CITY OF ALHAMBRA. Sewer System Management Plan

Transcription

1 CITY OF ALHAMBRA Sewer System Management Plan Updated April 2014

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3 Table of Contents INTRODUCTION... 2 SECTION I: GOALS... 3 SECTION II: ORGANAZATION... 4 SECTION III: LEGAL AUTHORITY... 6 SECTION IV: OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM... 7 SECTION V: DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS SECTION VI: OVERFLOW EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN SECTION VII: FATS, OILS, AND GREASE (FOG) CONTROL PROGRAM SECTION VIII: SYSTEM EVALUATION AND CAPACITY ASSURANCE PLAN SECTION IX: MONITORING, MEASUREMENT, AND PROGRAM MODIFICATIONS SECTION X: PROGRAM AUDITS SECTION XI: COMMUNICATION PROGRAM APPENDIX A: ORGANIZATION CHART APPENDIX B-1: UTILITY DAILY WORK LOG APPENDIX B-2: SEWER LIFT STATION PUMP REPORT APPENDIX B-3: UTILITIES DIVISION WORK COMPLETED 31 DAY WORKSHEET APPENDIX C-1: SEWAGE SPILL REPORTING PROCEDURE APPENDIX C-2: AFTER HOURS DECISION TREE APPENDIX C-3: SSO FIELD INCIDENT REPORT APPENDIX C-4: START TIME DETERMINATION WORKSHEET APPENDIX C-5: VOLUME ESTIMATION WORKSHEETS APPENDIX C-6: SSO AFTER ACTION REPORT APPENDIX D-1: FOG INSPECION REPORT APPENDIX D-2: FOG MAINTENANCE/TRAINING LOGS APPENDIX D-3: FOG BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICE BROCHURE APPENDIX D-4: RESIDENTIAL FOG FLYER APPENDIX E: SSMP CHANGE LOG [1]

4 INTRODUCTION This plan has been developed in accordance with the Statewide General Waste Discharge requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems under Order No DWQ in April of Per Permit requirements, the plan is required to be updated every five years. This updated plan incorporates the new Monitoring and Reporting Program (MRP) requirements which became effective September 9, 2013 (Order No. WQ EXEC). All federal and state agencies, municipalities, counties, districts, and other public entities that own or operate 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 comply with the terms of this order. To facilitate proper funding and management of sanitary sewer systems, each agency must develop and implement a system-specific Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP). To be effective, SSMPs must include provisions to provide proper and efficient management, operation, and maintenance of the sanitary sewer system, while taking into consideration risk management and cost benefit analysis. Additionally, the SSMP must contain a spill response plan that establishes standard procedures for immediate response to an SSO in a manner designed to minimize water quality impacts and potential nuisance conditions. There are eleven required elements of an SSMP. These include: 1. Goals 2. Organization 3. Legal Authority 4. Operations and Maintenance Program 5. Design and Performance Provisions 6. Overflow Emergency Response Plan 7. Fats, Oil and Grease Control Program 8. System Evaluation and Capacity Assurance Plan 9. Monitoring, Measurement, and Plan Modifications 10. SSMP Program Audits 11. Communication Program Sanitary Sewer System Background and Description The City of Alhambra is a full service City with a population of nearly 90,000. Its boundaries cover approximately 7.5 square miles of residential, commercial, and industrial areas. The City s existing sewer collection system is made up of a network of gravity sewers, pump stations, and force mains. The gravity system consists of approximately miles (678,510 ft.) of pipe and 2,800 manholes and cleanouts. The system also includes seven pump stations and 7,800 feet of associated force mains. The general direction of flow is from north to south and west to east. The majority of the local sewers tie directly into one of the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County (LACSD) trunk sewers crossing through the City. The sewage is then transported out of the City at the southeast corner. The sewers are primarily constructed of vitrified clay pipe with sizes ranging from 6-inches to 24-inches in diameter. Approximately 87 percent of the pipes are 8-inch in diameter. [2]

5 SECTION I: GOALS The general Waste Discharge Requirements for the Goals section of the Sewer System Management Plan require the City to develop goals for the SSMP to provide a plan and schedule to properly manage, operate, and maintain all parts of the sanitary sewer system in order to reduce and prevent SSO s, as well as mitigate any SSO s that so occur. The goals of the City of Alhambra Utilities Department SSMP are to: 1. Properly manage, operate, and maintain all portions of the City s wastewater collection system. 2. Provide adequate capacity to convey the peak wastewater flows. 3. Minimize the frequency of sanitary sewer overflows. 4. Respond to sanitary sewer overflows quickly and mitigate the impact of the overflow to the public and environmental health. 5. Consistently meet all applicable regulatory notification and reporting requirements. 6. Provide regular training for collections system staff. 7. Identify and prioritize structural deficiencies and implement short-term and long-term maintenance and rehabilitation actions to address each deficiency. 8. Development a computerized maintenance management system for various tracking/reporting requirements. 9. Maintain a robust and rigorous program in order to provide excellent customer service and operate an efficient sanitary sewer system at an optimal level. [3]

