Historical Overview - Timeline

1920 - 1930 - 1940 - 1950 - 1960 - 1970 - 1980 - 1990 - 2000
Click on a decade to view OCSD's history.

1920

1921	Orange County Joint Outfall Sewer (JOS) is formed. Santa Ana and Anaheim agree to construct an outfall extending into the Pacific Ocean.
1923	Construction starts on Ocean Outfall.
1924	First sewage from member cities is discharged into system.
1927	Outfall is extended to a distance of 3000 feet. New screening plant and pumping station is constructed.

1930

1936	Extensive repairs are made on Ocean Outfall due to a break in the pipe caused by the dragging of an anchor from a fishing barge.
1938	Severe flood destroys the screening plant.

1940

1941	First units of Primary Treatment Plant are constructed.
1946	Board of Supervisors orders Orange County Sewerage Survey Report. Report becomes basis for formation of original sanitation district.
1947	Districts Nos. 1, 5 and 6 formally organize.
1948	Districts Nos. 2, 3, 7 and 11 formally organize.
1949	Individual bond issues are approved to fund joint operations.

1950

1952	Construction begins on new 7,000-foot, 78" diameter outfall.
1954	County Sanitation District of Orange County begin official operations; takes over duties of JOS.
1959	Headworks No. 1 begins operating at Plant No. 1.

1960

1962	Studies begin for new $10 million, 5-mile long ocean outfall.

1970

1970	District formally establishes Industrial Waste Division.
1971	New 5-mile long 120" diameter, $10 million outfall is operational.
1974	New diversion structure comes on-line at Plant No. 1.
1978	$32 million Activated Sludge facility begins operating at Reclamation Plant No. 1.

1980

1983	Oxygen Activated Sludge plant and solids handling facility begin operating at Plant No. 2.
1985	District begins operating under 5-year Ocean Discharge Permit Waiver.
1987	Construction begins on new 480 MGD Ocean Outfall Booster Station.
1989	60 MGD primary treatment expansion begins at Plant No. 1. Headworks No. 2 begins operating at Plant No. 1. 30-year Master Plan approved. Ocean Outfall Booster Station is completed. 30-year Master Plan "2020 VISION" is approved.

1990

1990	Construction begins on new Environmental Sciences Laboratory and Central Power Generation facilities.
1991	New Administration building is completed. 100 percent recycling of biosolids is achieved. Construction begins on new Operations Center.
1992	60 MGD primary treatment expansion is completed.
1993	Central Power Generation facilities are dedicated. District wins first place EPA Operations and Maintenance Excellence Award.
1994	District's fixed assets (at cost) top $1 billion. District celebrates 40-year anniversary.
1998	CSDOC becomes a consolidated agency, changing its name to OCSD to streamline its governance structure.
1999	OCSD adopts a resolution to accept urban runoff and initiates the Urban Runoff Program.
	2000