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Frequently Asked Questions
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Customers have many questions
about the District. Some are
asked more often than others. In
order to improve service to you,
below are our responses to the
most commonly asked questions.
Billing
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Online Bill
Payments
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Stopped Up
Sewers
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Upper Sewer
Lateral Program
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Environmental
Issues
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District
Organization and
Structure
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How are rates set?
Rates are
basically a function of
cost recovery. There is
no profit portion built
into a rate. The
District only charges
what it costs to perform
its services. Rates must
be fair and equitable
based upon legal
requirements, and must
be approved by the State
Water Resources Control
Board as well as the
Board of Trustees.
Studies are conducted by
outside professionals to
ensure the legality,
fairness and equity of
rates. [Top]
How
do rates differ?
Comparability of rates
can sometimes be very
tricky. Some places,
like East Bay Municipal
Utility District, bill
only for sewage
treatment with sewage
collection billed by the
City. Sewage treatment
is billed directly and
sewage collection may be
billed on the property
tax roll. Due to these
variations, rate
comparability is
accurate only when one
knows the total cost of
service of each location
being compared.
Rates differ for many
other reasons. Typical
reasons include the age
and size of the
District, the type and
level of service
performed, the
composition of the
District’s customer
base, the level of
infrastructure
replacement, the level
of bonded debt and the
level of other sources
of income such as
property taxes, permit
and inspection fees. [Top]
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Why
is our sewer bill so
high?
Actually, the sewer bill
is not high. It is
comparable to
neighboring Bay Area
communities based upon
user fee studies. The
sewer bill is an annual
charge that, in Vallejo,
is conveniently billed
to customers in 12
monthly or 6 bi-monthly
installments depending
upon the customer
classification. The
majority of California
Sanitation Districts
bill one annual amount
on the property tax
roll. VSFCD customers
have a cheaper property
tax bill by the amount
of the sewer user charge
because it does not
include sewer that has
already been paid for. [Top] |
I can’t afford my
sanitation and flood
control bill. What
should I do?
The Vallejo Sanitation
and Flood Control
District offers a
reduced rate program (RRP)
for qualifying customers.
The reduced rate is 90%
of the standard
residential sewer rate.
Eligibility for the
program is based upon
customer participation
in the PG&E CARE program
(California Alternate
Rates for Energy).
Please click here [link
to RRP page under
Customer Service] to
learn more about the
program. [Top] |
Why
is the rate flat instead
of being based on
consumption?
Simplicity, efficiency
and economy. Roughly 90%
of California sanitation
districts use flat rate
for their residential
customers. Consumption
based billing would
require every household
to install an irrigation
water meter to separate
irrigation water usage
from water flowing to
the sewer. A household
water meter installation
costs approximately
$3,000. [Top]
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Why are my sewer rates
higher than my water
rates?
Water rates fluctuate,
and are based on water
usage, which is measured
by a meter on your house
or building. Sewer rates
are a flat fee
year-round. It is more
cost-effective (and
keeps your sewer rates
lower) to charge a flat
rate than to install
meters and pay for staff
to measure sewer
discharge from each
house and building in
Vallejo. [Top]
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Why
do I pay the same rate
as a larger household?
A rate study conducted
by an independent
consultant concluded
that it is less
expensive to charge a
flat, averaged rate than
to install and maintain
discharge meters and pay
staff to read the
meters. [Top]
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What is the Upper
Lateral Fee on my bill?
See the Upper Lateral
series of frequently
asked questions. [Top]
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What
are the various ways I
can pay my bill?
.You can pay by
mail, in person,
internet banking or
pre-authorized ACH
debit. If you wish to
pay by mail, a return
envelope is enclosed
with your bill. Please
send check or money
order payable to Vallejo
Sanitation & Flood
Control District. Do not
send cash. Include the
remittance stub from the
top of the bill. In the
event of an interruption
in postal service,
please present the
entire bill for payment
by the due date at our
Cashier Office. If you
wish to pay in person,
you can come to our
Cashier Office at 450
Ryder Street in Vallejo.
Payment may be made by
check, cash, money
order, cashiers check,
debit or credit card
(Visa and MasterCard
only). Cashier Office
hours are 8:00 a.m. to
4:45 p.m. Monday
through Friday (except
holidays). After hour
payments (checks or
money orders only) can
be dropped in the drop
box at the District's
entrance at 450 Ryder
Street. Payment by internet banking
is
available, where
applicable, through
participating financial
institutions by setting
up Vallejo Sanitation &
Flood Control District
as a payee in the bill
payment options. You can
pay your bill by having
the payment
automatically deducted
from your bank account.
To sign up for this
payment option, called
AutoPay, by completing
an enrollment form
available through the
Cashier Office or
customer service at
(707) 644-8976.
Approximately five days
prior to the bill "Due
Date" we will debit your
bank account for the
amount due. [Top]
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What is the Storm Drain
Fee on my bill?
