City Talks Sewer Rates, Bad Sewer Lines

The South San Francisco City Council reviewed possible alternatives to residential sewer fees at a special meeting on Tuesday and discussed the possibility of a sewer lateral inspection ordinance.

Director of Public Works Terry White presented the council with four sewer rate fee structures detailing the advantages and disadvantages of each.

“Our expectation is that people would not immediately react to it until it hit them in the pocketbook,” White said.

The council was presented with the options of a flat rate, flow-based, hybrid or “across-the-board” system.

The city of South San Francisco is currently three years into a five-year contract of the current sewer rate system, said Barry Nagel, city manager.

Councilmember Pedro Gonzalez voiced his favor of a system that will give residents incentive to conserve water.

While the proposed flat rate system of $45 each month would not provide financial incentive to conserve water, White said, the water flow-based system would.

“Water consumption is rewarded with a lower bill,” he said.

However, White said this system could become problematic because there is often difficulty in pricing as well as promoting the new system to unaware residents before slamming down a hefty bill.

Mayor Kevin Mullin, Vice Mayor Richard Garbarino and Councilmember Mark Addiego voiced specific interest in the hybrid system, which takes the best aspects of both the flat rate and flow-based systems, according to White.

“The hybrid has all my attention right now,” Addiego said.

Mayor Mullin said he would like to see tangible numbers as to how the new system would affect residents.

“All those are just scratching the surface,” White said of the proposed systems.

Because the council showed interest in the hybrid model, White said the staff would refine the idea and bring council more concrete details.

Gary Batis, Superintendent of Public Works, then took the floor to present a draft Sewer Lateral Inspection Ordinance.

Batis said the city is in need of a formal ordinance because the current sewer lateral guidelines are not enforceable and the municipal code is not clear.

“It assigns more responsibility to the property owner,” Batis said.

Of particular concern are pipes made of the substance orangeburg. Orangeburg pipes, which Batis described as made of compressed paper and tar, were installed mostly in the 1950s and 60s with a life expectancy of 50 years.

“It caused us to close down streets,” Batis said of defective orangeburg pipes.

Batis predicts that 35 percent of South San Francisco sewer laterals are made of orangeburg.

“The driving force on this ordinance is Baykeeper litigation,” Batis said.

As part of the March 2011 settlement agreement with San Francisco Baykeeper, the city of South San Francisco agreed to fund a $300,000 sewer lateral replacement grant program in order to replace defective sewer laterals.

South San Franciscans may apply for up to $2,500.

Approximately 24 residences each year may have been able to take advantage of the program, Batis said.

“The problem that you show seems so severe,” Councilmember Addiego said. “Our ability to correct it seems so puny.”

However, Batis said only certain homes are able to distinguish if they have orangeburg piping.

“The individuals that do not have clean outs have no way of knowing if they have orangeburg or not,” Batis said.

A CCTV inspection costs $250 and repairs or replacement of piping can fall anywhere between $4,000-$8,000.

White said because there have only been 15 inquiries to take part in the grant program, $2,500 may not be enough incentive for South City residents.

Residents who needed to take part in the program most already have, White said.

“We have put it out there and people aren’t thinking about it,” he said.

Councilmember Addiego suggested inspecting a sample of homes built in the 50s or 60s to better understand the rate of failing orangeburg piping.  

City staff will take more time to solidify a plan and to detail the possible need of a sewer lateral ordinance.