The Sewer Public Benefit Program is an incentive program for qualifying City of Riverside businesses. The program encourages reductions in the intensity and quantity of discharge to the sewer system. Such reductions create benefits in the form of reduced wear and tear on the collection system, chemicals used for treatment, and operations and maintenance costs. These benefits are shared by all customers. Funds for this program are capped at $400,000 per year.
Click Here to view the entire Sewer Public Benefit Program Booklet.
Program Objective
The Sewer Public Benefit program was developed to educate the City of Riverside commercial, institutional and industrial sewer use customers on enhanced pretreatment technologies and the corresponding water conservation and sewer system benefits, and to offer incentives toward the installation of such technologies.
Program Highlights
The Sewer Public Benefit Program incentivizes reductions in pollutants which result in excess sewer collection and treatment costs and is based upon the facilities ability to reduce the strength and/or volume of its discharge beyond levels required by local limits. Incentives of up to 50% of the cost to install retreatment equipment may be offered.
Pollutants for which a reduction can be incentivized are flow, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS), and Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG). To qualify for an incentive, a business must agree to a reduction goal, provide annual progress reports toward meeting the goal and meet all other program requirements.
Pollutants other than Flow, COD, TSS, and FOG that potentially increase sewer collection and maintenance costs may be incentivized as well. Such pollutants, along with corresponding incentive amounts, will be considered on a case-by-case basis. All are encouraged to apply.
Program Business Incentives
Incentives are available for existing and new sewer use customers. Existing Customers are industrial or institutional businesses which have operated in the City of Riverside with a valid business license prior to September 23, 2008. New Customers are those which have operated with a valid business license after September 23, 2008.
Existing Sewer Customers
Existing customers are eligible for incentives for up to 50% of the cost to install pretreatment technology, not to exceed $150,000 per year, per customer. The total incentive awarded shall not exceed 50% of the accounts total preceding 12 month sewer service charges.
New Sewer Customers
New customers who will discharge at pollutant levels greater than existing local limits are subject to supplemental capacity charges during permitting. New customers are eligible for incentives of up to 50% of the cost to install pretreatment technology, not to exceed $150,000 per year, per customer. The total incentive awarded shall not exceed 50% of the Supplemental Capacity Charge.
The City of Riverside, on a case by case basis, may consider incentives over $150,000/year/customer for new facilities installing pretreatment equipment that is above and beyond what is required to meet City Local Limits. These projects would follow the SBP process for consideration and, if approved by the program administrator would require concurrence with the Public Works Director and then would require City Council approval.
Program Guidelines
Eligibility Requirements
Participants must be either a business operating in the City of Riverside or prospective new business planning to operate within City limits.- Participants must enter into a formal agreement with the City.
- Participants must commit to at least one quantitative environmental goal that they aim to meet within the terms of their agreement with the City.
- Participants initially will be required to report quarterly, in actual terms, on their progress towards commitments specified in the agreement.
- Participants must fulfill all program guidelines to be eligible for incentives.
- See Program Limitations for additional information.
Selection Considerations
When developing a set of environmental performance goals, please follow these criteria for selection, measurement and reporting:
- Select goals from one of the three different categories.
- Use the indicators and the measurement units provided in the table below.
- All goals should reflect facility-wide measurements.
Environmental Performance Indicators
| Category | Indicator | Units |
| Discharge Flow | Total Wastewater Discharge | Gallons |
| Discharge to Sewer | COD Reduction | Pounds, Tons |
| Discharge to Sewer | TSS Reduction | Pounds, Tons |
Sewer Public Benefit Program Application
Click Here to apply for the Sewer Public Benefit Program Rebate.
Registration Procedure
Registration shall be in person or by mail.- Participants shall provide a current valid Business Tax License; the address will be reviewed to confirm it is within City limits.
- Participants shall provide a completed program application signed by an authorized business representative.
- Participants shall complete the application checklist to ensure all supporting documentation is provided at the time of application.
- Participants already required to monitor by the City shall provide the preceding six months of data for the selected performance goal.
- Existing industries not otherwise required to monitor will receive a baseline monitoring requirement letter to monitor the selected performance goal monthly for 3 months, prior to program enrollment.
- Participants shall provide a process flow diagram of the pretreatment process that accurately describes the process, as it will exist.
- The City reserves the right to deny registration if the required documentation is not presented at the time of registration.
Rewarding of Incentive
Industries are required to demonstrate a beneficial reduction in the indicator(s) chosen for 5 years.- Project reductions will be monitored in three month blocks. Deficiencies will be communicated once noted.
- After the first six months, 50% of the incentive will be credited if target reductions are met.
- If not, then the participant will be placed on notice and allowed an additional 3 month block to meet the target before being terminated from the program.
- In order to receive the full incentive, the participant must meet the target during 4 out of the 5 three month blocks.
- Participants may be required to pay back the prorated amount to the City based on differences between reduction goals and what reduction actually achieved.
- Incentives will be prorated if measurable reductions are achieved but unable to meet agreement target.
- After full payment of incentive, participant must meet 80% of the target reductions on a yearly basis for 5 consecutive years, including the first demonstration year, in order to remain active in the program. Failure to meet the target reductions will resulted in prorated return of the incentive.
- For all participants, incentives will be delivered as a credit on their sewer bill delivered within 60 days of approval.
- The incentive is non-transferable and must be returned in full if the 5 year reduction commitment is not met at the time of transfer.
- If a reduction does not occur for three consecutive months, the participant may be dropped from the program after review by the program administrator.
Contact Information
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SPB Program Administrator
Edward Filadelfia
Regulatory Affairs and Compliance Manager
City of Riverside Public Works Department
Department Phone: (951) 351- 6140
Direct Line: (951) 351-6080
[email protected]
Mail or hand deliver applications to:
City of Riverside Regional Water Quality Control Plant
Attention: Edward Filadelfia
City of Riverside Public Works Department
5950 Acorn Street
Riverside, CA 92504