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STATEWIDE SANITARY SEWER SYSTEMS GENERAL ORDER <br />3.2. General <br />3.2.1. Waters of the State <br />Waters of the State include any surface water or groundwater, including saline waters, <br />within the boundaries of the state as defined in Water Code section 13050(e), and are <br />inclusive of waters of the United States. <br />3.2.2. Sanitary Sewer System Spill Threats to Public Health and Beneficial Uses <br />Sewage contains high levels of suspended solids, pathogenic organisms, toxic <br />pollutants, nutrients, oxygen -demanding organic compounds, oil and grease and other <br />pollutants. Sewage spills may cause a public nuisance, particularly when sewage is <br />discharged to areas with high public exposure such as streets and surface waters used <br />for drinking, irrigation, fishing, recreation, or other public consumption or contact uses. <br />More specifically, sanitary sewer spills may: <br />• Adversely affect aquatic life and/or threaten water quality when reaching receiving <br />waters; <br />• Inadvertently release trash, including plastics; <br />• Impair the recreational use and aesthetic enjoyment of surface waters by polluting <br />surface water or groundwater; <br />• Threaten public health through direct public exposure to bacteria, viruses, intestinal <br />parasites, and other microorganisms that can cause serious illness such as <br />gastroenteritis, hepatitis, cryptosporidiosis, and giardiasis; <br />• Negatively impact ecological receptors and biota within surface waters; and <br />• Cause nuisance including odors, closure of beaches and recreational areas, and <br />property damage. <br />Sanitary sewer system spills may pollute receiving waters and threaten beneficial uses <br />of surface water and groundwater. Potentially threatened beneficial uses include, but <br />are not limited to the following (with associated acronym representations as included in <br />statewide water quality control plans and Regional Water Boards' Basin Plans): <br />• Municipal and Domestic Supply (MUN) <br />• Water Contact Recreation (REC-1) and Non -Contact Water Recreation (REC-2) <br />• Cold Freshwater Habitat (COLD) <br />• Warm Freshwater Habitat (WARM) <br />• Native American Culture (CUL) <br />• Wildlife Habitat (WILD) <br />• Rare, Threatened, or Endangered Species (RARE) <br />• Spawning, Reproduction, and/or Early Development (SPWN) <br />• Wetland Habitat (WET) <br />• Agricultural Supply (AGR) <br />• Estuarine Habitat (EST) <br />ORDER 2022-0103-DWQ <br />December 6, 2022 <br />11 <br />