SEWAGE WASTE DISCHARGES

Sewage waste discharges commonly known as “sewage spills” occur when wastewater being transported via underground pipes overflows through a manhole, clean-out drain or broken pipe. Sewage spills can cause health hazards, damage to homes and businesses and threaten the environment, local waterways and beaches. Untreated sewage has high levels of disease-causing bacteria and viruses. Orange County Health Care Agency/Environmental Health is responsible for protecting public health by closing ocean, harbor and bay water areas affected by sewage spills and will suspend food-service establishment’s operating permit if a sewage spill poses a threat to public health.

Grease builds up inside and eventually blocks sewer pipes. Grease gets into the sewer from food establishments, household drains, as well as from poorly maintained commercial grease traps and interceptors.

Infrastructure problems caused by tree roots in the lines, broken/cracked pipes, missing or broken cleanout caps or undersized sewers can cause blockages.

Infiltration and inflow impacts pipe capacity and is caused when groundwater or rainwater enters the sewer system through pipe defects and illegal connections.

Local and state agencies have legal jurisdiction and enforcement authority to ensure sewage spills are remediated. Allowing sewage to discharge from a home, business or public property may subject the responsible party to penalties and/or out-of-pocket costs to reimburse local and state agencies for clean-up efforts and for not reporting the sewage spill. As mandated by the California Health and Safety Code, any person who causes or permits a sewage discharge to any state waters must immediately notify the local health agency of the discharge.

If you see a sewage spill occurring, immediately notify your City Sewer/Public Works Department or Public Sewer District

The number of sewage discharges reported to the Orange County Ocean Water Protection Program by sanitation districts, cities that operate sewage collection systems and private property owners from 19872016 is detailed in the following graph. The total number of sewage spills reported in 2016 represents the thirteenth consecutive year a decrease in the total number of sewage spills has been reported.

The following chart depicts the percentage of sewage spills due to overflows from privately owned sewage systems (e.g. residential homes, apartment/condominium complexes, strip malls, etc.) reported each year from 1999 - 2016. In 2016, privately owned sewage systems were responsible for 41% of all sewage waste discharges reported in Orange County.