About SCAP
By joining SCAP you are joining forces with many other agencies facing the same operational, management and regulatory challenges. SCAP can assist you in meeting the challenges you face.
If you would like to become a member of SCAP, please complete an application and mail the completed application directly to the SCAP office. Should you have additional questions be sure to contact the SCAP office.
What is SCAP?
Who can join SCAP?
Who runs SCAP?
How is SCAP funded?
How else do members help?
Why should we join SCAP?
Membership application
What is SCAP?
The Southern California Alliance of Publicly Owned Treatment Works, or SCAP, is an association of cities, special districts and other public agencies, which was formed to concentrate its resources to effect reasonable local, state and federal regulations impacting POTWs and collection systems.
Our organization is currently comprised of over 80 wastewater treatment and collection system agencies and one large regional water treatment agency. Together, our membership collects and/or treats the wastewater for over 18 million southern Californians in seven counties. All of our non-associate members are public agencies, either municipalities or special districts, charged with the responsibility for treating and disposing of wastewater in a safe and economically viable manner for their ratepayers.
Our Associate members are associated with the treatment of water and/or the collection, treatment, disposal, recycling or reuse of wastewater and its residuals within the State of California.
Joining forces enables even small agencies to have a say in such regulations as air quality, biosolids management, collection systems, energy management, wastewater pretreatment and inland surface/ocean water discharges. And, unlike other associations with similar membership who deal with these issues on a statewide basis, SCAP addresses them from a perspective that often only Southern Californians can appreciate.
Although attention is directed mainly towards the regulatory arena, SCAP also works on legislation that would similarly impact its members. In extreme situations, litigation may be pursued when SCAP members feel it is in the best interest of the public to challenge proposed or existing laws or regulations. Recently, SCAP revised its mission to additionally concentrate on becoming the foremost provider of wastewater regulatory information in California.
The organization strives to obtain a balance between protection of the environment and the economic reality of existing and proposed regulations. In that sense, it is perhaps the public, or ratepayer, for whom SCAP is really an advocate.
Who can join SCAP?
Regular Members: Regular members include any California city, special district, public agency or public organization engaged in the treatment of water and/or the collection, treatment, disposal, recycling or reuse of wastewater and its residuals.
Collection Systems Only Members: Collection Systems Only members include any California city, special district, public agency or public organization engaged in the collection of wastewater.
Associate Members: Associate members are consultants, law firms, public utilities, investor owned utilities, manufacturers, suppliers, non-profit associations and other persons or entities involved in the treatment of water and/or the collection, treatment, disposal, recycling or reuse of wastewater and its residuals within the State of California.
All SCAP applications for membership are reviewed by the Board of Directors who shall, at their discretion, determine that participation by the applicant will advance the purposes of the Alliance.
Who runs SCAP?
A board of directors establishes SCAP policy and direction. The board is composed of two individuals from within the geographical boundaries of each county that has a member agency. Alternate directors from each county serve on the board as necessary.
SCAP retains an experienced executive director who taps public and private resources. The executive director helps to identify key issues, develops action plans, prepares point papers with technical support documentation, solicits and coordinates efforts of outside consultants and those contributing in-kind services, represents SCAP before regulatory agencies and legislative bodies, keeps members apprised of current issues and carries out the day-to-day administrative activities of the organization.
These efforts help bring about compromises with regulatory agencies that safeguard the financial resources of agencies with POTWs and at the same time protect the environment.
How is SCAP funded?
Regular members pay dues based on the average daily flow (adf) of their POTWs. Collection Systems members pay an annual fee of $538 and Associate members pay an annual fee of $1,076.
How else do members help?
Member agencies, particularly those with specialized staff, also provide in-kind contributions such as technical assistance and legal services.
Both member agencies and Associate members are called upon periodically to help in presentations and appearances to underscore the influence of the allied agencies and the public they collectively represent.
Why should we join SCAP?
Agencies with POTWs and/or collection systems cannot afford not to join SCAP.
By belonging to SCAP, agencies in most cases, need not maintain their own staff to work with regulatory officials on agency-specific issues. SCAP will do it all. And the potential savings that result will be far greater than an agency's annual dues.
In short, you need SCAP, and SCAP needs you. Join SCAP today!