New Proactive Approach Advanced By City for Sewer Maintenance

The city now plans to inspect every one of its sewer pipes over the next seven years, marking the end of a complaint-based system that responded to problems only after they emerged. 

Crews will examine 250,000 feet of underground pipe annually—roughly one-seventh of the city’s 328-mile network. Teams will also inspect 1,100 of the city’s 7,500 manholes each year, giving every pipe a full condition rating on a rolling seven-year schedule. 

The shift to preventive maintenance became possible after the City Council approved sewer rate increases in 2024. 

Public Works officials will present the updated Sewer System Management Plan to the Municipal Services Committee on Tuesday. Previously, the city cleaned pipes annually and investigated problems as residents reported them. 

“Thanks to City Council’s 2024 rate adoption, Public Works can now meet industry best practices,” a Public Works Department report said. The new approach enables “a shift toward planned, proactive maintenance and improved collection system oversight.”

State regulations require the plan. The California State Water Resources Control Board mandates updates every six years. The council last adopted a sewer plan in June. 

The plan now includes climate resilience measures and system vulnerability planning required under new state rules. Staff training has expanded to cover spill response and reporting. The state also changed spill categories from three to four, giving small non-surface spills their own classification. 

Public Works staff said they must update the department’s GIS asset map monthly under the new rules. Audits will occur every three years instead of two. 

The city is already spending $5.25 million on upgrades to the Busch Garden and Rosemont sewer pump stations, including mechanical, structural and electrical improvements. Construction is expected to begin in Fiscal Year 2026. 

Pasadena conveys untreated wastewater to Los Angeles County Sanitation District facilities through 92 separate connections. Three lift stations help move the flow. 

The plan aims to prevent sanitary sewer overflows, ensure proper system operation and protect public health and the environment. The full document is available on the city’s website under Public Works Permitting and Engineering Resources. 

The committee meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday in City Council Chambers at City Hall. 

Tuesday, Jan. 27 at 4 p.m. City Council Chambers at City Hall, Pasadena.