater treatment. Saticoy suddenly, desperately, needed an affordable alternative for its wastewater treatment. Construction of a treatment plant became essential to the health, well-being and fiscal strength of the community.
VRSD Engineer Mark Capron secured grant and loan monies for Saticoy, helped establish an assessment district and obtained a conditional use permit from the County of Ventura. In addition to securing the permits, design and funding for the plant in record time, VRSD coordinated plant construction, provided a $1.7 million bridge loan and provided engineering, clerical, financial and operational staffing.
The impact of this project is widespread and significant. Not only do the 1,000 residents of Saticoy benefit from a more effective, environmentally sound sanitation system, the new plant and industrial area collection system prevent nitrate and pathogen contamination of groundwater. In fact, the plant is the first biological nutrient removal process in Ventura County producing effluent with less than 10 mg/L total nitrogen. Furthermore, the construction cost to Saticoy residents has been minimal, as grant monies covered 95% of the project cost. Working together, the Saticoy Sanitary District and the Ventura Regional Sanitation District faced and met each challenge, successfully paving the way for this wastewater treatment plant, completing it five years ahead of the deadline and a mere 1% over the original budget estimate.
In addition to the CASA Award, this project was also honored as the 2003 American Public Works Association’s Project of the Year (Ventura County), and the Public Service Deal of the Year in the Ventura County Business Times. For more information on the California Association of Sanitation Agencies, visit www.casaweb.org.
Toland Road Landfill Wins Award for Excellence in Environmental Engineering
The Ventura Regional Sanitation District (VRSD) is proud to announce that the American Academy of Environmental Engineers has named Toland Road landfill as the winner of the 2004 Excellence in Environmental Engineering Honor Award, conferred in the category of Operations and Management.
Through rigorous criteria and objective evaluation by eminent leaders in the environmental industry, who serve as judges, AAEE has set the standards for excellence in environmental projects. The winning projects in this competition demonstrate excellence through integration, innovation, complexity, client satisfaction and social & economic contributions to the community.
Elements illustrating Toland’s excellence, which were highlighted in the nomination, include transfer station incentives, creative use of recycled materials, alternative daily cover programs, Toland’s life lab orchard, precycling program and use of alternative energy.
The award will was accepted on April 21, 2004 at the AAEE Awards Luncheon in Washington, D.C by Gary Haden, Greg Grant and VRSD Chairman of the Board and Ventura Mayor Brian Brennan.
Partnership Enhances Water Quality
On September 16, the Malibu Bay Club, a 136-unit condominium complex on the
Pacific Coast Highway, signed a contract with the Ventura Regional Sanitation
District (VRSD) to construct, own and operate an advanced On-Site Wastewater
Treatment System (OWTS ) for their 136-unit condominium complex on Pacific Coast
Highway near the Ventura County line. This signing represents a commitment
by the Malibu Bay Club to effectively and efficiently manage their wastewater,
while meeting strict regulatory standards.
OWTS are specially designed, miniature wastewater treatment units intended
for individual homes, groups of homes, or other relatively small wastewater
volume producers. Tests have proven these systems to be more effective
than septic tanks at removing nitrates, ammonia, suspended solids, nitrogen, and
other contaminants in wastewater. This technology is an effective solution to
the problem of treating and managing sewage in environmentally sensitive and
geologically challenged areas and represents the wave of the future for
California, and the Ventura County area, as septic tanks are increasingly
banned.
The Malibu Bay Club, along with a planned installation at the Toland Road
Landfill, represent the first installations of this type in Ventura County.
Doubtless, more will follow. “These units are commercially available, and
reasonably priced,” noted Ken Rock, VRSD’s Director of Water and Wastewater.
“An excellent solution for treating and managing sewage in sensitive areas
like the beach, over a shallow groundwater supply, or on a rocky slope.”
VRSD, a public enterprise agency that provides a variety of sanitation
and solid waste services throughout the county, is perfectly poised to take on
the Malibu Bay Club, and other OWTS, projects. For more information of VRSD or
OWTS technology, call (805) 658-4600.
Toland Road Landfill Wins Silver 2003 SWANA Landfill Excellence Award
The Ventura Regional Sanitation District (VRSD) is proud to announce that the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) has named Toland Road Landfill as the winner of the Silver 2003 Landfill Management Technical Division Excellence Award. This coveted prize is presented annually to recognize outstanding performance in operation, design, efficiency and overall integrated solid waste management systems in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Toland was selected to receive this award due to excellence in the following categories: Design & Construction; Environmental Controls; Regulatory Compliance; Planning, Financial Management & Operations; Using Equipment, Systems & Technologies; Public Acceptance, Appearance & Aesthetics and Innovation & Creativity.
