Resolution 22-99/00
(Sewer Lateral Maintenance)

A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SOUTH COAST WATER DISTRICT ESTABLISHING A POLICY RE SEWER LATERAL MAINTENANCE

WHEREAS, South Coast Water District owns, operates, and maintains a wastewater collection system throughout the District, consisting of collector sewers, trunk and interceptor main sewers, and pumping stations, all of which transport wastewater to the regional wastewater treatment plants owned and operated by Aliso Water Management Agency ("AMWA"), or South East Regional Reclamation Authority ("SERRA"), of which District is a Member; and

WHEREAS, it has been a long-standing policy of the District to implement the best available procedures of operation and maintenance, in order to protect the natural resources and the environment within the District and the related watershed area, as well as the Pacific Ocean; and

WHEREAS, the District's policy is to maintain all of its existing wastewater system facilities on a regular basis, so as to minimize the opportunity for accidental discharges or spillage of wastewater; and

WHEREAS, the District provides wastewater collection services to approximately 11,600 parcels of property within the District, which are connected to the District's system by lateral sewers from improvements on the parcel; and

WHEREAS, the ownership and responsibility for maintenance of lateral sewers is that of the owners and occupants of the property, to the point of connection with the District's system; and

WHEREAS, the District has determined that the lack of maintenance or improper maintenance of sewer laterals can be the cause for accidental spills of wastewater due to broken lines or blockages; and

WHEREAS, the District wishes to take all measures possible to broaden the areas of responsibilities to further minimize the risk of wastewater spills; and

WHEREAS, the United States Environmental Protection Agency is currently proposing expanded regulations which will place liability, including the possibility of imposition of monetary fines, upon the public agency owners of wastewater sewer lines, to include spillages which occur outside of the District's system and as part of a property owner's own lateral connector sewer line; and

WHEREAS, the District desires to minimize the potential exposure to the enforcement action resulting in payment of taxpayer dollars as fines or penalties arising out of spills caused from lateral connector sewers not owned and maintained by the District.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Board of Directors of South Coast Water District, does hereby RESOLVE, DETERMINE, and ORDER:

Section 1: That it is the policy of South Coast Water District that all sewer lateral lines connecting structures to the District's sewer system shall be regularly and adequately maintained by the property owners, so as to prevent sewer blockages or spills caused by damage to the lateral.

Section 2: That property owners shall be responsible for the maintenance of the sewer lateral line to the point of connection with the District's collector sewer.

Section 3: That all property owners shall notify the District in advance of any interference, including repair or cleaning of the lateral sewer line, whether performed by the property owner or a contractor. In the event of emergency service to the lateral line, the owner or its contractor shall notify the District immediately following the performance of the maintenance, in order that the District may take reasonable measures to accommodate material and debris that is removed or discharged into the District's collector system.

Section 4: That, to the extent possible, materials causing a blockage of the lateral sewer connector shall be removed and not discharged into the District's collector system.

Section 5: That the District encourages all property owners and occupants to cooperate with the District in the operation and maintenance of the sewage collection system, so as to insure the highest level of environmental protection within the District's service area.

PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Board of Directors of South Coast Water District held this 2nd day of March, 2000.