6 SECTION II: ORGANAZATION The General Waste Discharge Requirements for the Organization section state the City s SSMP must identify: (a) The name of the responsible or authorized representative; (b) The names and telephone numbers for management, administrative, and maintenance positions responsible for implementing specific measures in the SSMP program. The SSMP must identify lines of authority through and organization chart or similar document with a narrative explanation; and (c) The chain of communication for reporting SSO s from receipt of a complaint or other information, including the person responsible for reporting SSO s to the State and Regional Water Board and other agencies if applicable (such as County Health Officer, County Environmental Health Agency, Regional Water Board, and/or State Office of Emergency Services (OES)). The organizational chart (appendix A) depicts the line of responsibility for the management of the SSMP and response to any SSOs which may occur. The Director of Public Works has overall responsibility for the Department functions, with the Deputy Director of Utilities-Operations and Capital Improvement and the Operations Manager overseeing the dayto-day management of the sewer system and the responsibility for capital improvement budgeting. The Sewer Supervisor has responsibility for the maintenance staff and SSO spill response. The Deputy Director of Utilities Environmental Compliance and the Environmental Compliance Specialist have the responsibility to investigate SSOs and report and notify the appropriate agencies. All contact information can be found in Attachment A of the Sewage Spill Reporting Procedure located in Appendix B. SSMP ELEMENT RESPONSIBLE CITY OFFICIAL Element 1 - Goals Element 2 - Organization Element 3 - Legal Authority Element 4 - Operation and Maintenance Element 5 - Design and Performance Standard Element 6 - Sanitary Sewer Overflow Emergency Response Plan Element 7 - Fats, Oils and Grease Program Element 8 - System Evaluation and Capacity Management Element 9 - Monitoring, Measurement, and Program Modifications Element 10 - Program Audits Element 11 Communication Program Public Works Director Public Works Director City Attorney Operations Manager, Sewer Supervisor Deputy Director of Utilities-Operations and Capital Improvement Environmental Compliance Specialist, Sewer Supervisor Environmental Compliance Specialist, Conservation Specialist Deputy Director of Utilities- Operations and Capital Improvement Operations Manager Deputy Director of Utilities, Environmental Compliance Environmental Compliance Specialist [4]

7 Utilities Division Position Description POSITION Director of Public Works Utilities Deputy Director - Operations and Capital Projects Utilities Deputy Director- Environmental Compliance & Customer Service Operations Manager Customer Service Manager Sewer Supervisor Environmental Compliance Specialist - NPDES Senior Utility Worker Utility Service Technician Utility Worker Customer Service Representative Utility Service Inspector Utility Engineering Technician Utility Analyst Conservation Specialist Utility Assistant Utility Billing Clerk Clerical Assistant NARATIVE DESCRIPTION Oversees the overall program, communicates with the City Manager, and attends City Council meetings. Oversees the operations, design and capital projects for the Division. Communicates with the Director and designated Legal Responsible Official (LRO) to certify SSO reports. Oversees the Environmental Compliance and Customer Service Sections and communicates with the Director. Designated LRO to certify SSO reports. Manages the collection system operations, maintenance and performance. Designated LRO to certify SSO reports. Manages customer service center staff responsible for receiving, documenting, and communicating customer calls to emergency response and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) staff. Supervises collection systems field operations, which includes cleaning, maintenance, CCTV inspections and emergency response to SSOs. Responsible for reporting and investigating SSOs and training collection systems staff. Data submitter for SSO reports. Coordinates the City s FOG program for Food Service Establishments (FSE). Leads collections system maintenance workers; coordinates cleaning, CCTV inspection and SSO emergency response mobilization Reports SSO incidents in the field and notifies the appropriate staff. Perform cleaning and maintenance activities for the collection system. Conducts CCTV inspections. Reports SSO incidents in the field and notifies the appropriate staff. Reviews plans for sewer related projects. Responsible for maintaining the City s Sewer GIS mapping system. Maintains collections systems data and generates reports. Conduct FOG inspections at FSEs. Responsible for receiving, documenting, and communicating customer service calls to emergency response and O & M staff. Responsible for receiving, documenting, and communicating customer service calls to emergency response and O & M staff. Responsible for receiving, documenting, and communicating customer service calls to emergency response and O & M staff. [5]

8 SECTION III: LEGAL AUTHORITY The General Waste Discharge Requirements for the Legal Authority section of the SSMP state the City must demonstrate, through sanitary sewer system use ordinances, service agreements, or other legally binding procedures, that it possesses the necessary legal authority to: (a) Prevent illicit discharges into its sanitary sewer system (examples may include I/I, stormwater, chemical dumping, unauthorized debris and cut roots, etc.); (b) Require that sewer and connections be properly designed and constructed; (c) Ensure access for maintenance, inspection, or repairs for portions of the lateral owned or maintained by the Public Agency; (d) Limit fats, oils, and grease (FOG) and other debris that may cause blockages, and (e) Enforce any violation of its sewer ordinances. The City of Alhambra has the legal authority via the Municipal Code, to regulate and enforce all aspects of the use of the City sewer system as it relates to prevention of illicit discharges, illicit connections or any other sewer ordinance violations. The Alhambra Municipal Code Chapter 16 Sewers contains all of the relevant provisions to implement the SSMP requirements. The following table is a summary of the pertinent sections: REQUIREMENT CODE REFERENCE ILLICIT DISCHARGES Prevent illicit discharges into the wastewater collection system Limit the discharge of FOG and other debris that may cause blockages (5) Control infiltration and inflow (I/I) from private service laterals PROPER DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION Require that sewers and connection be properly designed and constructed Require proper installation, testing and inspection of new and rehabilitated sewers ACCESS TO LATERALS Clearly define City s responsibility and policies Ensure access for maintenance, inspection, or repairs for portions of the service lateral owned or maintained by the City. FOG SOURCE CONTROL Requirements to install grease removal devices such as traps or interceptors Design standards for the grease removal devices Maintenance, BMP, record keeping and reporting requirements ; Authority to inspect grease producing facilities ENFORCEMENT Enforce any violations of the sewer ordinance ; The Municipal Code is available on the Internet at the following link: [6]

