City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: May 23, 2023
Agenda Item: 5.C
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rick Valte, Public Works Director, Public Works, Water Resources Subject: Adoption of a Resolution Approving the City's Sewer System Management Plan Update
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached resolution approving the City’s Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) Update and Certifying it is consistent with Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) for Sanitary Sewer Systems.
2. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to Section 15308 (Actions for Protection of the Environment), of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines.
Summary
The City of Santa Monica’s Water Resources Division within the Public Works Department operates and maintains the City’s sanitary sewer system, which consists of approximately 150 miles of sewer main, a sanitary sewer lift station (Moss Avenue Pump Station), and 2,800 maintenance utility holes. The City is required to update its Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) periodically to comply with statewide Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR) administered by the California State Water Resources Control Board. The WDR permit requires the City to operate and maintain sanitary sewer systems to prevent spills and to eliminate discharge of sewage into waters of the State through effective implementation of the SSMP, among other requirements. The Water Resources Division recently updated the City’s SSMP, which requires recertification by City Council prior to submittal to the California State Water Resources Control Board. Staff recommends that City Council recertify the City’s revised SSMP. By 2 of 3
recertifying the SSMP, the City would reinforce its commitment to managing the sanitary sewer system in a manner that protects public health and natural resources.
Discussion
On May 2, 2006, the California State Water Resources Control Board announced requirements for a statewide waste discharge requirements permit (Order NO. 2006- 0003-DWQ) to regulate sanitary sewer systems. The California State Water Resources Control Board requires public entities that own and/or operate one or more sanitary sewer systems greater than one (1) mile in length to obtain a WDR permit for sanitary sewer systems. The City currently holds a WDR permit for its sanitary sewer system and the first SSMP was approved by City Council on September 8, 2009. The City’s recently completed Sustainable Water Infrastructure Project (SWIP) is regulated under its own WDR permit (Order No. R4-2021-0044) to produce advanced treated recycled water for non-potable uses (e.g., irrigation and dual-plumbed buildings) and groundwater recharge. Thus, discussion of the SWIP is not included in the SSMP.
The purpose of the SSMP is to identify necessary administrative elements to properly schedule, manage, operate, and maintain all parts of the City’s sanitary sewer system, to reduce and prevent sanitary sewer overflows, and to mitigate any overflow events that do occur. In October 2022, The Water Resources Division commenced efforts to update the City’s Sanitary Sewer Master Plan and key proposed updates include a chain of communications for reporting sanitary sewer overflows, addition of pertinent sections of the City’s Municipal Code (SMCC 5.20, 7.04, 7.68) to establish legal authority for WDR compliance, response actions to overflow events, routine maintenance activities performed by the City, and updated historical information on overflow events in the City.
The updated SSMP must be recertified by City Council prior to it being submitted to the California State Water Resources Control Board in May 2023. 3 of 3
Environmental Review
Updating the City’s Sewer System Management Plan is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15308 (Class 8 - Actions for Protection of the Environment) of the CEQA Guidelines. Section 15308 exempts actions taken by regulatory agencies for protection of the environment. The SSMP establishes the administrative elements and guidelines to prevent and mitigate sewer overflow events in an effort to protect the environment.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
09/08/09 (Attachment A) Approval of initial Sewer System Management Plan 07/26/22 (Attachment B) Award contract for Sanitary Sewer Master Plan Update Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of this recommended action.
Prepared By: Thomas Poon, Senior Administrative Analyst Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. July 26, 2022 Staff Report (Web Link)
B. September 8, 2009 Staff Report
C. Draft Sewer System Management Plan Update 2023
D. Resolution