Sanitary Sewer Overflows Hit Another Record Low in Los Angeles
City Achieves 80% Reduction in Sewer Overflows and Aggressively Addresses Sewer Related Odors
LOS ANGELES (July 23, 2010)—The Bureau of Sanitation continues to be aggressive in implementing various projects and programs to manage effectively and renew the City’s 6,700 mile wastewater sewer system. As a result, the Bureau of Sanitation has reduced the number of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) by 80% since the baseline fiscal year (FY) of 2000/2001, reaching yet another record low number of SSOs this year. The City of Los Angeles wastewater collection system is operated and maintained by the Department of Public Works, Bureau of Sanitation (BOS). There were 687 recorded SSOs in 2000/2001, 444 in 2003/2004, 200 in FY 2007/2008, 159 in FY 2008/2009, and just 139 in FY 2009/10. The number of SSOs during last fiscal year is 12 percent lower than the previous year’s record low. The wastewater collection industry measures excellent system performance by the number of SSOs per 100 miles each year. The City’s metric for last fiscal year was a record low 2.07 SSOs per 100 miles per year, one of the lowest in the nation.
“These numbers show that the Bureau of Sanitation has taken an aggressive approach in developing and executing programs to reduce SSOs. I am very proud of our wastewater conveyance and collections staff and crew. Rain or shine, day or night, our committed staff is in the community, keeping the pipes flowing,” said Enrique C. Zaldivar, director for the Bureau of Sanitation. “These excellent results demonstrate the City’s continued commitment to the protection of public health and the environment.”
The reduction in SSOs is a direct result of the effective implementation of proactive programs by the Bureau, including enhanced and increased sewer cleaning and inspection; expansion of the Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) control program; the focused tree root control program and improved sewer planning and renewal. More sewers are being inspected; many sewers are being cleaned; and older sewers are being upgraded. This strategic progress is the result of strong partnerships with the Bureaus of Contract Administration and Engineering.
The environmental and regulatory communities are thrilled with these results as well. “The City of Los Angeles and staff of the Department of Public Works are to be commended for the unprecedented job of greatly reducing sanitary sewer overflows from its sewer collection system. The talent, experience, and focus of the City managers and personnel have resulted in an improved environment for all Angelenos to enjoy,” said Samuel Unger, PE, Interim Executive Officer, California Regional Water Quality Control Board Los Angeles Region.
“An 80% reduction in sewer spills is an outstanding accomplishment for the health of our communities and our coast. Baykeeper congratulates the Bureau on this significant success for water quality and public health,” said Liz Crosson, Executive Director, Santa Monica Baykeeper.
Along with efforts to reduce the number of SSOs, the City also is working with the community, especially is South Los Angeles, to address, mitigate and control sewer related odors. Many measures and projects have been implemented and more are on the way. These include an odor hotline, pressure and sewer gas monitoring, a citizen advisory board, sewer cleaning, installation or replacement of sewer gas traps, chemical addition and the construction of state-of-the-art air treatment facilities (ATFs). Two ATFs are under construction and should be operational within the next six months.
The Bureau operates and maintains 6,700 miles of sewers and serves a population of more than four million people, 29 contract agencies, 100,000 businesses and industrial users located within a 525 square mile service area. The Department of Public Works focuses on essential needs for a better quality of life and environmental protection and is responsible for construction, renovation and operation of public facilities and infrastructure including: municipal buildings and treatment facilities; streets, street lights, and the urban forest; bridges and sidewalks; sewers, catch basins and storm drains; recycling and integrated solid waste management.
