Wastewater Consolidation Program

Overview

The State Water Resources Control Board and the Regional Water Quality Control Boards (Regional Water Boards) recognize that improperly sited, designed, operated, and/or maintained onsite sewage treatment systems are a key source of bacteria and nitrate to surface and ground waters that serve as drinking water sources. The Wastewater Consolidation Program is another piece in the State Water Resources Control Board’s arsenal against drinking water source contamination by inadequate onsite sewage treatment systems.

In 2018, Governor Brown signed SB 1215 into law, establishing funding and the regulatory framework for a statewide Wastewater Consolidation Program to facilitate the consolidation of inadequate onsite sewage treatment systems with existing sewer systems.

SB 1215 modifies the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (California Water Code Chapter 4.3, commencing with Section 13288) to authorize Regional Water Boards to encourage, and if necessary, mandate the provision of sewer service to disadvantaged communities with inadequate onsite sewage treatment systems. This authority will be executed either through collaboration with local sewer providers, or through enforcement orders to establish a timeline for connection to local sewer systems.

The Wastewater Consolidation Program provides a pathway for compliance with other State and Regional Water Board initiatives such as the Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Policy (OWTS Policy) and the Central Valley Salinity Alternatives for Long-Term Sustainability (CV-SALTS). Please see the ‘Related Programs’ section for links to these webpages.