COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Department of Public Works

DATE:

October 4, 2007

BOARD MEETING DATE:

October 16, 2007

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

James C. Porter, Director of Public Works

SUBJECT:

Sewer System Management Plan Development for the Ten (10) County Maintained Sewer/Sanitation Districts

RECOMMENDATION:

Acting as the Governing Board of the Sewer Maintenance and Sanitation Districts, adopt a resolution approving the development of a Sewer System Management Plan and schedule for the ten (10) County maintained sewer/sanitation districts in accordance with the California State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board) statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements (GWDR) for sanitary sewer systems.

VISION ALIGNMENT:

Commitment: Ensure basic health and safety for all.

Goal 7: Maintain and enhance the public safety for all residents and visitors.

Commitment: Preserve and provide people access to our natural environment.

Goal 14: Important natural resources are preserved and enhanced through environmental stewardship.

Approval of a SSMP in accordance with the GWDR contributes to these commitments and goals by developing a plan to manage the Districts effectively to minimize sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), which may pollute surface or ground water, threaten public health, and impair the recreational use of surface waters.

BACKGROUND:

On May 2, 2006, the State Water Board adopted a statewide GWDR for sanitary sewer systems, Water Quality Order No. 2006-0003 (Order) to provide a consistent, statewide regulatory approach to address SSOs. 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 and apply for coverage under the Order by November 2, 2006. District staff applied for coverage by filing a Notice of Intent (or application) in October 2006.

The Order requires public agencies, as defined above, to report all SSOs in the State Water Board’s online SSO database and seek approval from their governing Board of the development of the SSMP and approval of the final SSMP at a public meeting. The State SSO reporting system replaced the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board’s (Regional Board) reporting system on May 2, 2007. The State Water Board reporting system requires that all SSOs be reported within specific timeframes.

DISCUSSION:

The SSMP must provide documentation of an agency’s existing or proposed programs to properly operate and maintain its sanitary sewer system.  There are eleven (11) elements of the SSMP that must be completed in accordance with the GWDR timeline set by the State Water Board and based upon the population of the community. The Districts governed by your 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 60,000 based on the Year 2000 Census. The SSMP tasks and required completion dates for sanitary sewer systems serving populations between 10,000 and 100,000 are listed in Attachment A.

In additional to the State Water Board SSMP requirements, the Regional Board also has requirements for development of an SSMP. The Districts are required to comply with both the State Water Board and Regional Board SSMP elements and timelines. The SSMP required by the Regional Board must be completed over a three-year period, which began in August 2006. The Districts have been completing these elements in accordance with the Regional Board’s timeline.

A resolution has been approved as to form by County Counsel.

FISCAL IMPACT:

The proportionate cost of developing and implementing the SSMP will be charged to each district. The State Water Board also requires that an annual fee be paid for enrollment in the mandatory reporting program. Complying with the State Water Board SSO reporting requirements is a new expense to the Districts. All of the Districts will face financial challenges in complying with SSMP requirements in light of majority protests and limited increases in sewer service charge rates over the past two years. Costs for complying with the SSO reporting requirement will be allocated to the specific District that experienced an SSO.

There is no impact on the General Fund.

Attachment A:

Sewer System Management Plan Time Schedule