Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors, Acting as the Governing Board of the Ten County Sewer Maintenance/Sanitation Districts
From: Ann M. Stillman, Director of Public Works
Subject: Recertification of the Sewer System Management Plan for the Ten County Sewer Maintenance and Sanitation Districts Governed by the Board of Supervisors
RECOMMENDATION:
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Acting as the Governing Board of the ten (10) County Sewer Maintenance and Sanitation Districts, adopt a resolution:
A) Recertifying the Sewer System Management Plan in accordance with the California State Water Resources Control Board Statewide Waste Discharge Requirements General Order for Sanitary Sewer Systems; and
B) Directing the Director of Public Works to implement and periodically update the revised Sewer System Management Plan as necessary to comply with current regulatory requirements and best practices.
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BACKGROUND:
On May 2, 2006, the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) adopted the Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems Order 2006-0003-DWQ to provide a consistent, statewide regulatory approach to address sanitary sewer spills (Spills). All public agencies that own or operate sanitary sewer systems greater than one mile in length that collect and/or convey wastewater to publicly owned treatment facilities are required to comply with the order.
On December 6, 2022, the State Water Board adopted the Statewide Waste Discharge Requirements General Order for Sanitary Sewer Systems WQ 2022-0103-DWQ (Order). This Order serves as statewide waste discharge requirements and supersedes the previous State Water Board Order 2006-0003-DWQ and amendments thereafter.
The Order requires that public agencies report all Spills in the State Water Board’s online database. The Order also requires agencies to self-audit their Sewer System Management Plans (SSMP) at least every three (3) years and recertify the SSMP every six (6) years, or whenever significant updates to the SSMP are made, by their governing board at a public meeting.
The SSMP documents an agency’s existing or proposed programs to properly operate and maintain its sanitary sewer system. The SSMP must address eleven (11) specific elements in accordance with the Order. “Attachment D - Sewer System Management Plan - Required Elements” from the Order is included as Exhibit A.
The ten (10) County Sewer Maintenance/Sanitation Districts (Districts) governed by this Board provide sanitary sewage collection, transport, treatment and disposal services to approximately 12,000 residences, businesses, schools, and institutions in ten (10) areas of San Mateo County with an estimated total population of 40,000 based on the Year 2020 Census.
On August 25, 2009, this Board adopted Resolution No. 070339, approving the SSMP prepared in accordance with Order 2006-0003-DWQ and directing the Director of Public Works to implement and periodically update the SSMP as necessary to comply with current regulatory requirements and best practices.
On August 5, 2014, this Board adopted Resolution No. 073304, recertifying the SSMP and directing the Director of Public Works to implement and periodically update the SSMP as necessary to comply with current regulatory requirements and best practices.
On August 6, 2019, this Board adopted Resolution No. 076853, recertifying the SSMP and directing the Director of Public Works to implement and periodically update the SSMP as necessary to comply with current regulatory requirements and best practices.
DISCUSSION:
Since the SSMP was recertified in 2019, the Department has periodically updated portions of the SSMP to comply with current regulatory requirements and best practices. However, the SSMP must be recertified at this time to comply with the six (6) year recertification requirement of the Order.
The following portions or elements of the SSMP that have been modified are described below:
Table of Contents
The title of the eleven (11) elements have been modified to match Attachment D of the Order. The most significant changes to the SSMP elements are described below:
Element 1 “Sewer System Management Plan Goal and Introduction”
This Element has been updated by adding a schedule to update the SSMP, including the schedule for conducting internal audits. The schedule must include milestones for incorporation of activities addressing prevention of Spills.
Element 6 “Spill Emergency Response Plan”
This Element has been updated to identify other potentially affected entities for Spills that may affect public health or reach waters of the State.
Element 7 “Sewer Pipe Blockage Control Program”
This Element has been updated to include procedures for the evaluation of whether a sewer pipe blockage control program is needed to control rags and debris (i.e. wipes) in addition to fats, oils, and grease, which was previously included in this Element.
The revised SSMP in its entirety is available on the Department of Public Works Sewer Services web page at: <https://publicworks.smcgov.org/sewer-system-management-plan>
The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the Resolution as to form.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
Approval of this action will provide an updated plan to manage the districts effectively to minimize Spills, which may pollute surface or groundwater, threaten public health, and impair the recreational use of surface waters.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of implementing the SSMP will be charged to each district proportionately based on the number of equivalent residential units per district. The State Water Board also requires that an annual fee be paid for enrollment in the mandatory online reporting program. Costs for complying with the spill reporting requirement will continue to be allocated to the specific district that experienced a spill.
There is no impact on the General Fund.
Exhibit A: Attachment D of the Order - Sewer System Management Plan - Required Elements