On May 2, 2006, the State Water Resources Control Board issued an Order for statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements (GWDRs) for sanitary sewer systems. This Order was issued to ensure consistent and comprehensive regulation of publicly-owned sanitary sewer systems throughout the State, and to quantify and reduce sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs).

The GWDRs require all wastewater collection agencies with sanitary sewer systems more than one mile in length to electronically report SSOs to the State Water Resources Control Board and to develop and implement a Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP). The SSMP is a document that details how the agency’s sanitary sewer system is operated, maintained, evaluated, and funded.

The SSMP includes eleven elements:

• Goals
• Organization
• Overflow Emergency Response Plan
• Fats, Oils, and Grease Control Program
• Legal Authority
• Measures and Activities
• Design and Construction Standards
• Capacity Management
• Monitoring, Measurement, and Program Modifications
• SSMP Audits
• Communication Program

The SSMP is currently draft and planned to be presented to City Council on September 1, 2009 for acceptance.