9 SECTION IV: OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE PROGRAM The General Waste Discharge requirements for the Operations and Maintenance section of the SSMP are: (a) Maintain an up-to-date map of the sanitary sewer system, showing all gravity line segments and manholes, pumping facilities, pressure pipes and valves, applicable stormwater conveyance facilities; (b) Describe routine preventive operation and maintenance activities by staff and contractors, including a system for scheduling regular maintenance and cleaning of the sanitary sewer system with more frequent cleaning and maintenance targeted at known problem areas. The Preventive Maintenance (PM) program should have a system to document scheduled and conducted activities, such as work orders; (c) Develop a rehabilitation and replacement plan to identify and prioritize system deficiencies and implement short-term and long term rehabilitation actions to address each deficiency. The program should include regular visual and TV inspections of manholes and sewer pipes, and a system for ranking the condition of sewer pipes and scheduling rehabilitation. Rehabilitation and replacement should focus on sewer pipes that are at risk of collapse or prone to more frequent blockages due to pipe defects. Finally, the rehabilitation and replacement plan should include a capital improvement plan that addresses proper management and protection of the infrastructure assets. The plan shall include a time schedule for implementing the shortand long- term plans plus a schedule for developing the funds needed for capital improvement plan; (d) Provide training on a regular basis for staff in sanitary sewer system operations and maintenance, and require contractors to be appropriately trained; and (e) Provide equipment and replacement part inventories, including identification of critical replacement of parts. The Operation and Maintenance Program has been developed to provide the City with the tools and procedures for maintaining its gravity sewer system and sewer pump stations with adequately trained staff, and contractors possessing adequate knowledge, skills, and abilities. The goal of the Operation and Maintenance Program is to operate an efficient sanitary sewer system at an optimal level to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows, and thereby protect public health and the environment. A detailed Operation and Maintenance Program has been developed which contains the following elements: A. Sewer Collection System B. Routine Preventative Operation and Maintenance Activities C. Rehabilitation and Replacement Plan D. Training Program E. Equipment and Replacement Parts Inventories F. Funding Schedule [7]

10 A. SEWER COLLECTION SYSTEM The City has developed a GIS mapping system for its sanitary sewer collection system and sewer pump stations, as well as the storm water conveyance facilities. These maps contain the most up-to-date information and are updated as needed. The GIS file includes: Manholes with identification number Flow direction Inverted siphons Pump stations Force mains Frequent maintenance locations (hot spots) Tributary area boundaries Connection points to Los Angeles County Sanitation District facilities Local storm water facilities The GIS mapping system includes information on pipes with pipe identification numbers, size, slope, length, material, year of construction, upstream and downstream invert elevations, street location, and associated plan numbers. The sewer GIS will also include structures with identification numbers, and rim elevations. The GIS maps are available in all of the maintenance vehicles. B. ROUTINE PREVENTIVE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES The City performs routine operation and maintenance activities in order to provide a high level of service to its customers, extend the useful life of its assets, and prevent overflows. Collection systems maintenance activities are completed by Utility Workers under the supervision of the Sewer Supervisor, and documented on the Utility Daily Work Form (Appendix B-1). The City is in the process of installing a GIS based sewer maintenance and tracking software. The primary preventative operations and maintenance work involve: 1. Identification of portions of the system that need frequent attention (hot spot locations) through primarily CCTV inspection of the system. 2. Condition assessment of the gravity system based upon CCTV inspection. 3. Visual inspection of manholes by City staff. 4. Cleaning of the entire system every year. 5. Cleaning of the frequent maintenance locations every three months. 6. Daily inspections of all pump stations and equipment. [8]

11 Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Inspection Empire Pipe Cleaning and Equipment Inc. completed CCTV inspection work of the entire gravity system for the City in The deficiencies found by the CCTV inspections are addressed in Section III Rehabilitation and Replacement Program of this document. In order to meet the requirements of the Order properly, the City has purchased a CCTV truck and conducts CCTV inspections, and as condition assessments are completed, the Capital Improvement Program will be updated to address the critical areas as soon as possible. The hot spot list will be modified based upon the information developed from these inspections and assessments. Planning and scheduling of subsequent CCTV inspections and accompanying condition assessment work will be based upon the results of the latest inspection and assessment work. CCTV Inspection Contractor: Empire Pipe Cleaning and Equipment Inc N. Neville Street Orange, CA (714) The staff of Empire Pipe Cleaning and Equipment, Inc. (Empire) that conducts work for the City of Alhambra is required to be certified in Pipeline Assessment Certification Program (PACP) and National Association of Sewer Service Companies (NASSCO) pipeline and manhole inspection and assessment, as well as confined space entry procedures. Sewer System Cleaning The entire system is cleaned once every year, and the frequent maintenance locations (hot spots) are cleaned once every 90 days, or four times a year. System cleaning is performed by city employees with the use of a vactor truck and/or a jetting trailer. A hot spot list and routine cleaning location map, which documents cleaning activities, are maintained at the City Yard. Lift Station Maintenance The City owns and operates seven (7) sewer lift stations. City staff inspects each lift station daily; checking pumps, cleaning/deragging, check valves, cleaning the Hydroranger level sensors, washing the wet well walls and pumps, checking the amperage of each leg, and recording the elapsed time meters. A daily pump report is generated by the SCADA system located at the Groundwater Treatment Plant. This data is compared to the actual meter readings to ensure accuracy. The forms used in the daily inspections are shown in Appendix B-2 and B-3. City staff members are trained in confined space entry procedures to properly enter the lift stations. Sewer Repair and Replacement Sewer repair and replacement work is contracted out on an as needed basis. Sewer Repair and Replacement Contractors: Irish Construction T.A. Rivard, Inc River Avenue 8884 Jurupa Avenue Rosemead, CA Riverside, CA (626) (951) [9]

