On February 11, 2014, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2014-15, entering into an agreement with the South Placer Municipal Utility District (SPMUD) to increase the size of the Atherton sewer trunk line when it neared capacity (2,500 Equivalent Dwelling Units, or EDUs). The agreement stated that when the line reached 1,900 EDUs, the City would begin the project. The City would be the lead agency for the construction of the project while coordinating with SPMUD. Ultimately the upsized sewer line would be owned by SPMUD once construction was completed.
As time has progressed, the threshold of 1,900 EDUs was met and the project design commenced, culminating with the City Council adopting Resolution No. 2022-178 awarding the bid for construction to LaFleur Excavating, Inc. on September 13, 2022. This project will remove and replace approximately 800 feet of sewer pipe, increasing the sewer pipe size from 20 inches to 24 inches.
As part of the approved construction plans, a temporary bypass sewer line will be installed and the sewer laterals and sewer flow from existing SPMUD customers will be reinstated and routed through the City’s new sewer line during construction. The bypass sewer line will be owned, operated, and maintained by the City during this portion of the construction.
SPMUD is requiring the City to enter into a Temporary Sewer Connection and Use Agreement pertaining to the bypass sewer line, which identifies the respective roles and responsibilities of each party. Under the Agreement, until SPMUD formally accepts the new sewer line, the City is solely responsible for maintenance of sewer service on the sewer line, including all activities required to prevent sanitary sewer overflows and maintaining effective service. In the event of an incident, the City would be responsible for any costs of services required to respond, contain, mitigate and/or restore sewer flow through the line. If an incident occurs related to the sewer line, the City would be required to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless SPMUD, and pay any fees or fines SPMUD may incur as a result of the incident.