Bureau of Sanitation

Director, Enrique C. Zaldivar
Chief Operating Officer, Traci J. Minamide
Asst. Director, Varouj S. Abkian
Asst. Director, Adel H. Hagekhalil
Asst. Director, Alex Helou

The Administration Division is responsible for providing administrative support to all other divisions within the Bureau. This support includes activities related to: payroll and timekeeping, purchasing, budget preparation and tracking, personnel, contracts, clerical assistance, inventory control coordination and special projects.

The Water Reclamation Division is comprised of the Donald C. Tillman and Los Angeles-Glendale (LAG) Reclamation Plants and the Japanese Gardens. The Division is responsible for treating approximately 75 MGD of wastewater. As result of the high degree of specialized treatment, approximately 16 MGD is reclaimed and used at LAG by a myriad of contract users.

The Environmental Monitoring Division provides testing services primarily to the Industrial Waste Management Division, wastewater treatment and reclamation facilities, landfill operations, and for the receiving waters in and around Los Angeles. Much of the Division's work is legally mandated compliance testing to ensure that the Bureau meets all permit and other requirements.

The Financial Management Division is responsible for the management of the Bureau of Sanitation's funding and expenditures. It is comprised of four main sections with a wide variety of functions including: preparation of the Bureau's budget, financial analysis, cost recovery, preparation and management of the Wastewater Capital Improvement Program, commercial and residential sewer service charges, contract negotiations with other agencies, and monitoring of the Stormwater Capital Improvement Program.

The Human Resources Development Division is responsible for preparing employees to safely and effectively perform their roles in protecting the public and the environment. The Division is divided into four sections that provide the following support services: training design, development and delivery; a full range of occupational safety and industrial hygiene support, hazardous materials management and emergency preparedness planning and coordination.

The Hyperion Treatment Plant Division is responsible for the treatment of an average of 350 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater. The Division also manages a farm in Kern County where biosolids are used in a beneficial manner on crop production.

The Industrial Waste Management Division is responsible for implementing an effective program for source control of pollutants by monitoring and regulating industrial wastewater discharges into the City's wastewater collection and treatment system.

The Information and Control Systems Division is responsible for all automation and computer technology in the Bureau of Sanitation. The Division's services include network design and management, GIS support, installation and support for over 1,500 personal computers, strategic planning related to computer systems and automation as well as managing several major enterprise projects/systems which are used by the Bureau.

The Regulatory Affairs Division identifies, analyzes and responds to existing, emerging and evolving environmental issues, policies, regulations and legislation. The Division partners with regulators, environmental groups and other affected stakeholders to ensure that proposed regulations and legislation are reasonably achievable and scientifically based.

The Solid Resources Citywide Recycling Division is responsible for citywide planning and reporting to the State on AB939 diversion requirements. The Division also administers the Private Hauler Fee Ordinance, the Special Residential Materials Program (includes the operation of the SAFE Collection Centers) and other grants that promote recycling and anti-litter activities.

The Solid Resources Processing and Construction Division are composed of two groups with complimentary responsibilities. The Technical Support Group provides specialized engineering and project management services such as the development of City-owned and operated solid resource management facilities including material recovery facilities, transfer stations, etc. The Operations Group provides specialized service by operating transfer stations, green material mulching and composting facilities and performing landfill closure activities.

The Solid Resources Collection Divisions provide waste collection and recycling services for 750,000 residential households in the City of Los Angeles. The Divisions operate five major collection Waste Sheds throughout the City. Approximately 100 crews are dispatched from each Waste Shed to collect household refuse, recyclables, yard trimmings, bulky items and dead animals.

The Solid Resources Support Services Division provides administrative, technical and planning support to the Solids Divisions and their customers. The Division accomplishes this function through the study and evaluation of advanced technology of alternative disposal methods for solid waste, operation of the customer call center, management of refuse collection container program and the implementation of alternative fuel program for the Bureau of Sanitation refuse collection fleet.

The Terminal Island Treatment Plant Division provides full secondary and tertiary treatment to approximately 17.5 MGD of wastewater. The Division also operates the Advanced Water Treatment Filter Facility that has the ability to deliver up to 5 MGD for beneficial use.

The Wastewater Collection Systems Division is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the City of Los Angeles’s wastewater and stormwater conveyance systems. In order to meet the regulatory requirements and established goals, Division employees are divided into five sections; Collection Systems, Stormwater Systems, Mechanical Maintenance and Operations, Administration and Engineering Support. These groups operate and maintain a 6,500 mile wastewater collections System, including 48 sewage pumping plants and 145,000 maintenance holes; operate and maintain a 1,200 mile storm drain system; perform proactive, preventative and corrective maintenance; conduct a comprehensive condiction assessment program; and perform corrective and preventative maintenance, including stormwater inspection and structure cleaning.

The Watershed Protection Division is responsible for the development and implementation of stormwater pollution abatement projects within the City. The Division is charged with this responsibility under the legal mandate of the Federal Clean Water Act. Each county and municipality throughout the nation is issued a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Municipal Stormwater Permit. The goal of the permit is to stop polluted discharges from entering the storm drain system and local coastal waters.

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