Spurred by the threat of privatization and a federal government mandate to drastically reduce sewage overflows, San Diego wastewater officials decided to clean more than just the sewer lines.
They also cleaned house by addressing a jumble of inconsistent cleaning processes and a mish-mash of inferior equipment, both of which contributed directly to the overflows. The results are dramatic: Through across-the-board standardization of employee training, cleaning techniques and equipment, sewer overflows dropped to 41 in 2010 from a peak of 365 in 2002, says Mike Rosenberg, principal water utility supervisor in the Wastewater Collection Division of the Public Utilities Department.
“Only 10