12 The staff members of contractors conducting work for the City of Alhambra are required to be certified in accordance with the CWEA Program commensurate with their responsibilities. Root Control Program The City maintains an inventory of collections system locations, identified during CCTV inspections, that are impacted by root intrusion. Dukes Root Control is contracted to treat areas affected by roots. Chemical treatment is utilized and a 2 year warranty is given for each application. A CCTV inspection is conducted on all areas included on the inventory, three months prior to application, to evaluate if treatment is necessary. The root control program will be incorporated in our sewer system maintenance software. Root Control Contractor: Dukes Root Control 1020 Hiawatha Blvd, West Syracuse, NY (315) C. REHABILITATION AND REPLACEMENT PLAN The most recent Sewer Master Plan was prepared in March of 2007, which reviewed and amended the 1981 Master Plan prepared by ASL Consulting Engineers. The scope of work for the 2007 Plan, which was prepared by AKM Consulting Engineers, included the following: Research and data collection Sanitary Sewer Database and Geographical Information System Sewer System Model Flow Monitoring and Unit Flow Factors Development of Capital Improvement Program Master Plan Report Sewer Standard Plans Regulations Financial Plan for Improvements In March of 2009, AKM Consulting Engineers prepared a Sewer System Rehabilitation Plan to assist the City with the assessment of those areas in the system which needs rehabilitation and replacement. Condition assessment of the facilities was based upon the following: Conduct CCTV inspections. Review information provided by the CCTV contractor. Prepare a database summarizing the findings of the CCTV reports and recordings, containing the data from approximately 2,800 CCTV inspection reports covering 2,692 reaches. [10]

13 Prioritize the CCTV recording per the database smarmy to select a list of reaches with numerous or significant defects of representative types. Consider operation and maintenance issues separately and identify additional hotspots for the City s review. Select representative reaches of the system to review the CCTV recordings in detail to ensure compliance with CCTV standards and procedures and further prioritize the sewers for replacement and/or repair. Verify the completeness of the inspection reports and update the inspection database. Develop a rating system to identify and prioritize the condition deficiencies, therefore, identifying the critical sewer mains in need of rehabilitation and/or repair. Focus on the sewer pipes that are at risk of collapse or prone to more frequent blockages. Develop and engineer s cost estimate for the rehabilitation/replacement of the sewer mains, including construction cost, design, inspection, administration, and contingencies. The Rehabilitation Plan identified a total of 48,200 feet of sewer pipe and 265 manholes for replacement and/or rehabilitation. The total estimated replacement and rehabilitation costs totaled $46,043, There were 184 reaches of the collection system identified as severe or major condition. Manholes identified as in need of Level 1 or Level 2 work totaled 501. D. TRAINING PROGRAM Staff is trained in-house on an annual basis (or more frequently if required), regarding the procedures for SSO response and cleanup, equipment maintenance issues, and safety items. Staff is also afforded the opportunity to attend off-site classes and training conducted by the California Water Environment Association (CWEA). Collection system staff holds certifications through California Water Environment Association (CWEA), which requires continuing education units to maintain the certification. E. EQUIPMENT AND REPLACEMENT PARTS INVENTORIES The Utilities Department utilizes a computerized inventory system to track the current quantity of parts and equipment necessary for maintenance tasks and repairs. The system will alert the Warehouse Technician of low inventory and the need to place requisite orders for materials. In regard to equipment, the City Fleet Maintenance Division of the Public Works Department schedules the regular maintenance of all equipment. In the event that a piece of equipment is in need of repair and cannot be repaired in-house due to time constraints, the equipment is sent out to an authorized and qualified facility. Currently, the Department equipment inventory consists of one, 6,000 gallon vactor truck; one, 3,000 trailer-mounted vactor, and three (3) jetters, and a CCTV truck. F. FUNDING SCHEDULE The City prepares a Capital Improvement Program budget every year, which forecasts those necessary expenditures required for rehabilitation or replacement of the sewer system facilities. The anticipated budget allocations for capital projects over the next five fiscal years are as follows: FY 2013/14 - $4,200,000 FY 2014/15 - $4,284,000 FY 2015/16 - $4,396,680 FY 2016/17 - $4,457,100 FY 2017/18 - $4,546,200 [11]

