Due to potential for sanitary sewer overflows, pollutants of concern include raw sewage, bacteria and other chemical waste illegally placed in the waste stream. Due to concerns for public health and potential environmental impacts the sanitary sewer collection system is given a High Priority status. In response to the high priority status the City maintains a comprehensive maintenance schedule for collection system pipes and for sanitary sewer lift stations. The City has also developed a written spill response plan that is a guide for sanitary sewer and other hazardous spills. Spill responses depending on severity and notification procedures are a collaborative effort that may involve response by the Public Works Department in conjunction with the Salinas Fire Department, Monterey County Environmental Health and other state and local agencies as determined.

Objectives to be considered in prioritizing activities include:

• Prevent any discharges from reaching surface waters. Surface waters that may be affected by discharges from the City include: Santa Rita Creek, Gabilan Creek and tributaries, Natividad Creek and tributaries, Markley Swamp, Reclamation Ditch 1665, and the Salinas River.
   
• Prevent discharges from reaching the storm drain system and completely contain and clean any discharges that do reach the storm drain system before such discharges reach surface waters.
   
• Prevent dry weather overflows from public sewers.
   
• Prevent wet weather overflows from public sewers. Historically, no wet weather overflows due to capacity have occurred in Salinas.
   
• Response to overflows from private laterals.

The City maintains sanitary sewer overflow records in accordance with State of California Water Resources Control Board, GWDR Order 2006-0003-DWQ.

The elements of the City’s sewer system O&M program include: Proactive, preventive, and corrective maintenance of gravity sewers; CCTV inspection; Rehabilitation and replacement of sewers that are in poor condition; and routine inspection and preventive maintenance for the pump stations.

The City’s maintenance program addresses the following elements to various degrees, although in an informal manner:

• Preventive maintenance – identifying and fixing system weaknesses which, if left unaddressed, could lead to overflows;
• Corrective maintenance – fixing system components that are functioning but not at 100% capacity/efficiency, e.g., partially blocked lines;
• Emergency maintenance – reactive maintenance, overflows, equipment breakdowns.

The maintenance plan addresses the following components identified in the WDR:

• The City implements a system for scheduling regular maintenance and cleaning of collection system, rotating through the City over time.
• The City implements a system for identifying known problem areas and scheduling more frequent cleaning at these locations. Priority has been given to identifying and servicing areas requiring increased maintenance over routine maintenance activities. This has resulted in an increased hotspot maintenance list. The City has incorporated more efficient cleaning methods that are anticipated to free more time for routine work.
• The City implements a tracking system for recording maintenance activities. The City currently uses service request slips which are completed in response to requests for service by residents or other departments. Routine maintenance is conducted as described below according to schedules established by the Wastewater Manager and Wastewater Crew Supervisor and documented on maintenance forms developed by the Department..
• Procedures for coordinating with contractors responsible for sewer system collection system cleaning and maintenance. The City does not typically contract cleaning and maintenance of the collection system. Contracting is done only for the purpose of supplementing the ongoing maintenance effort when required or in response for specialized equipment not in the City’s inventory. Contract work is accomplished with ongoing oversight from City staff

CCTV Inspections are conducted 2 times a week during routine cleaning activities. A CIP is used for contract services to inspect areas that staff has identified during line cleaning and manhole inspections annually.

CCTV pipeline inspections are conducted by contract for major pipeline projects and by maintenance staff for the purpose of inspection and maintenance. The information gathered during the maintenance assessment may also be used to select individual gravity sewers for repair/rehabilitation/replacement. This information will be prioritized and submitted for repair/rehabilitation or replacement. Decisions on actions to be taken will be a joint effort of the Environmental & Maintenance Services Division and the Engineering and Transportation Division of Public Works. Visual assessments are conducted during routine maintenance activities as maintenance crews look for debris, sand, mud, rock or pieces of pipe that might indicate a pipeline problem. CCTV inspections are scheduled if a compromised condition appears to exist.