The City of San Diego announced it plans to spend a total of about $1 billion in wastewater infrastructure repairs over the next six years. The repairs and improvements are the result of a lawsuit and subsequent consent decree settlement between the city and co-plaintiffs Surfrider Foundation and San Diego Baykeeper. The decree, filed Tuesday, July 31, is the third extension of the settlement.
In February, the City Council approved a four-year series of rate increases that would pay for the improvements and pipe replacements, said Bill Harris, a representative of the mayor’s office.
He said, however, there are obligations in the consent decree that extend beyond the planned four-year rate increases. The city would likely turn to the ratepayers to foot the bill, he said.
Harris said failure to properly clean old pipes among other factors contributed to the dismal condition of the city’s sewer system about four or five years ago. According to the city’s website, sewer spills averaged about one per day.
“Our infrastructure was aging and we were getting to a point where we weren’t spending enough on the maintenance of the system for a whole host of different reasons that occurred,” Harris said.
He added that the city has substantially reduced the number of sewage spills because of new technology that allows inspectors to see inside pipes with a camera and monitor and implement a regular pipe-cleaning program.
Ratepayers have already felt the first wave of rate increases when it went into effect May of this year. Over the next four years, further increases will pay for pump station upgrades, pipe reinforcement and other capital improvements, said Timothy Bertch, director of metropolitan wastewater.
Bertch said the department has already completed its first project since the new rates went into effect.
The department reinforced about 10 miles of pipes with a special reinforcement liner that fits inside the pipes.
He said the technology that reinforces the pipes is cheaper than replacing the entire pipe. It also causes less of a disturbance to the surrounding community because they don’t have to dig up pipes.
He added that the reinforcement lining often leaves the pipe stronger than some of the oldest pipes, which were made from concrete and have sustained significant erosion.
Bertch said residents can also do their part to help prevent further sewage spills by disposing of cooking grease properly and not pouring it into the sink.
Grease, when poured down the drain, builds up in pipes and creates blockages and leaks, which attract plant roots.
“We live in an arid climate and if plants can push their way in into a water pipe, the roots will enjoy and will grow very rapidly,” he said.
“Grease is 100 percent human caused,” he added.