SR-102307-1J~ir
City of
Santa Monica°
City Council Report
City Council Meeting: October 23, 2007
Agenda Item: 1 `r
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Craig Perkins, Director -Environmental and Public Works Management
Subject: Approval of a Development Plan of the City of Santa Monica's Sewer
System Management Plan in compliance with State Regulations
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a development plan for a Sewer
System Management Plan (SSMP) which outlines the goals, schedule, and
organizational structure for compliance with newly enacted Statewide General Waste
Discharge Requirements (GWDR) issued by the State Water Resources Control Board
(SWRCB).
Executive Summary
Following the State Water Resources Control Board adoption of the new waste
discharge requirement by Order No. 2006-0003-DWO (the Order), the State of
California imposed an implementation schedule for the various components of each
agency's Sewer System Management Plan based upon the size of the population
served. Provisions contained in the order require that the City of Santa Monica
establish a plan to address schedule, goals, and describe the organizational structure
by November 2, 2007. Specifically, the order requires that both the development plan
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and the final Sewer System Management Plan be approved by the governing board of
the wastewater agency (i.e. City Council).
Discussion
In May 2006, the State Water Resources Control Board and its regional Water Boards
(SWRCB) adopted a Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirement (GWDR), which
now regulates wastewater collection systems. Treatment plants, including pre-
treatment programs have been regulated for some time. A wastewater collection
system maintains and/or improves the collection system infrastructure in order to
provide reliable service into the future and minimizes the number and impact of sanitary
sewer overflows (SSOs) that may occur. The GWDR outlines the following
requirements for all publicly owned sanitary sewer collection systems in California with
more than one mile of sewer pipe:
1. In the event of a Sanitary Sewer Overflow (SSO), all feasible steps are taken to
control the released volume and prevent untreated wastewater from entering storm
drains, creeks, etc.
2. If a sanitary sewer overflow occurs, it must be reported to the State Water
Resources Control Board using an online reporting system. (Note: All spills greater
than 1000 gallons still must be reported to the Office of Emergency Services, as is
currently required.)
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3. All publicly owned collection system agencies with more than 1 mile of sewer
pipe in the State must develop a Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP).
Development plan for the SSMP -Goals
An effective SSMP is an asset management plan for the City's 156-mile wastewater
system that will include the following goals:
1. Collection system management protocols.
2. Organization of personnel, including chain of commands and
communications.
3. Legal authority for permitting flows into the system, inflow/infiltration
control as well as enforcement of proper design, installation and testing
standards and inspection requirements for all new or rehabilitated sewer
mains.
4. Operations and maintenance activities to maintain the wastewater
collection system.
5. Design and performance provisions
6. Overflow emergency response plan
7. Fats, roots, oils and grease control program (FROG).
8. System evaluation and capacity assurance programs.
9. Monitoring, measurement and modifications plan for SSMP program
effectiveness, and
10. Periodic internal SSMP audits
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These ten goals will form the basis of Santa Monica's SSMP. Many of the plan's
components are already in place, and will be brought together following asystem-wide
assessment of the City's existing sewer system.
Development lah for the SSMP -Schedule
The schedule for compliance as specified in the State Order is as follows:
Task Completion Date
Plan schedule, goals and organization - 11/02/2007
City Council Approval
Emergency Response Plan
Legal Authority
O & M Plan 5/02/2009
FROG Plan
Design & Performance Standards
System Capacity Plan
Monitoring & Program Modifications
Program Audits 08/02/2009
Communication Programs
Final SSMP and Certification -Council
Certification
The State Order requires that both the SSMP and the city's program to develop the
SSMP be presented to the City Council for approval at a public meeting. The reasoning
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for this provision in the order is to ensure that the governing board is aware of the
SSMP program and potential impacts (e.g., budget needs or new ordinances).
Approval of the development plan described in this report will fulfill the November 2,
2007 completion date requirement.
Budpet/Financial Impact
It is unknown at this time what specific Wastewater Fund costs need to be incurred for
full implementation of the SSMP. Potential budget impacts will be identified as staff
assesses the current wastewater infrastructure. As the plan progresses, staff will
develop cost estimates and financing alternatives and return to Council for budgetary
approvals as necessary.
Prepared by:
Gilbert M. Borboa, Jr., P.E., Water Resources Manager
Approved:
Craig Perki
Director, Environmental and Public
Works Management Department
Forwarded to Council:
P L ont Ewell
City Manager
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