Sewer Service

Our History

Los Alamos Community Services District (Los Alamos CSD) was formed on October 29, 1956, under Division 4 of the Street and Highway Code for the purpose of providing water service to the Community of Los Alamos under the 1958 act.

On April 8, 1985, the District was awarded a Federal EPA Grant and a grant from the California State Water Resources for the design and construction of the Los Alamos Wastewater Collection and Treatment Project. On July 12, 1985, Order No. 85-97 was adopted. This project was completed in 1988 and sewer service was provided to the community.

In September of 1993, Phase II was completed of the Wastewater Treatment Plant, increasing the capacity of the treatment facilities, and was operating under Order No. 92-93 of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board (Central Coast Region.) Order No. 92-93 allowed the Los Alamos CSD to discharge a maximum of 176,000 gallons per day, averaged over each month.

On December 2, 2005, the Regional Water Quality Control Board revised Order No. 92-93 by adopting Order No. R3-2005-0133 establishing new WDRs for the Los Alamos CSD Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion Project Phase III, to discharge a maximum of 225,000 gallons per day, averaged over each month.

On March 15, 2006, the District put the Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion Project Phase III out to bid, and was completed on October 10, 2006. The purpose of the project was to expand the irrigation disposal capacity to meet the build-out of the Urban Boundary, as well as, the Community Service District Boundary based on the 1994 Los Alamos Community Plan Update, and to provide additional wet well capacity to improve lift station operation. Two additional holding tanks with a capacity of 3,000 gallons each were added to allow for additional capacity in the event of lift station pump failure and a Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) was also installed on the irrigation pump to increase efficiency

The Wastewater Treatment System 

The Wastewater Treatment System for the town of Los Alamos is comprised of four basic elements, the wastewater collection system (44,750 linear feet or 8.5 miles), two sewer lift stations, a facultative pond treatment facility, and 47.6 acres of an effluent disposal system, including 5-retention basins for a total of 66.18 acres that are maintained by District personnel.

The main trunk lines for the Wastewater Collection System are more than adequate to meet build-out conditions. The Bell Street lift station presently has two 7.5 horsepower pumps operating at 270 gpm each. The treatment facilities are comprised of the head works and treatment ponds. The treatment capacity is rated at 400,000 gpd. The present facilities, excluding the effluent disposal system, are more than adequate to handle the build-out of Los Alamos based on the 2010 Los Alamos Community Plan Update. To meet build-out, the effluent disposal system may need to be expanded. The Los Alamos CSD is currently operating at 54% of its capacity.

Wastewater Treatment Plant

Operations and maintenance at the Wastewater Treatment Plant include operating and maintaining 66 acres of spray irrigation fields, (Map) including 5-retention basins, irrigation system repairs, and adjustment of irrigation system sprinklers. Monitoring and cleaning of influent and effluent aerator and removal of influent and effluent biosolids. The District also maintains all equipment, such as the District's backhoe, tractors, pumps, and other light equipment, as well as, weekly testing of the emergency backup generator.

Other typical maintenance includes the daily cleaning of the comminutor, grit chambers, and treatment ponds, as well as, inline filter and intake screens. The District tests wastewater to ensure we are complying with our permit and that the treatment plant and irrigation system are running as efficiently as possible. The District operators perform weekly in-house sewer pH testing. All other testing is done at FGL Laboratories. Settable Solids testing is done weekly. Samples for TDS, Sodium and Chloride, 5-Day B.O.D.(Biochemical Oxygen Demand), Suspended Solids and Settable Solids are taken quarterly. Other tests are required every six months and annually as well.

Wastewater Collection System

Operations and maintenance at the Wastewater Collection System include but are not limited to, installation, repair, or replacement of sewer mains and laterals, cleaning of the Bell Street and San Antonio Lift Stations, inspection of sewer clean-outs and manholes, and inspection of new sewer construction. The District believes in preventative maintenance and hydro jets the entire collection system to prevent Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) and responds to customer concerns about odor or blockages. For more information about frequently asked questions about public and private sewer laterals, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions Link or refer to the links below.

Sewer Service

Other related Los Alamos CSD Sewer Links

For more information about our wastewater management please contact the Office at (805) 344-4195.