Thirty years of Contract Operation – Lessons Learned

The Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District, located in Northern California, between San Francisco and Sacramento, was one of the earliest adopters of contract operation for its treatment facility. In 1974, the governing board of the district contracted with a private firm to operate and maintain a small secondary treatment plant serving a population of about 40,000. In 1976, the district constructed a new sub-regional plant to serve an expanding industrial and residential base, and opted to continue with contract operation rather than directly hiring staff. Over the intervening years, the district has continued using contract operation and has developed considerable insight into contract operation and the effective management of contracts.