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History

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

2002

OCSD completes the comprehensive odor control master plan.
2002 OCSD receives the federal operating permit (Title V) for both its plants.
2002 After a 13-12 Board decision, OCSD begins to ramp up existing secondary treatment process.
2002 Final effluent disinfection begins
2003 OCSD becomes the first agency in the nation to be certified for its biosolids environmental management plan.
2004 OCSD and OCWD begins construction on the Groundwater Replenishment System.
2008 Ground Water Replenishment System (GWR) Commissioned
2009 Steve Anderson Lift Station begins operation
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