14 SECTION V: DESIGN AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS The General Waste Discharge Requirements for the Design and Performance Provisions section of the SSMP are: (a) Design and construction standards and specifications for the installation of new sanitary sewer systems, pump stations and other appurtenances; and for the rehabilitation and repair of existing sanitary sewer systems; and (b) Procedures and standards for inspecting and testing the installation of new sewers, pumps, and other appurtenances and for rehabilitation and repair projects. The Department of Utilities maintains and updates its current design and construction standard drawings and specifications for the installation of new sanitary sewers, pump stations, and other appurtenances, as well as for repairs to the existing system. These standard drawings and specifications are reviewed and amended as necessary every five years and listed below: S1 Manhole Details S2 Concrete Base and Joint Details S3 Manhole Shaft Opening Orientation Plan S4 Manhole Frame and Cover (Traffic Loading) S5 PVC Pipe Bedding and Manhole Connection Details S6 VCP or PVC Typical Lateral S7 Cut-In Wye Connection S8 VCP Pipe Bedding Details S9 Lateral Cleanout Detail S10 Concrete Encasement Type A,B & C S11 Concrete Slope Anchors S12 Steel Casing Pipe S13 Drop Manhole Main Line Connection Detail S14 PVC Manhole Liner S15 PVC T-Lock Liner Details S16 PVC Liner with Gas Flap Installation S17 Flat Top Manhole S18 Typical Grease Interceptor S19 Design Criteria for Separation of Water and Sewer Mains The standard drawings for sewer system repairs can be found on the City s website: [12]

15 SECTION VI: OVERFLOW EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLAN The General Waste Discharge Requirements for this section state that the City shall develop and implement an overflow and emergency response plan that identifies measures to protect public health and the environment. At a minimum, this plan must include the following: (a) Proper notification procedures so that the primary responders and regulatory agencies are informed of all SSOs in a timely manner; (b) A program to ensure an appropriate response to all overflows; (c) Procedures to ensure prompt notification to appropriate regulatory agencies and other potentially affected entities (e.g. health agencies, Regional Water Boards, water suppliers, etc.) of all SSOs that potentially affect public health or reach the waters of the State in accordance with the MRP. All SSOs shall be reported in accordance with this MRP, the California Water Code, other State Law, and other applicable Regional Water Board WDRs or NPDES permit requirements. The SSMP should identify the officials who will receive immediate notification; (d) Procedures to ensure that appropriate staff and contractor personnel are aware of and follow the Emergency Response Plan and are appropriately trained; (e) Procedures to address emergency operations, such as traffic and crowd control and other necessary response activities; and (f) A program to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to contain and prevent the discharge of untreated and partially treated wastewater to waters of the United States and to minimize or correct any adverse impact on the environment resulting from the SSOs, including such accelerated or additional monitoring as may be necessary to determine the nature and impact of the discharge. The City of Alhambra has an existing procedure (updated in September 2013) for the response to SSOs and the reporting of SSOs to the responsible regulatory agencies. This procedure includes step-by-step instructions for the initial response to an SSO, actions to be taken to stop flows, corrective actions for prevention, clean-up process, and reporting process. City Sanitary Sewer Overflow Emergency Response Plan The primary function of the Utilities Division sewer maintenance program is to protect public health and the environment. Wastewater overflows are prohibited by both State and Federal regulations. The goal of the Utilities Division sewage maintenance program is to completely eliminate sanitary sewer system overflows. Although overflows will occur on occasion regardless of the level of control and maintenance provided, the quick and efficient response to those situations is of paramount importance. The Utilities Division response to overflows consists of two action items: 1) containment and recovery of discharged wastewater and 2) stopping of the overflow. Overflow Response Goals: 1. Respond to the location within one-hour of notification of an overflow and assess the situation. 2. Contain and prevent the overflow from entering the storm drain system, if possible. 3. Stop the overflow as soon as possible. 4. Completely recover the overflow and return it to the sewer system. 5. Clean up the area contaminated by the overflow. 6. Notify appropriate Regulatory Agencies of the overflow and response activities as soon as practicable. 7. Compile information and conduct an investigation to determine the probable cause of the overflow. 8. Document the events, including taking photographs, during the overflow and response activities. 9. Implement measures to prevent a re-occurrence. [13]

16 Notification, Investigation and Mobilization Calls for SSOs may be received by Police Dispatch, Utilities Customer Service Center or the City Public Works Department. The City has 24-hour call service via Police Department dispatch, regular hour dispatch from the Utilities Division, Customer Service Center, the City Public Works Department and SCADA telemetry alarms on all sewage pump stations. Action following notification of an overflow: When a call is received reporting a sewer overflow during normal business hours, the field supervisor or Operations Manager of Utilities is notified who subsequently dispatches field personnel to respond and investigate. When a call is received after hours, weekends or holidays, Police Dispatch will contact the on-call Standby personnel who will respond and investigate. ( see after hours decision tree appendix B-2) If it is determined that the overflow is in the City s sewer system, then mobilization will begin. If the overflow is not in the City s sewer system but in the County Sanitation District s (LACSD) or adjacent City s sewer system, then they shall be contacted immediately. Response The overflow response in the field will be directed by the field supervisor and/or staff who are trained and experienced in responding to overflows. A crew will be dispatched to the scene to begin the response actions. 1. Staff members will begin containment of spill to prevent overflow from entering the storm drain system. 2. Staff members will begin corrective action to eliminate the cause of the overflow. 3. Upon containment and corrective action, recovery and clean-up will commence. Processes included in the response to an overflow event are the following: A. Containment and recovery B. Corrective action C. Cleanup D. Notification and reporting A. Containment and Recovery Containment and recovery should occur as close as practical to the location of the overflow with attention to blocking off any storm water catch basins to prevent sewage from entering the storm drain system. If sewage has entered the storm drain system containment and recovery will need to take place downstream of the entry point where it is accessible and safe to work. Containment will be performed as follows: Sandbags, containment berms and covers, absorbent pads or plugs will be deployed to dam up the overflowing sewage to prevent the movement of the sewage from traveling further or prevent entry into the storm drain system. Vacuum trailers or trucks will be used to collect the overflow sewage and return it to the sewer system. [14]

