REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Action on Adopting a Resolution Approving the Update to the Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) to Implement New State Requirements for the Operation and Maintenance of the City's Sewer Collection System
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Deliver and Enhance High Quality Efficient Services and Infrastructure
BACKGROUND
The State of California regulates sanitary sewer systems under a General Order ("Order"), including Santa Clara's sanitary sewer system. The Order serves as statewide waste discharge requirements and requires municipalities to comply with federal and State prohibitions of discharge of sewage to waters of the State, including federal waters of the United States; comply with specifications, and notification, monitoring, reporting and recordkeeping requirements; proactively operate and maintain resilient sanitary sewer systems to prevent spills; eliminate discharges of sewage to receiving waters; monitor, track, and analyze spills for ongoing system-specific performance improvements; and report noncompliance with the Order and other reporting requirements. The previous Order 2006-003-DWQ and the amendments thereafter were superseded by Order 2022-0103-DWQ adopted by the California State Water Resources Control Board ("State Water Board") on December 6, 2022, with the Order becoming effective on June 5, 2023. The State of California has implemented a program for all sewer agencies, as a requirement of the previous and updated Orders to develop a Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP), which establishes the methods and programs to meet certain goals pertaining to the effective operation of sewer collection systems. In order to comply with the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) and State Water Board requirement of updating the SSMP every six (6) years, staff has prepared an updated SSMP which contains all elements currently set forth by the State Water Board.
The updated SSMP is comprised of 11 major el...
Click here for full text