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STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD <br />ORDER NO. 2006-0003-DWO <br />STATEWIDE GENERAL WASTE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS <br />FOR <br />SANITARY SEWER SYSTEMS <br />The State Water Resources Control Board, hereinafter referred to as "State <br />Water Board", finds that: <br />1. All federal and state agencies, municipalities, counties, districts, and other public <br />entities that own or operate sanitary sewer systems greater than one mile in <br />length that collect and/or convey untreated or partially treated wastewater to a <br />publicly owned treatment facility in the State of California are required to comply <br />with the terms of this Order. Such entities are hereinafter referred to as <br />"Enrollees". <br />2. Sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) are overflows from sanitary sewer systems of <br />domestic wastewater, as well as industrial and commercial wastewater, <br />depending on the pattern of land uses in the area served by the sanitary sewer <br />system. SSOs often contain high levels of suspended solids, pathogenic <br />organisms, toxic pollutants, nutrients, oxygen -demanding organic compounds, oil <br />and grease and other pollutants. SSOs may cause a public nuisance, <br />particularly when raw untreated wastewater is discharged to areas with high <br />public exposure, such as streets or surface waters used for drinking, fishing, or <br />body contact recreation. SSOs may pollute surface or ground waters, threaten <br />public health, adversely affect aquatic life, and impair the recreational use and <br />aesthetic enjoyment of surface waters. <br />3. Sanitary sewer systems experience periodic failures resulting in discharges that <br />may affect waters of the state. There are many factors (including factors related <br />to geology, design, construction methods and materials, age of the system, <br />population growth, and system operation and maintenance), which affect the <br />likelihood of an SSO. A proactive approach that requires Enrollees to ensure a <br />system -wide operation, maintenance, and management plan is in place will <br />reduce the number and frequency of SSOs within the state. This approach will in <br />turn decrease the risk to human health and the environment caused by SSOs. <br />4. Major causes of SSOs include: grease blockages, root blockages, sewer line <br />flood damage, manhole structure failures, vandalism, pump station mechanical <br />failures, power outages, excessive storm or ground water inflow/infiltration, <br />debris blockages, sanitary sewer system age and construction material failures, <br />lack of proper operation and maintenance, insufficient capacity and contractor - <br />caused damages. Many SSOs are preventable with adequate and appropriate <br />facilities, source control measures and operation and maintenance of the sanitary <br />sewer system. <br />19F-38 <br />