17 B. Corrective Action Upon arriving at the overflow location, concurrent actions taken by the various crews are: Prevent Public Access Access to the immediate area of the overflow is restricted to minimize potential impacts to public health by redirecting pedestrian and automobile traffic away from the overflow through the use of traffic cones, plastic tape, barricades, or local law enforcement. The extent of the overflow and its potential impacts to the public health are assessed by personnel. This process involves determining if any private property owners/residents may be exposed to raw sewage, making direct contact with private property owners/residents who have been or may be directly affected by the overflow, advising private property owners/residents of the potential health hazards associated with contact with raw sewage, and identifying prudent measures to be taken by private property owners/residents, such as vacating the property, to prevent contact with the overflow. Simultaneous efforts include determining the path and final destination of the sewage spill and potential exposure to the public. If wastewater from the overflow is ponding in a location that can be isolated, then personnel will set up barricades to prevent public access. Traffic control is set up to prevent vehicles from entering locations where the overflow has contaminated public or private streets. Personnel are instructed to direct pedestrians and automobile traffic away from the path and final destination of the overflow. Cooperation with local law enforcement and public works officials is key to ensure that public exposure to the overflow is minimized and to ensure spill site security. Prevent Wastewater Entry to Storm Drain System When possible, personnel will contain and recover the overflow in the immediate vicinity of the overflow before it enters a storm drain or catch basin. Measures to affect such containment include damming the overflow path with sandbags in the street gutter and recovering the impounded water with a vacuum truck or jet vactor, or using sandbags to divert the overflow back into a nearby sewer manhole. Personnel can also use plugs in the storm drain pipe or catch basin further downstream to prevent the flow of sewage into the storm drain system. A vactor truck will be used to collect the wastewater and return to the sanitary sewer system. Stop Overflow The cause of the overflow is investigated and the necessary corrective action is taken to stop the overflow and/or correct the condition that caused the overflow if the overflow has already stopped. Typical corrective actions to stop a sewer overflow include: clearing a pipe blockage with a jet vactor or rodding machine, removing debris from a manhole, upstream flow diversion, and bypassing of wastewater around the blockage using vacuum trucks or pumps. Corrective actions to stop an overflow caused by pumping plant or force main failure include: restoring power by use of engine driven electrical generators, bypassing of the pumping plant and repair or replacement of pumps or electrical switchgear, and by-pass and repair of a damaged force main. [15]

18 Bypass pumping is typically accomplished by the use of portable pumps and hoses to convey flow around the blocked or damaged sewer, the inoperative pumping plant or the damaged force main. The Utilities Division has one portable pump and hoses of various sizes, fittings, and tools and is designed to bypass flows of up to 450 gallons per minute. One larger trailer-mounted engine driven pump is used to bypass higher flows. Vacuum tankers can also be used to draw wastewater from upstream of the affected area and discharge back to the system downstream of the affected area. When possible, diversions are used to redirect a portion or all of the wastewater around the affected area in the system. Maintaining accurate and complete sewerage system maps is essential to expeditiously accomplish wastewater diversion during an emergency response. C. Clean-up After the overflow has been stopped, the following steps are taken: Recover Locally Impounded Wastewater All locally impounded wastewater is recovered with a vacuum trailer and returned to the sanitary sewer system. Collect Wastewater Debris All visible debris of wastewater origin from the overflow location(s), street(s), curb and gutters, and the overflow runoff path is physically removed. Flush Affected Area - Overflow location(s), street(s), curb and gutters, and the runoff path are flushed with potable water, typically delivered by a vacuum truck or water truck. The flush water is also recovered and returned to the sewer system. Complete Cleanup - All sandbags and other containment equipment are removed to complete the cleanup in the storm drain system. If spilled wastewater reaches natural watercourses or other areas accessible to the public, input is solicited from the responsible jurisdiction regarding additional measures which may be necessary or appropriate for a complete cleanup. Additional cleanup measures are completed as directed. Private properties impacted by overflows or backups from problems within the City s system are cleaned up by a professional restoration company dispatched by the property owner. Claims for property damage are submitted to the City Clerk s office and handled by the City s Insurance and Claims Coordinator. D. Notification and Reporting The City is required to notify Los County Department of Public Health for a spill of any size and California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) for spills greater than or equal to 1,000 gallons that reaches surface water. Cal OES will notify the Regional Water Quality Control Board. The City s document, Sewage Spill Reporting Procedure, included in the Appendix B-1, contains detailed notification and reporting procedures for different categories of overflows and all of the appropriate contacts for reporting. All pertinent SSO information listed below is documented on SSO Field Incident Report (Appendix B-3). In accordance with regulatory requirements, telephone notification should be made as soon as possible without substantially impeding response activities and within 2 hours of the incident occurrence. The following information shall be provided, if available, when reporting an overflow by telephone: Name of person notifying and direct return phone number. Name of SSO agency. Location of overflow. Whether the overflow has entered or will enter surface waters (rivers, lakes, storm drains, or ocean) and name of surface water. Date and time overflow began and ended (use start time determination worksheet- Appendix B-4). Whether the spill is contained. [16]

