Sewer System Management Plan

The City of Healdsburg Public Works Department has a Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP); originally drafted in 2009, the plan was updated in 2014 and 2020. SSMPs are required by State regulation and defines how the City operates and maintains its sewage collection system. The goal of the regulation is to prevent and reduce sanitary sewer spills.

Sanitary Sewer Spills (Spills)

A spill is an overflow, release, discharge or diversion of untreated or partially treated wastewater from a sanitary sewer system. Spills often contain high levels of suspended solids, pathogenic organisms, pollutants, nutrients, oil, and grease. Spills pollute surface and ground water, threaten public health, adversely affect aquatic life, and impair the recreational use and aesthetic enjoyment of surface waters. Typical consequences of spills include the closure of beaches and other recreational areas, inundated properties, and polluted rivers and streams.

Beginning in 2007, the regulations required agencies to report all spills to the State Water Resources Control Board, using a newly established online spills database.  

The City of Healdsburg's spill reports can be found at on the State Water Board's website here. Healdsburg's Sanitary Sewer System Name is Healdsburg City CS.

Updated 2020 SSMP

The 2020 update to the SSMP was certified by the City Council on March 16, 2020. The plan consists of 11 key elements: 

1. Goals for the operation and maintenance of the sewer system 

2. Organization Structure of the spills response team 

3. Legal Authority statement for sewer use and spills prevention 

4. Operations and Maintenance Program for the sewage collection system

5. Design and Performance Provisions for new construction and rehabilitation/replacement projects 

6. Spill Emergency Response Plan (SERP) defines procedures for notifying, responding, and training for spills

7. Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) Control Program to educate the public on FOG and describe the process for inspecting and enforcing the FOG Ordinance

8. System Evaluation and Capacity Assurance Plan to identify and correct capacity deficiencies in the sewer system 

9. Monitoring, Measurement and Program Modifications to track the effectiveness of the SSMP 

10. SSMP Program Audits to determine if modification to the SSMP are necessary

11. Communications Program to keep the public informed on the SSMP development, implementation, and performance

If you have any questions about the SSMP development or the city's existing sewer system management program, you can contact Public Works at 707-431-3346. You can also find more information on the state’s SSMP regulations online.