The City of Vacaville’s Sanitary Sewer Management Plan (SSMP) contains information on City programs and plans for operation and maintenance of the sewer collection system. Each element of the SSMP describes how the City complies with the Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements (WDRs) for Sanitary Sewer Systems.

The SSMP was originally adopted by the City of Vacaville on July 9, 2009, and recertified on July 23, 2019. As required by the State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board), SSMP self-audits are completed every two years. The most recent self-audit was finalized in September 2021. The City's SSMP is subject to change as needed to comply with regulations.

The current SSMP is available for public review and inspection online (see below) or during regular business hours by contacting Miguel Medina, Assistant Utilities Engineer, at (707) 469-6400.

Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems

The State Water Board has adopted order number 2006-0003-DWQ, Statewide General Waste Discharge Requirements for Sanitary Sewer Systems, for sewer collection systems. This order is intended to promote proper management of sewer collection systems and reduce the occurrences of sanitary sewer overflows.

The State Water Board maintains records of all sanitary sewer overflows reported to them and publishes the information in an incident map updated nightly.

SSMP Elements

Introduction

Element 1 - Goals: The City’s goals for the SSMP.

Element 2 - Organization: The City’s organizational structure related to sanitary sewer management.

Element 3 - Legal Authority: The City’s legal authority to manage the sewer system.

Element 4 - Operations and Maintenance: The City has preventative operation and maintenance procedures in place that include scheduling regular maintenance and cleaning of the sewer system, as well as more frequent cleaning and maintenance in known problem areas. Public Works Maintenance is responsible for the underground sewer pipelines, and Utilities Department is responsible for sewer lift stations. Both departments complete condition assessments of sewer facilities and pipelines to identify when repairs and replacements are needed.

Element 5 - Design and Performance Provisions: This includes standards for installation, rehabilitation, and repair of the sewer system. All work related to sewer system design and construction must follow the City’s standard specifications, details, and special provisions. This section also describes inspection and testing requirements for sewer system construction.

Element 6 - Overflow Emergency Response Plan: This plan describes the proper field procedures to handle a sewer overflow, along with the reporting requirements.

Element 7 - Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) Program: This is a preventative program to reduce FOG-related sewer overflow events through permitting and outreach to commercial customers, as well as education of residential customers on proper handling of fats, oils, grease, and food scraps.

Element 8 - System Evaluation and Capacity Assurance Plan: The City evaluates the sewer capacity of its existing system and establishes design criteria and other measures to increase sewer capacity. The sewer system is analyzed using hydraulic modeling based on the criteria described in the City’s Wastewater Facilities Master Plan (Master Plan). The Master Plan is used to schedule and implement the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects needed to improve the sewer system. The CIP and the Master Plan are used to determine the required funding and available funding sources.

Element 9 - Monitoring, Measurement, and Program Modifications: The City maintains relevant information to prioritize SSMP activities, to monitor and measure effectiveness of each SSMP element, and to assess the success of Preventative Maintenance Program. The City can identify and illustrate sewer overflow trends, and can update the program elements based on the monitoring and performance evaluations.

Element 10 - SSMP Program Audits: The City conducts internal audits every two years to determine the effectiveness of the SSMP elements and programs. A list of priority improvement opportunities is prepared and updated as part of the audit.

Element 11 - Communication Program: This element includes the steps to communicate with the public on the development, implementation, and performance of the SSMP.