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On March 24, 2011, the State Water Resources Control Board released for public comment draft Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems (SSS WDR). If adopted, the proposed SSS WDR would replace the existing statewide SSO WDR (Order WQ 2006-003.)
Written Comments on Changes to SSS WDR Due May 13
A State Water Resources Control Board workshop will be scheduled at a future date, most likely in June.
The proposed revisions represent a major departure from the program that has been successfully implemented under the SSO WDR. The water quality associations and local government associations are drafting comprehensive comments on the proposed SSS WDR. But we also need your help.
Please send a comment letter on behalf of your agency requesting that the State Water Board significantly scale back the proposed SSS WDR and allow the programs and progress begun under the existing SSO WDR to be fully implemented, since many of these programs involve capital improvements that will take time to be put in place.
Please use this as an opportunity to tell your agency's story. Let the State Water Resources Control Board know about the funding and staff resources that have been invested in your collection system, the programs you have implemented (FOG, Spill Response, Cleaning, etc.) or improved under the SSO WDR, and how the number/ volume of SSOs entering surface waters has been reduced as a result.
Visit the State Water Resource Control Board for more information or view the PowerPoint presentation given by Russell Norman with the SWRCB on April 25, and read the questions and answers asked during their webinar about these upcoming changes, what they mean for you and how you can get your voice heard. You can also check out the PowerPoint presentation made representatives from the SWRCB and EPA about the upcoming enforcement and hear from two agencies who have already have inspections.
On July 12, CWEA hosted a third webinar focused on Clean Water Act Lawsuits giving tips, hints and valuable knowledge to help agencies with these lawsuits. View the PowerPoint presentation given by Bobbi Larson and Vickie Caulfield and read the questions from attendees with the answers from our speakers.
The Waste Discharge Requirement (See new SWRCB Executive Order Above)
On
May 2, 2006, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) adopted a
General Waste Discharge Requirement (WDR) for all publicly owned sanitary
sewer collection systems in California with more than one mile of sewer pipe.
The goal of the WDR is to provide a consistent statewide approach for
reducing Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs). The WDR requires that:
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In the event of an SSO, all
feasible steps be taken to control the released volume and prevent
untreated wastewater from entering storm drains, creeks, etc.
-
If an SSO occurs, it must be
reported to the SWRCB using an online reporting system developed the SWRCB called
CIWQS
- the California Integrated Water Quality System
project. . (Note: All spills greater than 1,000 gallons still must be
reported to the Office of Emergency Services, as is currently required.)
- Enrollment to the
program, demographic questionnaire, and electronic
reporting start-date are phased in by region,
starting in November 2006.
-
A
Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP)
with all mandatory elements must be developed and
approved by the collection system's governing body.
- The requirement for completion
of a development schedule , development of specific
elements, and final approval are phased in based on
population served, starting in August 2007.
On June 27, 2006, CWEA and the SWRCB
entered into a memorandum of
agreement (MOA) (and
amendment) for industry training on
these new requirements. With the MOA in place,
compliance deadlines were extended for both the electronic reporting and SSMP elements. On December 9, 2010, CWEA and the SWRCB signed a new MOA that extended the agreement until December 31, 2011.
Webinar training opportunities coming soon!
1) How to Estimate SSO's
2) NGO Actions
3) SSMP Audits & Enforcement
4) SSO-WDR Reporting and Order Changes
More about Electronic
Reporting
More about the SSMP
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