California sewer systems face deadline for preparing overflow plans
California sewer systems serving more than 100,000 people must prepare sewer system management plans (SSMP) by Aug. 2 to meet the state’s new Water Discharge Requirements (WDR), which were established last year. The WDR aims to reduce the number of sanitary sewer overflows in the state.
Sewer overflows can contaminate groundwater and threaten public health. The new WDR, passed in May 2006, requires agencies that own or operate sewer systems that are more than one mile long to develop SSMPs that detail cost-effective and proper management practices and system operations, as well as public education on related programs and projects.
Implementation of the WDR is phased according to agency size. Agencies serving between 10,000 and 100,000 people have until Nov. 2 to comply, and smaller systems have until next year. More information is available at www.waterboards.ca.gov .