PISMO BEACH CITY COUNCIL STAF REPOR
Agenda Item #9.D
Meetin Date: pril 21, 2026
TITLE:
2026 Sewer System Management Plan Update
RECOMMENDATION:
Adopt a Resolution adopting the 2026 Sewer System Management Plan.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Pismo Beach has a current population of approximately 7,984 and the sewer system receives approximately one million gallons per day (MGD) of sewage on average.
During the summer, winter and holiday seasons, the number of people served by the water and sewer system increases dramatically, with wastewater flows easily reaching
1.5 MGD or higher.
The City’s wastewater collection system includes 50.23 miles of pipeline, twelve lift stations, and 8.48 miles of force mains and 41.74 of gravity mains, as well as approximately 4,775 sewer service connections through which wastewater is collected and conveyed to the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. The collection system is composed mainly of vitrified clay pipe (VCP) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe ranging in diameter from 6 to 18 inches, the oldest portions of which were installed in 1950. In general, the system gravity drains from east to west, along the ocean’s edge toward localized low points where lift stations pump the sewage to force mains, which carry it to the treatment plant.
The State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRCB’s) Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR) for Sanitary Sewer Systems, Order No. 2022-0103- DWQ require the City to have and maintain a Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP).
The SSMP is required to be updated every six years and audited every three years.
The SSMP provides a plan and schedule to properly manage, operate, and maintain all parts of the sanitary sewer system in order to help reduce and prevent sanitary sewer spills, as well as mitigate any spills that do occur. The main objectives of the SSMP are to:
Manage, operate, and maintain all aspects and components of the City’s wastewater collection system
Provide the wastewater collection system with adequate capacity to convey peak wastewater flows
Minimize the occurrence of sewer spills to the extent possible Mitigate the impacts that are associated with any sewer spill that may occur Meet all regulatory requirements related to the SSMP and sewer spill reporting system
Council Agenda 4-21-2026 9.D-1
The City’s previous SSMP was developed and adopted in 2020 and needed to be updated in order to stay compliant with the California discharge permit for sanitary sewer systems.
The 2026 SSMP update evaluates the effects of growth, densification and conservation on the City’s sewer collection system and identifies long-term strategies to renew existing assets, long term planning and capital improvement recommendations.
A copy of the 2026 SSMP is available upon request from the City Clerk’s Office or online in the City’s Access Pismo1 public record portal.
Conclusion and Recommendation
To ensure that the City remains in compliance with the California discharge permit for sanitary sewer systems, staff recommends that the Council adopt a resolution (Attachment 1) approving the 2026 Sewer System Management Update.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with staff’s recommended action.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2.2026 SSMP (online attachment only; hard copy available upon request) Prepared by:
Erin Olsen, Senior Management Analyst
Submitted by: Rosemarie R. Gaglione, PE, Director of Public Works City Manager Approval:
1 Full URL: https://portal.laserfiche.com/Portal/DocView.aspx?id=777369&repo=r-f36a9aa0 Council Agenda 4-21-2026 9.D-2
RESOLUTION NO. R-2026-XXX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PISMO BEACH, CALIFORNIA ADOPTING THE 2026 SEWER SYSTEM MANAGEMENT PLAN WHEREAS, the sewer system receives approximately one million gallons per day of sewage and surges dramatically during the summer, winter, and holiday seasons; and WHEREAS, the State Water Resources Control Board’s Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems, Order No. 2022-0103-DWQ require the City to have and maintain a Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP); and WHEREAS, the SSMP provides a plan and schedule to properly manage, operate, and maintain all parts of the sanitary sewer system in order to help reduce and prevent sanitary sewer spills, as well as mitigate any spills that do occur; and WHEREAS, the previous SSMP was developed and adopted in 2020; and WHEREAS, the SSMP is required by state regulation to be updated every 6 years.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Pismo Beach hereby approves the 2026 Sewer System Management Plan Update, in substantially the form attached to staff’s report dated April 21, 2026.
UPON MOTION OF Council Member , seconded by Council Member , the foregoing resolution was adopted by the City Council of the City of Pismo Beach this 21st day of April 2026, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
RECUSED:
Approved: Attest:
________________________ ________________________
Ed Waage, Mayor Erica Inderlied, City Clerk
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and official seal of the City of Pismo Beach on _______________________.
________________________
Erica Inderlied, City Clerk
Council Agenda 4-21-2026 9.D-3