Addressing SSOs in Austin, Texas: Initial Call to Final Fix

Abstract

Austin Water Utility of the City of Austin, Texas faces a challenge of correcting sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) from its wastewater collection system. Austin is required to address and eliminate the SSOs from the collection system on a short schedule to meet a Federal regulatory mandate. The regulatory mandate requires the Utility to correct overflows and to reduce infiltration and inflow (I/I) into the collection system. This paper presents the implementation of the SSO Emergency Response (ER) plan to attend and reduce the amount of wastewater discharged from the collection system and correct the system-wide deficiencies of the system. The presentation will include various investigative methodologies, equipment used, and processes developed to correct SSOs.