Flushables Update Nick Arhontes, P.E. Director of Facilities Support Services Orange County Sanitation District, California Nick Arhontes, P.E. Director of Facilities Support Services Orange County Sanitation District, California SCAP Collection Systems Committee, February 22, 2011 – Lake Forest, CA

Los Angeles San Diego Orange County OCSD Service Area 480 square miles 200 million gallons per day – new dry weather baseline? 2.6 million population Orange County, California Service Area

OCSD Service Area 21 cities, 3 special districts More pipes to unblock More pumps to de-rag Orange County Pacific Ocean Ocean Pipeline Reclamation Plant No. 1 Treatment Plant No. 2 Newport Beach Fountain Valley Santa Ana Los Alamitos Buena Park Fullerton Tustin Garden Grove La Habra Brea Placentia Yorba Linda Anaheim Orange La Palma Cypress Westminster Irvine Stanton Villa Park Costa Mesa Huntington Beach Seal Beach

Plant 2 Pacific Ocean Ocean Pipeline Newport Beach Beach Fountain Valley Santa Ana Los Alamitos Buena Park Fullerton Tustin Garden Grove La Habra Brea Placentia Yorba Linda Anaheim Anaheim Orange La Palma Cypress Westminster Irvine Stanton Villa Park Costa Mesa Mesa Huntington Beach Seal Beach Plant 1 OCSD Regional System OCSD Regional System 582miles sewers 15 pump stations 2 treatment plants 27 Local Satellite Systems ~5,000 miles sewers ~109 pump stations

Orange County Sanitation District Treatment Facilities in Southern California Reclamation Plant No. 1 Fountain Valley Treatment Plant No. 2 Huntington Beach

Presentation Outline  Sample photos  California plumbing code prohibitions  Statewide WDR Order  NACWA’s guidance doc  AB 2256 in California  How can INDA help?  Next steps?  WEF CSC Activities  Sample photos  California plumbing code prohibitions  Statewide WDR Order  NACWA’s guidance doc  AB 2256 in California  How can INDA help?  Next steps?  WEF CSC Activities

Toilet Paper Dissolves Quickly

4 hours heavy stirring Flushable But Not Dispersible Wipes

Photo courtesy of Costa Mesa Sanitary District Clogged pump suction

Photo courtesy of Costa Mesa Sanitary District

Clogged check valve

Bar screen at OCSD wastewater treatment plant

to Landfill next

OCSD Plant No. 1 Rag Bin Building

California Uniform Plumbing Code Chapter 3 § Damage to Drainage System or Public Sewer…

California Uniform Plumbing Code Chapter 3 § Damage to Drainage System or Public Sewer… It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit, by any means whatsoever, into any plumbing fixture, or floor drain, interceptor, sump, receptor, or device, which is connected to any drainage system, public sewer, private sewer, septic tank, or cesspool, any ashes; cinders; solids; rags; inflammable, poisonous, or explosive liquids or gases; oils; grease; or any other thing whatsoever that would, or could, cause damage to the drainage system or public sewer.

Statewide WDR Order No to reduce sewer spills in California  Stronger version of EPA’s old, unpublished SSO rule….a.k.a. cMOM  Download at: _issues/programs/sso/  Provides minimum requirements  What’s next nationally ?  Stronger version of EPA’s old, unpublished SSO rule….a.k.a. cMOM  Download at: _issues/programs/sso/  Provides minimum requirements  What’s next nationally ?

 Released by NACWA in 2010   Provides guidance to owners  Helps improve O&M  Helps reduce sewer spills  Discusses funding needs  Stays ahead of national cMOM?  Released by NACWA in 2010   Provides guidance to owners  Helps improve O&M  Helps reduce sewer spills  Discusses funding needs  Stays ahead of national cMOM? Guidance Document Core Attributes of Effectively Managed Wastewater Collection Systems

Proposed AB 2256 Product labeling: flushable products  Sponsor: Assembly Member Huffman   Sponsor: Assembly Member Huffman 

 Real lab testing is needed  Not just a problem for OCSD and California  Non woven product “re-formulation” needed?  “Compounds of concern” in nonwovens?  Improved labeling for consumers and industrial users  Real lab testing is needed  Not just a problem for OCSD and California  Non woven product “re-formulation” needed?  “Compounds of concern” in nonwovens?  Improved labeling for consumers and industrial users How can INDA help the wastewater industry… its ratepayers… and its consumers?

Next Steps? Other options and ideas? Put Flushables in the Trash, Not the Sewer  Sewers and treatment plants are not a cost effective mean to send rags to a landfill… the trash can is  Help prevent sewer spills and reduce O&M costs  Help provide better functioning sewers and treatment systems  Consumer education programs: inda.org, edana.org, and paper towel information at tappi.org  Sewers and treatment plants are not a cost effective mean to send rags to a landfill… the trash can is  Help prevent sewer spills and reduce O&M costs  Help provide better functioning sewers and treatment systems  Consumer education programs: inda.org, edana.org, and paper towel information at tappi.org Graphic courtesy of King County

WEF CSC – TAG Mission “The Technical Advisory Group acts as an investigative body on issues that affect any and all aspects of collection systems” Issued Jan. 28, 2011 at the WEF CSC Mid Year Mtg. in Los Angeles, CA “The Technical Advisory Group acts as an investigative body on issues that affect any and all aspects of collection systems” Issued Jan. 28, 2011 at the WEF CSC Mid Year Mtg. in Los Angeles, CA

2010 Accomplishments  Worked with NACWA, CASA, SCAP on the “Flushable But Not Dispersible” issues  Initiated efforts for improved peer review with INDA  Monitored EPA’s forward progress on cMOM issues and SSO reporting  Used CSC web site and assisted on Ad Hoc quick response inquiries  Worked with NACWA, CASA, SCAP on the “Flushable But Not Dispersible” issues  Initiated efforts for improved peer review with INDA  Monitored EPA’s forward progress on cMOM issues and SSO reporting  Used CSC web site and assisted on Ad Hoc quick response inquiries

TAG / Owners Group Goals and Tasks for 2011  Continue to work with NACWA, SCAP, INDA and others, including Europeans (EDANA) and now NSF(?)  Review and help revise Guidance Documents (GD), as needed  Advocate for improved testing and labeling of products as well as consumer education  Complete a test survey of WEF CSC members on “flushable but not dispersible” by Feb. 28  Continue to work with NACWA, SCAP, INDA and others, including Europeans (EDANA) and now NSF(?)  Review and help revise Guidance Documents (GD), as needed  Advocate for improved testing and labeling of products as well as consumer education  Complete a test survey of WEF CSC members on “flushable but not dispersible” by Feb. 28

TAG / Owners Group Goals and Tasks for 2011 (continued)  Review input and amend as needed and roll survey out for WEF MA use nationally by late March  Identify other key issues for TAG in 2011–2012  Improve membership of owners and technical supporters nationally  Identify owners needs and re-visit our mission  Review input and amend as needed and roll survey out for WEF MA use nationally by late March  Identify other key issues for TAG in 2011–2012  Improve membership of owners and technical supporters nationally  Identify owners needs and re-visit our mission

How can SCAP CSC help further?

Nick Arhontes, P.E. Director, FSSD (714) Nick Arhontes, P.E. Director, FSSD (714) Thank You! Questions?