City Council Agenda Report
Meeting Date: August 4, 2026
From: Daniel S. Wall, P.E., Director of Public Works-City Engineer Department: Public Works
Submitted by: Rosemary Lozada, Management Analyst
Subject
Sewer System Management Plan Update
Recommendation
A. Find that the proposed action is exempt from the California Environmentally Quality Act (CEQA) in accordance with the common-sense exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3), because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment; and B. Adopt Resolution No. 2026-036 approving and adopting the updated Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) and authorizing the Legally Responsible Official to certify and submit the SSMP to the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).
Background
On May 2, 2006, the SWRCB adopted the Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirement (WDR) for Sanitary Sewer Systems, Water Quality Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ. The WDR applies to all public agencies in California that own or operate sanitary sewer collection systems with more than one mile of sewer lines that convey untreated wastewater to a publicly owned treatment facility. One of the requirements of the WDR is that each covered agency prepare, certify, and implement a Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP). Accordingly, the City Council first adopted an SSMP in 2007 via Resolution No. 9448 and adopted updates in 2009 and 2010 via Resolution Nos. 10026 and 2010-58.
On December 6, 2022, the SWRCB adopted an updated WDR to regulate wastewater collection system management as General Order No. 2022-0103-DWQ which became effective on June 5, 2023 (Attachment 3) and supersedes the previous SWRCB Order No. 2006-0003 DWQ. The updated WDR requires enrollees to present the SSMP to their governing board for adoption every six years following the date of its original approval or whenever there is any significant change in the document, as determined by the SWRCB. In 2023, the City retained Quantum Quality Consultant, Inc. which conducted an analysis and made revisions to the SSMP in compliance with SWRCB guidelines. An update of the SSMP is due for City Council adoption pursuant to the requirements set by SWRCB Order No. 2022-0103-DWQ. For this proposed SSMP update dated August 2026 (Attachment 2), Public Works and Health & Environmental Control staff reviewed and revised the SSMP to ensure procedures presently align with current processes, departmental roles and contacts.
The SSMP describes the activities the City uses to manage its sanitary sewer collection system effectively and to reduce sewer overflows in a manner designed to minimize water quality impacts and potential nuisance conditions. Each section of the SSMP includes information demonstrating the City’s efforts to comply with each of the mandatory and applicable elements required within the General Order. The organization of this SSMP is consistent with the SWRCB guidelines and includes the following 11 mandatory GWDR elements:
1. Sewer System Management Plan Goal and Introduction
2. Organization
3. Legal Authority
4. Operation and Maintenance Program
5. Design and Performance Provisions
6. Spill Emergency Response Plan
7. Sewer Pipe Blockage Control Program
8. System Evaluation, Capacity Assurance and Capital Improvements
9. Monitoring, Measurement and Program Modifications
10.Internal Audits
11.Communication Program
In addition to adopting the updated SSMP dated August 2026, Resolution No. 2026-036 designates the Director of Public Works-City Engineer as the Legally Responsible Official and authorizes their ability to certify and upload subsequent interim updates to the SSMP as may be legally required by the SWRCB.
Resolution No. 2026-036 was reviewed and approved as-to-form by the City Attorney.
Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 3: Advance Sustainability and Environmental Stewardship Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report.
Attachments
1. Resolution No. 2026-036
2. Sewer System Management Plan
3. State Water Resources Control Board Order No. 2022-0103-DWQ