Wastewater Collection Systems Division Overview

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Wastewater Collection Systems Division

Bureau of Sanitation

CITY OF LOS ANGELES

Division Overview

Mission:

"To operate the wastewater collection systems in a safe, efficient, and cost effective manner; with an emphasis on protecting the environment and public health, recognizing the public as our primary customer deserving of courteous and expeditious service, and recognizing our employees as our most valuable asset"

Vision:

"To be the model by which all other wastewater collection systems will be measured"

Division Overview

The Wastewater Collection Systems Division is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the City of Los Angeles’s wastewater and stormwater conveyance systems. The wastewater system receives sewage from a population of over 4 million people, 27 contract agencies, 100,000 businesses and industrial users located within a 600 square mile service area. In order to meet the regulatory requirements and established goals, Division employees are divided into five sections. These sections are categorized as Collection Systems, Stormwater Systems, Mechanical Maintenance and Operations, Administration and Engineering Support. The critical functions performed by these sections include:

Operate and maintain a 6,500 mile wastewater collection system, including 48 sewage pumping plants and 145,000 maintenance holes

Operate and maintain a 1,200 mile storm drain system including 11 stormwater pumping plants 34,000 catch basins, 100 debris basins , 1,250 low flow structures and 175 channels city-wide to protect streets from flooding and local water ways from stormwater pollution

Perform proactive, preventive and corrective maintenance including sewer inspection, sewer cleaning, root control, pest control, customer service and emergency response

Conduct a comprehensive condition assessment program. 200 miles of sewers are inspected by cctv annually to internaly inspect the sewer for physical defects

Perform corrective and preventive maintenance, including stormwater structure inspection, stormwater structure cleaning, pest control, customer service and emergency response

provide human resource support in areas such as training, safety programs and employee selection processes

provide technical assistance to support maintenance optimization efforts and for planning, design, and construction management services for the division

O & M Activities

Hydroflusher – This high velocity sewer cleaner uses high-pressure water to clean the sewer line. It is very effective in cleaning grease and breaking up solids in flat, slow flowing sewers

Rodding Machine – The rodding machine is used to cut roots, remove heavy grease layers and to scrape, dislodge and remove certaintypes of material (sand, dirt, rocks) found in sewers.

Bucketing – The bucketing process is used to remove debris, grease, and sediment. Debris is removed as the bucket is pulled by winch machine along the sewer.

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) – Closed circuit television is used to inspect the internal, physical condition of the sewer. Information from this inspection will determine the need for Maintenance, repair, or replacement of the sewer line

Catch Basin Cleaner – The catch basin crew uses a vacuum truck to remove debris and foreign material from the catch basin so that storm water runoff flows through the storm drain system

Maintenance Hole Raising – maintenance holes covered by recent street resurfacing are raised to grade to allow for access to the collection system.