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Who is the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD)?OCSD is responsible for safely collecting, treating, and disposing of wastewater. Separate from the County of Orange or any city government, it is governed by a 25-member board of directors represented by a member of the board of supervisors, 3 local sewer agencies and 21 cities within our 470-square-mile service area.
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What is the fee?The sewer service fee is for the collection, treatment, and disposal of wastewater (sewage). It is a fee, not a tax because it is not based on the value of the property, but upon average use of the sewerage system.
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How is the fee calculated?It is based upon the type of property. Residential properties, including condominiums and town homes, are charged a flat rate. Multi-family (apartment buildings including duplexes and triplexes) and mobile home parks are charged on a per unit basis. Non-residential properties are charged a rate per thousand square feet of improvements. The rate varies based upon the use of the property.
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Who approved the fee?The fee was passed by ordinance by the OCSD Board of Directors.
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How is the fee collected?Fees appear on the property tax bill annually. Using the property tax bill is the most cost effective method of collection as it avoids adding additional staff.
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Why was the rate increase needed?As the sixth largest wastewater treatment agency in the United States, several factors influence future costs and rates to cover them.
Increased costs of chemicals, managing biosolids, maintaining clean beaches, moving to additional secondary treatment, funding half of the water reclamation Ground Water Replenishment System (GWR System), and the ongoing need to replace our aging infrastructure to name a few.
To continue operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and maintain the reliable service you’ve come to expect, it is essential we continue investing in our facilities.
Additionally, these increases in the next few years will allow the District to avoid additional borrowing and debt service payments which would result in even higher rates in the future.
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Was the fee voter approved?No public vote is required. When a fee is imposed or increased, a Public Notice is published in the local newspaper and notifications are mailed to property owners. The fees are enacted after a public hearing by a vote of the Board of Directors.
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How do you satisfy the requirements of Propositions 13 and 218?Proposition 13 deals with taxes. The user fee is based upon the average use of the sewer system, not property values. Therefore the user fee is not a tax and is not governed by Proposition 13.
Proposition 218 has a specific exemption for sewer user fees. OCSD mails a notice to each property owner and conducts a public hearing. In this case the notice was mailed in January, 2008 for the subsequent 5 years. An election is not required by Proposition 218 for sewer user fees.
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Am I paying for the same thing on my utility bill?No. Some of the cities charge a maintenance fee for their local sewer lines. Often times, this fee is on the water bill. The sewage from those local lines flows into OCSD’s large regional trunk sewers and comes to one of our two plants for treatment. Those local fees are only used for the local sewers and are not forwarded to the Sanitation District.
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Can I get the fees lowered?Non-residential users with a low water use may be eligible for a reduction based on actual water use. They must send OCSD a written request (from the property owner) along with a copy of their water bills for the prior fiscal year (12 complete months) and a copy of the current tax bill.
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What if I am not connected to the sewer?Parcels not connected to the sewer are exempt from sewer service fees. There are no other exemptions. The owner may write to the Sanitation District at P.O. Box 8127, Fountain Valley, CA 92728-8127, indicating they use a septic tank or that the property is not developed along with their parcel number and the owner’s signature.
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What if I have further questions or comments?Written comments may be submitted through the mail to the Sanitation District at P.O. Box 8127, Fountain Valley, CA 92728-8127. We have also established an e-mail account should you prefer to leave an electronic message. Our address is rates@ocsd.com
If you have additional questions or want more information, please call (714) 593-7281. Our office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. If these times are not convenient, you may leave a recorded message after hours or on weekends or email. A member of the Sanitation District’s staff will return your call.
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What is the approved annual single family residence sewer fee over the next 5 years?The proposed rates are:
2008-2009 - $201
2009-2010 - $221
2010-2011 - $244
2011-2012 - $267
2012 - 2013 - $294
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Why is the rate increase needed?The District maintains a Capital Improvement Program (CIP) that requires nearly $1.5 billion over the next ten years. Large projects within the CIP include:
- Funding for the Groundwater Replenishment System, the world's largest water reclamation plant which helps convert 70 million gallons into drinking water every day. This $490 million project joint funded with the Orange County Water District and serves as a hedge against water shortages and population growth.
- Compliance with the Federal court consent decree requiring the District to move to full secondary treatment levels, as required by the Clean Water Act, by December 2012. The goal of this initiative is to minimize the bacteria and solids dispersed out into the ocean.
- Various rehabilitation projects to replace the District’s aging infrastructure, including the headworks replacement at Plant No. 2, a $260 million project.
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How do our rates compare to other agencies?Rate comparisons
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The Orange County Sanitation District Board of Directors voted on Wednesday, February 27, 2008 to adopt a new five year rate schedule. The rates will increase to $201 per single family residence in July. 