Toland received the Bronze Award for Landfill Excellence in 2000, and
VRSD won the Silver Award for Excellence in Financial Management and Planning in
2001. Very few agencies ever win one award from SWANA, much less three awards in
four years. This is truly a validation that Toland Road Landfill is one of the
best landfills in the nation.
The award will be accepted on behalf of VRSD by Gary Haden, Director of Solid
Waste on October 16, 2003 at WASTECON 2003, the 40th Annual International Solid
Waste Exposition in St. Louis Missouri.
Congratulations to all the winners, including the residents of Ventura
County, who have one of the most outstanding solid waste management facilities
in North America—in the United States and Canada—serving their needs.
For more information about the Solid Waste Association of North America, log on to http://www.swana.org.
Sanitation District Wins National Award
for the Eleventh Year in a Row
The Ventura Regional Sanitation District (VRSD) has once again won the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officer’s Association for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. This award is the highest form of recognition for state and local government fiscal accounting and reporting, and is an honor accorded to only a handful of special districts throughout the country.
In 2002, the District was one of only 38 enterprise special districts in the State of California (and 259 in the nation) to receive this award. Technically speaking, however, the District won two of the 38/259 awards, as it prepared and filed the report for its contract customer, the Triunfo Sanitation District, as well. This is the eleventh year that the District has won this prestigious award.
The District also received an award for Outstanding Financial Reporting from the California Society of Municipal Finance Officers (CSMFO) for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2002, the second year the District entered the CSMFO program. VRSD is one of 25 special districts in the state to win this award.
VRSD is a government enterprise entirely funded from customer service fees and charges and provides sanitary landfill disposal, potable & recycled water and wastewater services countywide.
VRSD Wins 2001 International Award for Planning & Financial Management Excellence
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) has announced the winners of their annual excellence awards and for the second year in a row, the Ventura Regional Sanitation District (VRSD) has won one of the top three awards. This coveted prize is presented annually to recognize outstanding performance in operation, design, efficiency and an overall integrated solid waste management system. Last year Toland Road Landfill won third place award for Landfill Excellence in a field that ranges throughout North America (including Canada and Mexico). This year, VRSD has won the silver medal for excellence in planning and financial management for the District’s comprehensive financial management plan.
VRSD’s Comprehensive Financial Management Plan includes three powerful innovative elements that have served to effectively enhance VRSD’s role in the Ventura County integrated solid waste community. These programs include a secure postclosure financial plan to assure that the area landfills are maintained safely after closure, a plan to redistribute public monies returning much needed funds to local cities and the County and a plan to regulate and assure the solid waste flow to Toland Road Landfill. These elements have worked together to help the District reach its desired financial goals of fiscal stability. In the pursuit of this goal, VRSD broke the bonds of the traditional government paradigm to become a truly entrepreneurial public agency; better able to meet its customers needs and assure efficient, effective—and financially stable—solid waste management services to the citizens of Ventura County, both now and in the years to come.
The award was accepted on behalf of VRSD by Bill Smith, VRSD’s General Manager on October 18, 2001 at WASTECON 2000, the 39th Annual International Solid Waste Exposition in Baltimore, Maryland.
For more information about the Solid Waste Association of North America, log on to www.swana.org.
VRSD Chairman Wins State-Wide Award
Charlotte has dedicated over 15 years of service to the public trust, and a good portion of that service has been dedicated to the ongoing battle to secure safe, affordable wastewater disposal and safe drinking water for the residents of Ventura County and its surrounding environs.
Charlotte has served on the City Council of the City of Camarillo since 1986 and has been a VRSD Board Member for 13 years (between 1987 and 2001), serving twice as Chairman. Other posts include five years (1994-1999) sitting on the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board where she served as Vice-Chair for three years, and three years serving on the Fox Canyon Groundwater Management Authority as a Director. Additionally she has served on the countywide Landfill Siting Committee and the Calleguas Creek Watershed Committee.
2001 is Charlotte’s second year on the CASA Board serving as a Director-at-Large and she has just been re-elected for her third term. Previously she served on the Bylaws Committee, Nominating Committee, Communications Committee, and Legislative Committee.
As a public servant, Charlotte Craven has dedicated herself to the preservation of the public trust and stewardship of the public resources, most notably in the sanitation field. Her hallmark has always been proactive leadership seeking innovative solutions. She has worked diligently to promote partnerships on wastewater issues, to assure sound public health and to assist Ventura County agencies in reaching their environmental goals.
Congratulations to CASA’s 2001 Outstanding Service Award winner, Charlotte Craven.
For more information about the California Association of Sanitation Agencies, log on to www.casaweb.org.
