Sewer Service & Rates

It might not be glamorous, but sewer service is a necessity...and one that the Utilities Department provides for all water-service customers.

Sewer Rates

The monthly sewer charge includes a monthly fixed charge for all customers that includes an 8 hundred cubic feet (8 unit) allowance per month. Non-residential customers will be charged a variable charge per unit for all water used beyond 8 units in a billing period. These charges are to support resilient infrastructure in providing sewer service. Fixed costs include, but are not limited to, expenses such as pumping, treatment, disposal, debt service, regulatory compliance, customer service, utility billing, and preventive maintenance. Variable costs are dependent upon the amount of sewer flow and the strength of the organic compounds and include the chemical cost associated with treating sewer.

Non-residential customers whose water use and sewer flow may not be directly comparable can email SewerVariance@CoronaCA.gov to see if they will be eligible for a variance.

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Help keep the sewer system flowing freely!

• Don't put any fats, oils or grease (FOG) down the drain.
  These substances can clog the pipes in your home — and on your street. Learn more about FOG
• Don't flush drugs (or toxic substances) down the drain
  Prescription drugs and other substances should be disposed of properly. Learn more...

Quick Facts About the Water Reclamation Group

• Water Reclamation Facility #1 built in 1968
• Serves approximately 144,000 customers
• Maintains 444 miles of wastewater mains
• Treats 13.5 million gallons per day on average

Find More Information About Your Sewer Service

• A Layperson's Guide to California Wastewater
  This publication outlines the state’s wastewater collection, conveyance, treatment, reuse, and disposal systems.

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Discharge Regulations

Regulation Sources: There are four sources of regulations. These are Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, Code of Federal Regulations, State of California Adopted Orders, Local Limits. The City of Corona's discharge program consists of a self-monitoring program. Any discharges that cannot be sent to the City's system may go to the Inland Empire Brine Line.

Self-Monitoring Program

All Class I, II and III industries permitted by the Utilities Department will almost certainly be required to monitor their effluent for compliance with the City of Corona discharge regulations, a process known as self-monitoring. The self-monitoring program requires industries to collect samples of their industrial wastewater effluent, usually using an automatic sampler, and have the sample analyzed for the constituents listed in their industrial waste discharge permit. Most permittees contract this work out. Once the sample has been analyzed, the results are submitted to the Utilities Department. The data is then reviewed by the Utilities Department and entered into the City of Corona database.

The most common self-monitoring schedules involve monitoring the industrial wastewater effluent monthly or quarterly. In some cases, monitoring is done on a weekly basis.

The City of Corona requires self-monitoring for a number of reasons:

Significant Non-Compliance Determination (SNC): Self-monitoring data, in conjunction with Utilities Department data, is used to determine compliance with discharge limits outlined in industrial waste discharge permits. A company will receive a SNC if they are more than 30 days late submitting their self-monitoring reports.

Flow Base Determination: The daily industrial flow reported on the self-monitoring report is used with other flow data to determine the mass emission rate flow base.

Enforcement: The self-monitoring data may be used in enforcement actions

Wastewater Use Charges: The BOD, TSS and total oil and grease and flow data may be used to determine wastewater surcharges.

Responsibility to the Environment: Self-monitoring helps maintain the company focus on responsibility and makes them aware of the potentially negative impact the industrial wastewater discharge may have on the City of Corona wastewater system.

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Fats, Oils, & Grease

FOG stands for Fats, Oils and Grease — three substances that shouldn't be washed down the drain.

Fats, oils and grease are items used when cooking, or are the by-products of cooking, such as cooking oil, butter or leftover grease from cooking bacon or other meats.

How Should I Dispose of “FOG?”

After cooking, wait for the “FOG” to cool down. Then, simply scrape the leftover cooking fats into the trash or other container, such as an old metal coffee can or food scrap recycling bin. Never put fats, oils or grease down the drain.

Can’t I Just Wash “FOG” Down the Drain?

Never wash fats, oils or grease down the drain, even if you use hot water. These items will build up over time and block sewer lines like the one to the right. Blocked sewer lines can cause raw sewage to backup into your home, and could lead to costly repair bills.

Raw sewage could also back up onto neighborhood streets and into storm drains, which drain to rivers and the ocean. Overflows can pose health and environmental hazards, in addition to being costly to repair.

Remember — keep your sewer lines “FOG” - free!

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