BETHEL ISLAND — The recent string of storms has led to saturated ground and standing water here, but residents illegally draining the excess water into the sewer system are wreaking havoc within the Ironhouse Sanitary District sewer collection and treatment systems.
Bethel Island residents have been hit especially hard by drains that have backed up and to fix the problem, some have removed their sewer clean-out covers, redirecting hundreds of thousands of gallons of water to enter into an already inundated sewer system, Ironhouse officials say.
District crews have also seen some residents connecting pumps to their private sewer laterals and pumping surface water off of their property into the sewer system. This illegal activity directly causes sewer overflows downstream at pump stations and within the sewer system, according to Ironhouse officials. It also overloads the treatment facility, leading to water quality violations, they say.
“Ironhouse does not run a combined sewer-storm system,” Chad Davisson, ISD general manager said. “This illegal activity of draining or pumping storm water into the sewer system has already led to sanitary sewer overflows, which the District has reported to the State of California Water Resources Control Board. It also leads to considerable added costs in overtime and energy consumption by pumping storm water from flooded properties.”
ISD rules prohibit residents from pumping storm water from flooded properties into the sewer system, and there are strict penalties for violation. Violation of the ordinance is a crime punishable by fines of $1,000 and/or 30 days in jail. Violations can also result in immediate disconnection of sewer service.
The District has issued several cease-and-desist notices to individuals who it has observed engaging in prohibited conduct.
“If the District’s treatment capacity is exceeded, inadequately treated waste could be discharged into the San Joaquin River, which can be a health and safety issue.” Davisson said.
Davisson asks that residents share this information with friends and neighbors to help prevent further costly and unhealthy sewer overflows on island neighborhoods. For more information, contact Ironhouse Sanitary District at 925-625-2279.