Toland Road Landfill Wins 2000 SWANA
Landfill Excellence Bronze Award
The Ventura Regional Sanitation District (VRSD) is proud to announce that the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) has named Toland Road Landfill as the winner of the 2000 SWANA Landfill Excellence Bronze Award. This coveted prize is presented annually to recognize outstanding performance in operation, design, efficiency and an overall integrated solid waste management system.
Toland was selected to receive this award due to excellence in the following categories: Operational Excellence; Systems, Technology and Performance Excellence; Outstanding Design Features; Community Relations; Financial Planning and Management, Employee Training, and Demonstrating and Maintaining a Clear Role in the Region’s Integrated Solid Waste Management structure.
Outstanding programs sited include Toland’s Biological Mitigation Areas, Advanced Irrigation Pumping System, Driver Safety Outreach Program, Recovered Rock and Concrete Recycling and Comprehensive Dust and Litter Abatement.
The award was accepted on behalf of VRSD by Solid Waste Director Gary Haden on October 23, 2000 at WASTECON 2000, the 38th Annual International Solid Waste Exposition in Cincinnati, Ohio. Other Landfill Excellence Award recipients included Countywide RDF in East Sparta, Ohio and Cerro Colorado Landfill in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
In addition to Landfill Excellence Awards, SWANA also honored other agencies in the United States and Canada for excellence in other aspects of Solid Waste Management including Transfer Stations, Collections Systems, Integrated Systems, Gas Control, Gas Utilization, Planning & Financial Management, Public Education, Recycling, Waste-To Energy and Christmas Tree Recycling Programs.
The Del Norte Regional Recycling and Transfer Station in Oxnard received a bronze award for Transfer Station Excellence. Del Norte and Toland work together as part of a successful integrated waste management system. These two Ventura County agencies walked away with 2 out of 27 (7%) of the awards conferred in the United States and Canada.
Congratulations to all the winners, including the residents of Ventura County, who have two of the most outstanding solid waste management facilities in North America serving their needs.
For more information about the Solid Waste Association of North America, log on to www.swana.org.
VRSD's Millennium Grove Ribbon Cutting
On June 22, 2000 VRSD celebrated the ribbon cutting of the Millennium Grove, Toland’s new avocado orchard. The grove is an enterprise project for the District. Doing the honors are Bill Smith (VRSD General Manager), Doug Anders (Management Analyst/Millennium Grove Project Manager), Brian Brennan (Board Member representing San Buenaventura), Charlotte Craven (Chairman, Board Member representing Camarillo), John Zaragoza (Board Member representing Oxnard), Jim Acosta (Board Member representing special districts including Saticoy Sanitary, Camarillo Sanitary, Camrosa Water, Channel Islands Beach Community Services, Montalvo Municipal Improvement, Ojai Valley Sanitary, Triunfo Sanitation and Ventura County Waterworks Nos. 1 and 16), David Bury (Chariman-elect, Board Member representing Ojai), Jon Sharkey (Board Member representing Port Hueneme), Cindy Cunningham (Senator Jack O’Connell’s Office) and Rhonda Catron (VRSD Clerk of the Board).
For more information about the Millennium Grove, please contact Doug Anders at the Ventura Regional Sanitation District.
VRSD Testing Advanced On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems
As the population continues to grow, it becomes even more important to explore and develop newer and more effective means for wastewater treatment. That is why the Ventura Regional Sanitation District (VRSD), funded by grant monies from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) via the California State and Regional Water Resources/Quality Control Boards, is testing and evaluating a new technology in wastewater treatment.
On-Site Sanitary Systems are miniature wastewater treatment systems intended for individual homes. The systems claim to be more effective than septic tanks and perhaps even better than most municipal treatment plants at removing nitrates, ammonia, suspended solids and other ‘nutrients’ in wastewater. These systems may become the standard for wastewater treatment for remote properties and environmentally sensitive areas.
Noting the future potential of On-Site Sanitary Systems, VRSD is studying the effectiveness of these systems. Four manufacturers with a total of six different models have furnished systems, which have been installed side by side at the Camrosa Water District in Camarillo, California. The systems will be fully active and analyzed for a period of three months. Then the results will be compared and made available to the Water/Wastewater Community.
OWTS UPDATE (June 26, 2001):
The study has been completed and the results analyzed. The following chart summarizes the findings; it illustrates the difference between raw influent, septic tank and OWTS performance for Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and Nitrogen:
If you would like more information on this study, including detailed test results, please e-mail Mark Capron, Senior Engineer at the Ventura Regional Sanitation District.
Citrix Client (Click on the link below and save to your local hard drive).
TSD Test
