City Council
259 N. Wilma Avenue
Ripon, CA 95366
MEMO
To: Honorable City Council
From: James Pease, Public Works Director
Date: 07/08/2025
Subject: 2025 Sewer System Management Plan Update
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve the resolution adopting the 2025 Ripon Sewer System Management Plan Update.
BACKGROUND:
In May 2006, the State Water Resource Control Board (SWRCB) adopted the Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems, Order No. 2006-0003 (General Order). The City applied for and received coverage under the General Order. The General Order requires agencies to develop and approve a Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) which is a work plan for managing the sanitary sewer collection system to ensure that each sewer system is proactively operated, maintained and managed.
The SSMP outlines best practices and procedures to:
Reduce the number, frequency, and severity of sanitary sewer spills and overflows Identify and eliminate system weaknesses (e.g. blockages, inflow and infiltration, pipe failure)
Minimize the risk of untreated sewage discharging into surface water, groundwater, or public areas
Operate and maintain sewer infrastructure reliably,
Train staff, implement inspection routines, and keep accurate records, Plan for repairs, rehabilitation, and replacement of aging pipes and pump stations Emergency overflow response plans, including inter-agency coordination, Protocols for rapid notification, containment, cleanup, and public safety measures during an SSO
The City created and adopted its original SSMP in 2009. The City updated the SSMP in March 2023, which extended coverage of the original General Order through July 2025.
DISCUSSION:
In December 2022, the State Water Resource Control Board updated the Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems and adopted Order No. 2022-0103 which superseded the previous General Order. Agencies are required to update their SSMPs to comply with the new regulations of the General Order and submit them to the SWRCB in August 2025.
An overview of changes included with the new General Order are outlined below:
Category 2006-0003-DWQ (Old) 2022-0103-DWQ (New)
Water Protection Focused on surface water Includes groundwater as "waters of the State"
Climate Resilience Not addressed Must consider climate change impacts Spill Reporting Surface water spills only Broader reporting, including groundwater impacts
SSMP Updates No mandatory schedule Now required every 6 years, audited every 3 years
Emergency Response
Plans
General requirement Must be detailed and coordinated with local agencies
Spill Sampling General guidance Mandatory sampling for spills over 50,000 gallons
The attached SSMP has been updated to incorporate the changes within the new General Order, once adopted the plan will be submitted to the SWRCB.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None at this time.
Attachments:
1. SSMP July 2025
RESOLUTION NO. 25-21
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RIPON ADOPTING THE 2025 RIPON SEWER SYSTEM
MANAGEMENT PLAN UPDATE
WHEREAS, in December 2022, the State Water Resource Control Board adopted Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer System, Order No. 2022- 0103; and
WHEREAS, the City has coverage under Order No. 2022-0103; and WHEREAS, Order No. 2022-0103 requires permittees to develop and approve a Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP); and
WHEREAS, the updated Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) considered for approval before us today will serve as a work plan to manage the sanitary sewer system in a manner consistent with Order No. 2022-0103.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Ripon does hereby accept the Sewer System Management Plan in satisfaction of State Order No. 2022-0103 to serve as the work plan in management of the City’s sanitary sewer collection system.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Ripon this 8th day of July, 2025, by the following vote:
RESULT: ADOPTED BY CONSENT VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Leo Zuber, Council Member
SECONDER:Michael Restuccia, Council Member
AYES: de Graaf, Barton, Uecker, Restuccia, Zuber
THE CITY OF RIPON,
A Municipal Corporation
By ________________________________
DANIEL DE GRAAF, Mayor
ATTEST:
By: ___________________________
LISA ROOS, City Clerk