To: Board of Directors, Sonoma County Water Agency, Russian River County Sanitation District, Occidental County Sanitation District
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Water Agency, Russian River County Sanitation District, and Occidental County Sanitation District
Staff Name and Phone Number: Kevin Booker, 521-1865
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth
Title:
Title
Adoption of Ordinances Amending Sewer Lateral Provisions in Sanitation Codes
End
Recommended Actions:
Recommended action
Adopt Ordinances to amend the Sanitation Code of the Occidental County Sanitation District, Russian River County Sanitation District, and Sonoma County Water Agency Sanitation Zones to provide requirements for side sewer inspection and building sewer repair to reduce inflow and infiltration into the sewer collection systems. (Second Reading - Ready for Adoption) (Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth Districts)
end
Executive Summary:
On August 6, 2019, the Boards of the Occidental County Sanitation District, Russian River County Sanitation District, and Sonoma County Water Agency Sanitation Zones adopted resolutions introducing, reading the title of, and waiving further reading of ordinances to provide requirements for side sewer inspection and building sewer repair, and a public hearing was held on the ordinances. This item recommends adopting the ordinances.
Discussion:
Purpose of the Ordinances
Sonoma County Water Agency (Sonoma Water) is presenting ordinances that will amend the Sanitation Code for Occidental County Sanitation District, Russian River County Sanitation District, and Sonoma Water (on behalf of the Airport-Larkfield-Wikiup, Geyserville, Penngrove, and Sea Ranch Sanitation Zones) to reduce inflow and infiltration through cracks in sewer pipes and into the collection systems, thereby preventing or lowering the potential for sanitary sewer overflows to occur. The proposed ordinance amendments could reduce the amount of inflow and infiltration into the sewer collection systems and treatment plants, potentially reducing the cost to operate the wastewater treatment and disposal facilities. Reducing additional flows may similarly result in lessening the need to increase the size of sewer mains or expansion of treatment and disposal facilities, further reducing costs to ratepayers.
Sewage collection systems (facilities for collecting, pumping, treating, and disposing of sewage or wastewater) are designed to handle sewage flows from homes and businesses plus additional flow from infiltration and inflow. However, infiltration and inflow entering the system can be much higher than the collection, pumping, or treatment systems’ designed capacity when there is infiltration above design parameters due to deteriorated sewer pipes or significant sources from rainwater inflow. Such stresses on sewer collection, pumping, and/or treatment capacity can result in sewage spills which may pose a risk to public health and the environment. In addition to causing sewage spills, high flows can also affect the ability of the treatment plant to adequately treat wastewater to permit requirements.
The current Sanitation Codes require the sewer service user (property owner and building sewer owner) to maintain the user’s side sewer, which consists of the privately owned building sewer lying between the structure and the property line, and the District- and Zone-owned sewer lateral, which provides a direct and exclusive connection from the building sewer to the public sewer main. The proposed Sanitation Code amendments clarify the requirements for testing of side sewers and repair or replacement of privately owned building sewers. The purpose of the proposed amendments is to establish prompts when testing of side sewers shall occur and when repair or replacement of building sewers will be necessary.
Development of Ordinances
Public meetings were held in Monte Rio, Santa Rosa (at Sonoma Water’s office), Sea Ranch, and Penngrove in 2018 to engage the publics’ opinions on the proposed amendments. At each meeting, a presentation was given on the proposed amendments followed by discussion where the public was encouraged to comment. Comments received included: 1) unclear responsibility, between the property owner and the District or Zone on the maintenance of the side sewer and repair of building sewer; and 2) permit requirements. Staff explained the responsibilities of the user per the current Sanitation Codes. Permits will be required for sewer repair in compliance with the California Building Standards Code and County requirements. The proposed amendments are not tied to a property transaction, and are not anticipated to have an impact on buying/selling property.
Staff and County Counsel developed an initial draft of the ordinances which included the following triggering events for inspection, and if necessary repair, of sewer laterals: 1) Based on indications that inspection and repair may be necessary, the General Manager or Chief Engineer of the District or Zone may require inspection of any side sewer that is thirty (30) years old or older and connected to the public sewer system; and 2) If the District or Zone is replacing a sewer main, inspection of the side sewers connected to the sewer main is required. Upon either trigger, the side sewer shall be tested by the user, at the user’s expense, in accordance with the requirements of the ordinances, to ensure the side sewer meets standards for infiltration and ex-filtration.
If a building sewer fails inspection, the user will have 365 days from the date of notification to obtain permits and begin repairs of the building sewer.
The ordinances are exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The ordinances are not a project within the meaning of Public Resources Code Section 21065 or CEQA Guidelines Section 15378. Notwithstanding the determination that the ordinances are not a project, if they were a project, they would be exempt pursuant to CEQA Guideline Sections 15061(b)(3), 15301, 15302, 15307, and 15308.
Prior Board Actions:
08-06-2019: Sonoma County Water Agency and the Russian River and Occidental County Sanitation Districts’ Boards adopted resolutions introducing, reading the title of, and waiving further reading of the ordinances to amend the Sanitation Codes to provide requirements for side sewer inspection and building sewer repair.
Fiscal Summary
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FY 21-22 Projected |
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
None
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
Underline/Strikeout Versions of Proposed Amendments to the Sanitation Ordinances (Onfiles 1,2,3)
Amended Versions of the Sanitation Ordinances (Onfiles 4,5,6)