San Diego Region - Sanitary Sewer Overflows

State Water Resource Control Board (State Board) Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ, Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems, adopted by the State Board on May 2, 2006, establishes minimum requirements to prevent sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) from publicly owned/operated sanitary sewer systems. Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ is the primary regulatory mechanism for sanitary sewer systems statewide, but allows each regional board to issue more stringent or more prescriptive Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) for sanitary sewer systems within their respective jurisdiction.

In accordance with Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ, all federal and state agencies, municipalities, counties, districts, and other public entities that own, operate, acquire, or assume responsibility for sanitary sewer systems greater than one mile in length that collect and/or convey untreated or partially treated wastewater to a publicly owned treatment facility in the State of California are required to apply for coverage under the statewide general WDRs. Approximately 54 Sewage Collection Agencies in Region 9 fall under this category.

On May 9, 1996, this Regional Board adopted Order No. 96-04, General Waste Discharge Requirements Prohibiting Sanitary Sewer Overflows by Sewage Collection Agencies, which prohibited the discharge of sewage from a sanitary sewer system at any point upstream of a sewage treatment plant.

Order No. 96-04 had been an effective regulatory mechanism in reducing the number and magnitude of sewage spills in the Region. The Order was more stringent and prescriptive than Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ in that Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ may allow some SSOs that were prohibited under Order No. 96-04.

In order to maintain regulation of Sanitary Sewer Systems in the San Diego Region consistent with the provisions of Order No. 96-04 and implement the requirements contained in the Basin Plan, California Water Code, and Federal Clean Water Act, this Regional Board adopted Order No. R9-2007-0005, which reaffirms the prohibition on all SSOs upstream of a sewage treatment plant. Order No. R9-2007-0005 applies to all enrollees under the State Board Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ within Region 9, supplements the State Board Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ, and rescinds Order No. 96-04 for all Sewage Collection Agencies enrolled under the State Board Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ.

On February 20, 2008, the Executive Director of the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) signed Order No. WQ 2008-0002-EXEC, amending the statewide Monitoring and Reporting Program associated with the General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Overflows, Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ for discharges of untreated sewage from sewage collection systems. Order No. WQ 2008-0002-EXEC requires additional reporting requirements for public SSOs that reach surface waters or storm drains.

Please check out the links below to learn more about SSO regulatory programs. All files are in PDF format unless noted.

• San Diego Regional Board Order No. R9-2007-0005
• State Board Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ
• State Board Order No. WQ 2008-0002-EXEC
• Flowchart of the General Guideline s for SSO notification
• 24-hour Report Form for Category 1 Spills, to be used if the State Board on-line system (CIWQS) is not working
• Past Presentation on SSO prevention (NOTE: contact info and reporting requirements have changed)
  • Current and Proposed SSO Regulations (9/12/02)
  • Preventative Measures and the Sanitary Sewer Overflow Prevention Plan (5/5/03)
  • Practical and Proactive SSO Prevention, Lessons Learned: Case Studies (3/9/04)

Sanitary Sewer Overflow Data

All sanitary sewer overflow data are self-reported by sewer agencies under penalty of perjury. The Regional Board attempts to verify, but cannot guarantee, the accuracy or completeness of the information

• 1986-2006 Database - Raw data submitted by sewage collection agencies pursuant to Order No. 96-04.
• 2007-present database Search for certified reports submitted by sewage collection agencies under Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ and Order No. R9-2007-0005.
• Executive Officer's Reports - From January 2003 to May 2007, a monthly narrative and tabular summary of sanitary sewer overflow statistics are contained in each monthly EO Report. Starting in July 2007, the format has changed to a bimonthly narrative and tabular summary that will be in every other monthly EO Report. Statistics are based on preliminary data obtained from 24-hour and 5-day reports required under Order No. 96-04 and the reports submitted to the California Integrated Water Quality System (CIWQS) and required under Order No. 2006-0003-DWQ and Order No. R9-2007-0005.
• Annual Statistics - Annual summaries of data submitted by sewage collection agencies pursuant to Order 96-04.
  • July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008
  • July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007
  • July 1, 2005 to June 30, 2006
  • July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2005
  • July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004
  • July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003
  • July 1, 2001 to June 30, 2002