Although the collection system for the Richmond Sewer District No. 1, which serves approximately 60% of Richmond, is unable to handle peak wet weather flows, the City of Richmond continues to allow new hookups that add additional volume to an already overtaxed system.

The consequences are that Richmond residents and businesses already connected to the system continue to pay millions of dollars in damage claims, penalties and legal fees so that others can connect to the system and exacerbate it even more. This is money, now gone forever, that could instead be spent upgrading the system.

For example:

The City of Richmond has paid the law firm of Downey-Brand $100,000 to defend a lawsuit by Lawyers for Clean water (Baykeeper) alleging the City is violating the Clean Water Act. In Fiscal Year 2005-2006, the City paid out $1,035,787 in sewer backup claims. It should be noted that sewer backup claims paid have dropped significantly since Veolia took over maintenance of the collection system, but they continue at a rate of $9,841 per claim. According to Veolia, which now has responsibility for maintenance of the collection system as well as the treatment plant, 75% of the spills could be eliminated by replacing the sewer lines in San Pablo Avenue from I-80 to Bissell and Macdonald Avenue from San Pablo to 33rd Street. That work has not yet started. The California Regional Water Quality Control Board issued a Notice of Violation to the City of Richmond on March 15, 2006. Despite clear evidence that the collection system is undersized for wet weather flows, Environmental Impact Reports for Richmond projects served by the Richmond Sewer District No. 1 continue either ignore sanitary sewer capacity (Marina Bay West Shore ” Toll) or state that capacity is satisfactory (Point Richmond Shores ” Toll). The City continues to drag its feet on a sewer lateral inspection and upgrade program.

I have introduced a resolution (attached) that will place a moratorium on any new hookups to the Richmond Sewer District No. 1 collection system unless it can be shown by engineering analysis that sufficient capacity exits from the point of hookup to the wastewater plant.