FROM: James D. Herberg, General Manager
Originator: Riaz Moinuddin, Director of Operations & Maintenance
SUBJECT:
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LIDO PUMP STATION SEWAGE SPILL
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GENERAL MANAGER'S RECOMMENDATION
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RECOMMENDATION:
Information Item.
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BACKGROUND
On Friday, November 4, 2022, a sewage spill occurred adjacent to Orange County Sanitation District's (OC San) Lido Pump Station near the Newport Boulevard Arches Bridge. Approximately 9,222 gallons leaked from one of the two pressurized pipes, or force mains, resulting in a temporary closure of the impacted area of Newport Bay. Although swimming and water contact recreation were restricted for three days, subsequent testing revealed no increase in elevated bacteria levels, and the closure was lifted Monday evening, November 7, 2022.
Staff responded to the spill by taking immediate mitigating action to isolate the leak by switching flow from the pump station to the alternate force main pipe. The spill was reported and cleaned up within a few hours. Almost all of the spilled sewage entered the local storm drain system and was subsequently discharged to the bay.
The Lido Pump Station force mains are 16-inch ductile iron pipes installed in the late 1990s. Staff is conducting a detailed assessment and repair of the leaking force main. The initial assessment based on closed circuit video of the pipe appears to indicate the case iron pipe was broken by external force. There is no significant internal corrosion present. The pipe is currently being excavated and more information will be presented at the Committee meeting.
The active force main will be assessed after the damaged force main is returned to service.
RELEVANT STANDARDS
* Maintain a proactive asset management program
* Protect OC San assets
* Achieve less than 2.1 sewer spills per 100 miles
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
OC San has been actively refurbishing and replacing force main pipes in the Collection System. For example, OC San is ...
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