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State Water Resources Control Board Order No, 2006-0003 Page 1 of 20 Statewide General WDR For Wastewater Collection Agencies 5/2/06 STATE WATER RESOURCES CONTROL BOARD ORDER NO. 2006-0003 STATEWIDE GENERAL WASTE DISCHARGE REQUIREMENTS FOR SANITARY SEWER SYSTEMS The State Water Resources Control Board, hereinafter referred to as "State Water Board", finds that: 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. Such entities are hereinafter referred to as "Enrollees". 2. Sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) are overFlows from sanitary sewer systems of domestic wastewater, as well as industrial and commercial wastewater, depending on the pattern of land uses in the area served by the sanitary sewer system. SSOs often contain high levels of suspended solids, pathogenic organisms, toxic pollutants, nutrients, oxygen-demanding organic compounds, oil and grease and other pollutants. SSOs may cause a public nuisance, particularly when raw untreated wastewater is discharged to areas with high public exposure, such as streets or surface waters used for drinking, fishing, or body contact recreation. SSOs may ,pollute surface or ground waters, threaten public health, adversely affect aquatic life, and impair the recreational use and aesthetic enjoyment of surface waters. 3. Sanitary sewer systems experience periodic failures resulting in discharges that may affect waters of the state. There are many factors (including factors related to geology, design, construction methods and materials, age of the system, population growth, and system operation and maintenance), which affect the likelihood of an SSO. A proactive approach that requires Enrollees to ensure a system-wide operation, maintenance, and management plan is in place will reduce the number and frequency of SSOs within the state. This approach will in turn decrease the risk to human health and the environment caused by SSOs. 4. Major causes of SSOs include: grease blockages, root blockages, sewer line flood damage, manhole structure failures, vandalism, pump station mechanical failures, power outages, excessive storm or ground water inflow/infiltration, debris blockages, sanitary sewer system age and construction material failures, lack of proper operation and maintenance, insufficient capacity and contractor- caused damages. Many SSOs are preventable with adequate and appropriate facilities, source control measures and operation and maintenance of the sanitary sewer system.