The Region's Lowest Sewer Fees

By Bob Ooten

My goal is to continue to keep Costa Mesa Sanitary District (CMSD) sewer fees low, properly maintain the system and, at the same time to increase public safety by eliminating sewage spills

The purpose of the new regulations was to reduce sewage spills in order to protect the public/ocean health from disease-producing E-coli bacteria which can cause vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. The regulations focused on the following sewer pipe and pump station upgrades:

1. Reducing cooking grease accumulation in sewer pipes
2. Repairing age-related deterioration in sewer pipes
3. Reducing tree root intrusion/blockages in sewer pipes
4. Decreasing sewage pump station failures

CSMD was well on its way to reducing cooking grease accumulation in sewer pipes when I was elected four years ago. I brought additional focus on the role of high density housing in sewer grease accumulations which can be cost-effectively reduced through simple sewer modifications and through resident education on the proper disposal of cooking greases.

My background/experience also helped bring focus on cost-effective planning methods to reduce sewage spills caused by age-related deterioration, blockages, and pump station malfunctions.

To understand the age-related deterioration problems in the 60 year old, 219 miles of CMSD sewer pipe system, the pipes were cleaned and video taped. The cleaning removed roots, grease, and debris accumulations that reduced the potential for sewage overflows. After cleaning, a small camera was pulled through the system to record structural defects such as cracked, broken. and/or missing pieces of pipe. These defects have been prioritized as to severity. The present plan is to put the first construction repair contract out this fall. These repairs will be paid by existing sewer fees.

The number of public sewer overflows from CMSD sewer pipes and pump stations have decreased from a high of 18 four years ago to a low of 3 this year. Even more important is that the volume of sewage overflow has been reduced which makes containment at the site easier with much less risk to the public and of sewage getting to the ocean. My goal is to prevent any sewage overflow and reduce the overflow volume of any that do occur.

One of the areas I brought focus to CMSD staff is in the area of rain water leaking into the sewer through manholes in streets and gutters. Simple manhole vent plugging and sealing around the edges has dramatically reduced the rain water that had leaked into the sewer pipes. These repairs have been low cost and easy to perform and reduce the sewage overflow volume should a sewer pipe blockage occur.

Historically, CMSD has had far too many sewer overflows from their pump stations. I brought focus to the repairs needed at the 20 CMSD sewage pump stations. As I interviewed the local regulators prior to running for the CMSD Board in 2006, each one told me to find ways to reduce those overflows, several of which were large enough to pollute the ocean. At my suggestion, CMSD staff did a simple risk analysis of the components of the pump stations and quickly pinpointed the equipment that was at high risk to fail. With low cost repairs, the overflows from the sewage pump stations have been dramatically reduced from seven in 2006 to none yet this year. My goal is to continue to keep CMSD pump stations repaired to eliminate any future overflows. The good news is that repairs can be accomplished with existing sewer fees.

Part of the duties of CMSD staff is to clean sewer segments. Some, called "hot spots," are in need of frequent cleaning. A few of these were labor intensive. At my request, CMSD staff made a prioritized list of the hot spots that cost more to maintain than to repair. Fifteen have now been repaired eliminating costly maintenance and sewage overflow potential.

Three years ago, a customer service program was designed to help residents repair clogged private sewer pipes (i.e. laterals) to prevent overflow either in the residence or into the street. Private sewer laterals overflows averaged fifteen per year when I came on the board four years ago. CSMD will assist residences by paying for a portion of videoing the lateral before and after, installing a cleanout, and repairing the pipe. CMSD staff review the video before the repairs to assist the home owner in doing the right repair and again after the repair to see that it was done correctly. See the CMSD web site for details or contact CMSD staff when you have a residential sewer lateral emergency repair. Many Costa Mesa plumbers can assist in this contact. Up to $1800 in assistance per residence is available for needed repairs. Over 500 residences have applied for the program to date, with the average CMSD cost assistance of about $1100 per residence. Private lateral sewer overflows have reduced from fifteen in 2006 to an average of three over the last couple of years. My goal is to eliminate these sewer overflows. My personal estimate is that there are over 300 more residential laterals that presently need repair. Since Costa Mesa is a Tree City and the extended drought causes tree roots to hunt for water, root intrusion will be with residents for a long time. CMSD can continue to assist residents without increasing the present sewer fees.