When it rains, water
flows into storm drains,
which are part of a
District-owned and
maintained network of
gutters, catch basins,
manholes, underground
pipes, and pump stations
that carry the storm
runoff into the San
Francisco Bay. Parts of
the system are more than
a century old. The Storm
Drain Fee is a long-term
investment strategy that
is needed to repair
vital systems and
upgrade components,
improve maintenance, and
increase capacity. If
storm drains fail, storm
runoff will back up,
leading to street
flooding and other
problems. [Top]
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I own rental properties.
Does billing for sewer
charges stop when
tenants move out and
properties become
vacant?
No. Sewer services are
performed 24 hours per
day 365 days per year
for all connected
premises to the system.
All connected premises
receive service and are
subject to the charges.
Sewer service charges
are an annual amount for
the cost of operation
and maintenance billed
in six bi-monthly
installments. Sewer
service charges
terminate only after
physical
“disconnection”, i.e.,
plugging or capping off
the lines, or prevention
from occupancy by public
health.
[Top]
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Online Bill
Payments
What
are the various ways I
can pay my bill?
You can pay your bill by
mail to our lockbox, in
person through the
cashier, after hours in
our drop box, by online
and phone-banking
programs offered by
banks, by pre-authorized
ACH debit using the
District’s Auto Pay
Program, or by credit
card online using the
District’s Online Bill
Pay Program. If you wish
to pay by mail, use the
return envelope enclosed
with your bill. Please
send check or money
order payable to “VSFCD”.
Do not send cash.
Include the remittance
stub from the top of
your bill. If you wish
to pay in person, you
can come to our Cashier
Office at 450 Ryder
Street in Vallejo.
Payment may be made by
cash, check, money
order, cashiers check,
or by credit or debit
card (Visa and
MasterCard only). The
Cashier Office hours are
8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Monday through Friday
(except holidays). After
hour payments (checks or
money orders only) can
be dropped in the drop
box at the District's
entrance at 450 Ryder
Street. Payment by
online and phone banking
programs are available,
where applicable,
through participating
banks by setting up
“VSFCD” as a payee in
the bill payment
options. You can pay
your bill by having the
payment automatically
deducted from your bank
account. Sign up for
this payment option,
called Auto Pay, by
completing an enrollment
form available through
the Cashier Office or
customer service at
(707) 644-8976.
Approximately five days
prior to the bill "Due
Date" we will debit your
bank account for the
amount due. To pay
online by credit card
using the District’s
Online Bill Pay Program,
you will need to
establish an online
account and set up a PIN
number. Then follow the
onscreen instructions
from there.
[Top]
Stopped Up
Sewers
My sewer
is backed up. What
should I do?
Call us first at
644-8949. The District
can determine where the
problem is by:
- checking the main
sewer
- checking the cleanout
where the
homeowner-maintained
building sewer meets the
District-maintained
sewer
- clearing the blockage
in the service sewer, if
a cleanout is present.
If these problems occur
and you are not using
your household water
outlets, there may be a
problem in the public
main. Call 707-644-9849
to request service.
If your household water
outlets are being used,
turn them off to stop
the running water. This
indicates a possible
problem in your side
sewer. You need to call
a plumbing company
(located in the yellow
pages of the phone book)
since Vallejo Sanitation
& Flood Control District
is only responsible for
sewers not on private
property.
If overflow is constant,
the homeowner should
remove the cap on the
cleanout or overflow
device (if present)
located outside the
building. The homeowner
can use towels, sheets,
rags, etc. to keep the
sewage from spreading
and damaging other parts
of the house.
If the blockage is on
private property (in the
building sewer), the
homeowner is responsible
for the cost of the
sewer contractor’s work.
We can:
recommend that you call
a sewer and drain
professional to clear
the blockage
help you identify your
service sewer location.
[Top]
My toilet is backed up.
Can you recommend a
plumber?
We can’t recommend
specific plumbers, but
we do suggest making
sure that whoever you
hire is a sewer and
drain professional. [Top]
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What is a cleanout?
A cleanout is a pipe
that leads from the
sewer system to the
surface of the ground,
giving you or your
plumber easy access to
the sewer. [Top] |
What is the purpose of a
cleanout?
Cleanouts provide access
so that the sewer can be
cleaned without having
to disassemble
appliances such as the
toilet or garbage
disposal. [Top]
What is the purpose of a
cleanout at my property
line?
A cleanout at your
property line and within
the public utility
access easement gives
District maintenance
personnel access to the
public sewer. With this
access, trained
personnel can better
diagnose and correct
sewer problems in the
service sewer and main
sewer. The public
utility access easement
is within five feet of
your front and rear
property lines, or
wherever electric power
cables,
telecommunications
cables, sewer, gas,
drinking water and other
utility pipelines are
laid. [Top]
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Sewage is overflowing
from a sewer structure
onto the ground,
driveway, street, etc.
Overflow devices are
usually located near the
building. They may have
a lid or mushroom cap on
top. Their purpose is to
allow sewage from a
plugged sewer to
overflow outside of the
building. Manhole
structures are usually
located in the middle of
the street and provide
access for cleaning and
pipe inspection. Vallejo
Sanitation & Flood
Control District manhole
structures are marked
with "VSFCD" on
top.Storm drains carry
rain water only and are
usually under curb
openings in the gutter.