19 Estimated SSO Volume discharged (gallons). (Volume estimation worksheets Appendix B-5) If ongoing, estimated discharge rate (gallons per minute). Cause of overflow. Corrective actions taken. Estimated time of repair. Agencies involved in repair and clean-up. All overflows, regardless of quantity, which reaches receiving waters, impact groundwater, or endangers public health or the environment, require immediate telephone notification to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. The Department of Public Health is responsible for beach postings and closures and other forms of public notification deemed necessary to protect the public health. Spills greater than or equal to 50,000 gallons that reach surface water require water quality sampling in accordance with the Water Quality Monitoring Program. Electronic notification and reporting - must be submitted to the California Integrated Water Quality System (CWIQS) Online data base within the following time period: Spill Categories and Definitions Category 1 Discharges of untreated or partially treated wastewater of any volume resulting from an enrollee s sanitary sewer system failure or flow condition that: Reach surface water and/or reach a drainage channel tributary to a surface water; or Reach a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) and are not fully captured and returned to the sanitary sewer system or not otherwise captured and disposed of properly. Any volume of wastewater not recovered from the MS4 is considered to have reached surface water unless the storm drain system discharges to a dedicated storm or groundwater infiltration basin (e.g., infiltration pit, percolation pond). Category 2 - Discharges of untreated or partially treated wastewater of 1,000 gallons or greater resulting from an enrollee s sanitary sewer system failure or flow condition that do not reach surface water, a drainage channel, or a MS4 unless the entire SSO discharged to the storm drain system and is fully recovered. Category 3 All other discharges of untreated or partially treated wastewater resulting from an enrollee s sanitary sewer system failure or flow condition. For a Category 1 or 2 SSO, you must submit a draft report within three business days of becoming aware of the SSO and certify within 15 calendar days of the SSO end date. For a Category 3 SSO, you must submit a certified report within 30 calendar days of the end of the month in which the SSO occurred. For Category 1 spills 50,000 gallons or greater which have reached surface water, you must submit a technical report within 45 calendar days after the SSO end date. Water quality sampling is also required within 48 hours after the initial SSO notification. [17]

20 Post Clean-up Activities Once cleanup of an overflow is complete, the incident must be reviewed and any appropriate measures to prevent recurrence must be implemented. Follow-up CCTV inspection is performed when an overflow was caused by a blockage to verify complete removal of the material causing the blockage. If the overflow was avoidable by preventative maintenance, then maintenance activities are added or adjusted as necessary. An example is to increase the frequency of line cleaning where heavy grease build-up has caused an overflow to occur, while source control efforts are reviewed. If the overflow was caused by factors generally outside the City s control, such as vandalism, steps are still taken to minimize recurrence such as strengthening security by locking down manhole covers, increasing area surveillance, and requesting neighborhood assistance in reporting vandalism. Regardless of the size or type of overflow, all overflows are investigated thoroughly. Following the investigation, the following information shall be documented on the SSO Field Incident Report and After Action Report SSO Emergency Response Investigation (appendix b-6): the time, date and events of the overflow; the probable cause of the overflow; the duration, volume and discharge route of the overflow; the containment location; cleanup activities; pipe age; size and material; and measures to prevent recurrence. Any documentation from interviews with the public shall also be included. Emergency Response and Personnel The City has the necessary personnel to respond to almost any emergency, including power failure, mechanical and electrical equipment breakdown, sewer blockage, pipe failure, and vandalism. The urgency and seriousness of any wastewater overflow results in the full commitment and availability of all staff in the Sewerage System Section to respond. Additional City personnel are utilized for specialized assistance as needed. Contractors with emergency response capabilities are also used to assist in emergencies as needed. Each sewer lift station has a specific Emergency Response Plan which is kept at the facilities for personnel. An emergency contact list is maintained which includes the home phone number of all employees in the Sewerage System Section. All supervisors and managers in the Sewerage System Section are assigned cell phones and are accessible 24- hours a day. A table of organization for the Sewerage System Section is included as Attachment I in Appendix B-1. Emergency Equipment In addition to the normal compliment of equipment utilized by the Division for maintenance and repair of the sewerage system, specific items are maintained for use during emergency conditions. Such equipment includes: High pressure jetting machines to clear pipe blockages portable engine driven electrical generators for use at pumping plants during power outages vacuum tankers to transport flow around blockages or to remove wastewater from a containment location in a street or storm drain pre-filled sand bags, flat bed and crane trucks for use in establishing containment dams front loaders for emergency earth moving operations portable engine driven centrifugal pumps (trash pumps) to bypass wastewater around pipe blockages and remove wastewater from storm drain channel containment locations hoses and lightweight quick-coupling piping in various sizes for use in bypass pumping pipe repair clamps, inflatable sewer plugs, and other miscellaneous pipe repair parts water trucks for use in cleanup operations portable lights, air compressors, centrifugal blowers, and other miscellaneous equipment [18]

