Force Main Costs Surge Past $13M as SAM Board Navigates Budget, Solar and PFAS Risks

Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside's (SAM) board got a dose of fiscal reality Monday night: the Montara Force Main refurbishment is now projected at $13–14 million — roughly $3–4 million more than planned — and member agencies will be asked to cover the gap. In brighter news, a creative rooftop redesign of the agency's solar project cleared a major permitting hurdle, and the board unanimously accepted a Q2 financial report showing spending trending back toward budget.

• Force main project balloons to $13–14M, up from $10M; guaranteed maximum price due in May or June, with mid-year budget adjustments looming for all three member agencies

• Solar panels move to rooftops, sidestepping environmental review; vendor confirms the project still pencils out financially

• Q2 financial report accepted 6-0; expenditures $348K above mid-year benchmark but trending down as front-loaded costs are absorbed

• Board warns staff to drop "over budget" language to prevent AI-powered news tools from mischaracterizing SAM's finances

• PFAS Superfund listing flagged as major emerging liability for wastewater agencies statewide

Why it matters: SAM's largest active infrastructure project is running significantly over its original estimate, and the three member agencies — Granada Community Services District, Half Moon Bay, and Montara Water & Sanitary District — will each be assessed proportionally by wastewater flow to cover the shortfall.