Item Number: 10
City Council / Board of Directors
Written Communications
Meeting of: May 6, 2025
Submitted By:
Doug Mathews, Director of Public Works and Water
Fredy Bonilla, City Engineer
Subject:
Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) 2025 Update
Recommendation:
Staff recommends that the Honorable City Council adopt Resolution No. 25-038 to approve, adopt, and re-certify the City's 2025 updated Sewer System Management Plan.
Fiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item as this is a certify and file report.
Strategic Plan Goal:
This item aligns with "Goal E: Invest in Infrastructure” in the City of Victorville's Strategic Plan 2023-2026. The Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) is a document that describes the activities an agency uses to manage its wastewater collection system effectively. The SSMP provides a plan and schedule to properly manage, operate, and maintain all parts of the sanitary system. This SSMP re-certification ensures a healthy and livable community by maintaining the City's wastewater collection system assets.
Background:
A Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) outlines the strategies and actions an agency implements to efficiently manage its wastewater collection system. Its primary purpose is to establish a structured plan and timeline for the proper operation, maintenance, and oversight of all components within the sanitary sewer system. This helps minimize and prevent sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs), as well as reduce the impact of any SSOs that may occur. The City's sanitary system consists of about 437 miles of sewer mains and 121 miles of sewer laterals (31,225 connections). The gravity sewer mains vary in size from 8 inches to 30 inches in diameter, are comprised of a variety of materials, and range in age from recent construction to over 50 years old. 4 0
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In 2009, the City developed and implemented a SSMP in compliance with the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) Water Quality Order no. 2006-0003-DWQ – the Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) for Sanitary Sewer Systems (the "2006 Order"). As required by the 2006 Order, the City Council approved and adopted the original SSMP on July 1, 2009, by adopting Resolution No. 09-060 (revised on October 20, 2009). A further requirement of the 2006 Order specified that the SSMP: (1) be updated and readopted every five years (or whenever there are significant program changes); and (2) be internally audited biennially at a minimum. The regulations contained in the 2006 Order were born out of a growing concern about the water quality impacts of SSOs, particularly those that pose serious health and safety or nuisance issues affecting beaches, lakes, and rivers.
On September 9, 2013, the 2006 Order was amended by SWRCB Order No. WQ 2013- 0058- EXEС (the "Amendment"). The Amendment made changes to the Monitoring and Reporting Program (MRP) requirements in the 2006 Order to better advance the SSO Reduction Program's objectives, assess compliance, and enforce the requirements of the Sanitary Sewer System WDRs. Because the Amendment required revisions to the SSMP constituting a significant change, City staff updated and revised the existing SSMP to reflect the MRP and other necessary program changes as part of the mandated five-year SSMP update.
Later, on May 17, 2016, City Council approved an update to the SSMP. The updated SSMP documents the completion of several key items, including the adoption of the Sewer Master Plan in December 2016, the completion of the Collection System Cleaning, Inspection and Condition Assessment Report, the 2017 Sewer Lining Project (which lined 11,390 lineal feet of sewer main line), the development of an SSO Emergency Response Plan, and the 2016 biennial audit.
On May 21, 2019, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 19-041, to approve, adopt and re-certify the City’s 2019 updated SSMP as required by the 2006 Order and Amendment.
The plan outlined a range of Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs) focused on capacity enhancements and sewer realignments. It also reestablished goals for collection system management, SSO response protocols, the Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) control program, as well as SSMP monitoring and implementation efforts.
In December 2022, the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) adopted a revised statewide Sanitary Sewer Systems General Order (Order No. 2022- 0103-DWQ, or the “2022 Order”), which superseded the previous 2006 Order. This updated 2022 Order, effective June 5, 2023, introduced several significant changes aimed at enhancing the management and operation of sanitary sewer systems across the state. The 2022 Order expanded regulatory scope, enhanced spill reporting requirements, and strengthened enforcement provisions. Annual audit reports are required each year in April and SSMP updates are required depending on an agency’s population size. The City is required to update the SSMP every six years and have it approved by the governing board. Additionally, an internal audit is required every two years, with annual review of audit findings.
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Discussion:
The City’s Engineering and Public Works staff, in conjunction with Fischer Compliance, LLC, have put together the City’s 2025 updated SSMP. The updated plan includes the summary of projects that were completed, including:
•Sewer Main Lining 2022 Project
•Sewer Main Lining 2023 Project
•Old Town Septic to Sewer Conversion Project
•Structural Capacity Improvement Project – C1
•Sewer Structural Rehabilitation Project
•SCLA Industrial Sewer Manhole Rehabilitation Project
•Sewer Forced Main Condition Assessment Project
•Sewer Rate Study - 2023
In addition, the plan included updates as required by the 2022 Order for the following items:
•Preventative Maintenance Program
•Capacity Assurance Plan
•Updated Emergency Response Plan
Like its predecessors, the City's updated SSMP for 2025 contains and addresses the following required elements:
•Collection system management goals
•Organization of personnel, including the chain of command and communications •Overflow emergency response plan
•FOG control program
•Legal authority for permitting flows into the system, enforcement of proper design, installation, and testing standards, and inspection requirements for new and rehabilitated sewers
•Operation and maintenance program
•Design and construction standards
•System evaluation and capacity management/assurance
•Monitoring plan for SSMP program effectiveness
•Periodic SSMP audits, periodic SSMP updates, and implementation of program improvements
•Communication program to provide the public the opportunity for input In order to ensure compliance with the recommendations for implementation of the plans and programs specified in the updated SSMP, the following additional resources and expenditures will be necessary in the upcoming years:
•Construction of several sewer CIP projects
•Purchase of additional equipment & vehicles
•Purchase of redundant equipment for pump stations
•Purchase of additional manhole SmartCovers
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The City of Victorville 2025 updated SSMP, which has been prepared in compliance with the 2022 Order, is attached as Exhibit A to Resolution No. 25-038 and is being submitted for adoption and certification by the City Council at this time.
Staff remains available for any questions the City Council may have.
Attachments: A. Resolution No. 25-038