21 Training Training of Sewage System Section personnel is completed annually (more frequently if needed) with both classroom training and field exercises to simulate a spill. Written exercises are utilized during training to ensure that staff is competent in spill response; volume estimation; notification and reporting; containment and clean-up; and proper completion of required SSO forms. Lastly, on-the-job training is administered to subordinate staff, by experienced supervisors and lead workers, during and following actual overflow events to further reinforce the annual training and to analyze event specific issues. Records Retention All formal reports, photographs, hand calculations of volume estimations, hand-written notes and any other documentation relating to SSOs shall be kept for a period of at least five years. All original documents shall be kept in the office of the Deputy Director of Utilities, with copies scanned and saved to the City computer server for archival purposes. [19]

22 SECTION VII: FATS, OILS, AND GREASE (FOG) CONTROL PROGRAM General Waste Discharge Requirements for the Fats, Oils and Grease Control section of the SSMP state the City shall evaluate its service area to determine whether a FOG control program is needed. If an Enrollee determines that a FOG program is not needed, the City must provide justification for why it is not needed. If FOG is found to be a problem, the Enrollee must prepare and implement a FOG source control program to reduce the amount of these substances discharged to the sanitary sewer system. This plan shall include the following as appropriate: (a) An implementation plan and schedule for a public education outreach program that promotes proper disposal of FOG. (b) A plan and schedule for the disposal of FOG generated within the sanitary sewer system service area. This may include a list of acceptable disposal facilities and/or additional facilities needed to adequately dispose of FOG generated within a sanitary sewer system service are; (c) The legal authority to prohibit discharges to the system and identify measures to prevent SSOs and blockages caused by FOG; (d) Requirements to install grease removal devices (such as traps or interceptors), design standards for removal devices, maintenance requirements, BMP requirements, record keeping and reporting requirements; (e) Authority to inspect grease producing facilities, enforcement authorities, and whether the Enrollee has sufficient staff to inspect and enforce the FOG ordinance; (f) An identification of sanitary sewer system sections subject to FOG blockages and establishment of a cleaning maintenance schedule for each section; and (g) Development and implementation of source control measures for all sources of FOG discharged to the sanitary sewer system for each section identified in (f) above. What is FOG? FOG refers to Fats, Oils and Grease from food preparation and kitchen cleanup and can be found in the following things: Meat Fats Food Scraps Lard/Shortening Baking goods Butter/Margarine Cooking Oil Sauces Dairy Products Overview Food Service Establishments (FSEs) must constantly manage FOG in their daily operation. Typically FOG enters a facility s plumbing system from dish washing, floor cleaning and equipment sanitation. Sanitary sewer systems are neither designed nor equipped to handle FOG that accumulates on the interior of the City s sewer collection system. [20]

23 Residential households contribute to FOG build-up in the sewer lines because of the amount of grease washed into the sewer system, usually through the kitchen sink. Many Alhambra residents are not aware of the proper disposal of grease or the impacts of grease disposal into the sewer system. FOG in wastewater can cause problems in sewer collection pipes. It decreases pipe capacity; therefore, requiring piping systems to be cleaned more often which raises total operation costs. FOG also hampers effective treatment at the wastewater treatment plant. Goals for the FOG Program The primary goal of the FOG Program is to minimize the discharge of FOG into the sanitary sewer system generated by commercial, residential and institutional sources in Alhambra which can contribute to overflows. In addition, reduce the environmental impacts and cost associated with cleanup of SSOs. Other benefits of the FOG program include storm drain pollution prevention from SSOs, improving public health and safety, minimizing property damage, reducing sewer maintenance costs, improving the operation of the sanitary sewer system. The Utilities Department maintains service record logs for those areas of the City most prone to FOG issues (hot spots), and also plots these locations on a GIS map for quick reference. These areas are checked more frequently for any FOG maintenance issues. A special FOG Residential Target Area list is also maintained to determine if there are any residential areas which have experienced more FOG related issues than other areas of the City. These residential areas are then sent information on how to reduce FOG in their home. The Department also published several brief articles in the local paper regarding FOG and provides FOG management best management practices on the City s website. Commercial and Institutional Approach The City has implemented a Food Service Establishment (FSE) Inspection Program. All food service facilities are inspected once per year. The inspection consists of an evaluation of BMP implementation to prevent FOG discharges to the sanitary sewer system. A checklist of BMPs is provided on the FOG Inspection Report for Food Services (see Appendix C-1). Grease removal devices and equipment are checked to ensure proper maintenance. The waste cooking oil is required to be stored properly and recycled by a waste hauler. Facilities are also required to maintain grease interceptor/trap cleaning logs, training logs and receipts for all services completed at the facility. Outside areas are also inspected to check for evidence of illegal dumping. Maintenance and training logs are provided to the FSE by the inspector (Appendix C-2). During the inspection, the FSE is given a FOG prevention brochure describing specific practices that can be used to prevent FOG from entering the City s sewer system (appendix C-3). If a facility is found to be out of compliance, a notice is issued for a return inspection. After two follow up inspections, a Notice of Violation and Order to comply issued to the facility in accordance with the City s FOG ordinance. The following chart is a historical summary of FOG FSE inspections: [21]