They are usually covered
with a grate or slotted
piece of metal. Some
solid round covers are
marked with "S" or
"Storm Drain." If a
catch basin is clogged
or blocked call us
707-644-8949
[Top]
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I
have slow drainage
through my toilets,
showers, and sinks. What
can I do about it?
If neighbors are having
similar slow drainage,
there is a chance that
there is a problem in
the public main. For
service call:
707-644-8949. If
neighbors are not having
a problem, you may need
to call a plumbing
company (yellow pages of
phone book).
[Top]
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My side sewer or sewer
main was broken by a
contractor or utility.
What should I do?
The District repairs
broken side sewer
connections to mains and
sewer mains that are
broken by private
contractors or utilities
(EBMUD, PG&E, and
cities, etc). The
contractor or utility is
responsible for
notifying the District
immediately. Residents
should call:
707-644-8949. You should
be prepared to provide
the address or location,
pipe size, length of
broken pipe, and pipe
material so that the
dispatched crew will
have the proper supplies
to repair the pipe. [Top]
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What is the District’s
service responsibility?
The District is
responsible for the
public sewer mains--most
of which are located in
the middle of the
streets and in
easements. [Top]
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What is the property
owner's responsibility?
The property owner is
responsible for the side
sewer (lateral) from the
house, including the
pipe that connects to
the sewer main. [Top]
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Is there information
available on the history
or cleaning frequency of
a sewer line?
The District has a Sewer
Maintenance Scheduling
System and can provide
historical information
to Realtors on sewer
lines serving homes that
are for sale. The Sewer
Maintenance Scheduling
System can provide
residents with
information about the
last time a particular
sewer line was cleaned
and the frequency of the
cleaning schedule. [Top]
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There is a manhole cover
in my neighborhood that
rattles and continues to
irritate me every time a
vehicle rolls over it.
What can I do about it?
The District has two
main types of sewer
structures: 1) a manhole
that varies in size from
25" to 42" in diameter,
and 2) a rodding inlet ,
which is round or oval
and ranges in size from
9" to 18." Both
structures have solid
covers and are normally
imprinted on top with "VSFCD."
Occasionally, there may
be a separation between
the base and the cover
of the manhole or
rodding inlet causing
the cover to rattle when
a vehicle rolls over it.
To report a rattling
manhole or rodding inlet
cover, call
707-644-8949. [Top]
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What can I do about
terrible sewer odors?
First, try to determine
where the odor is coming
from (inside the home or
outside in the street).
If an odor is coming
from inside the home,
there may be a problem
with the internal
plumbing system. Check
your internal system
first or call a plumbing
company. If the problem
exists outdoors, call
the District at
707-644-8949. [Top] |
I paid a plumber to
repair my side sewer. It
turns out the problem
was occurring in the
public sewer. Can I be
reimbursed for my
plumbing bill?
Yes, in part.
Occasionally, homeowners
call a plumber or sewer
and drain service to
correct a problem with
their private side
sewers, and it turns out
that the cause of the
problem was a stoppage
in the publicly owned
sewer. In these
instances, the District
may reimburse the
homeowner for a portion
of the cost of the
plumber or drain
service. To obtain
reimbursement, follow
these simple steps:
1. Write a brief letter
outlining the
circumstances and
enclose a copy of the
paid invoice from the
plumber or drain service
2. Mail the letter to:
Vallejo Sanitation &
Flood Control District
Safety/Risk
Management
450 Ryder St.
Vallejo, CA 94590
3. Upon investigation
and approval, the
homeowner will be mailed
a check covering up to
one hour of reasonable
charges by the plumber
or drain service.
For property damage
claim information, or if
you have any questions,
please contact the
District’s Safety/Risk
Manager at 707-644-8949
or
ztafolla@vsfcd.com
[Top]
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Upper Sewer
Lateral Program
What is an upper sewer
lateral?
The upper sewer lateral
is the portion of the
sewer pipe system that
runs from the interior
plumbing of the building
to the property line. [Top]
What is the Upper
Lateral Program?
The Upper Sewer Lateral
Program is part of a
District-wide effort to
repair all damaged
private and public sewer
pipes. The program calls
for the evaluation of
all Upper Sewer
Laterals. [Top]
Why is the program
needed?
Old damaged pipes have
holes and cracks in
them, which allows
rainwater and
groundwater to enter the
sewer system. This can
fill the system beyond
its capacity and result
in sewer overflows. [Top]
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What happens during an
evaluation?
The evaluation includes
a review of past and
current problems with
the lateral, and an
inspection of the
lateral. Points are
given for specific
criteria. The lateral
passes or fails the
evaluation based on the
points. [Top]
What happens if my
lateral passes the
evaluation?
If your lateral passes,
the District does not
consider repairs
necessary. Any work you
may wish to do on your
lateral will be your own
choice and at your own
cost. You may request to
have your lateral
evaluated again in the
future. [Top]
What happens if my
lateral does not pass
the evaluation?
If your lateral fails,
you will be required to
hire a contractor or to
do the necessary repairs
yourself. You will have
to pay for the work, but
may be eligible for full
or partial reimbursement
by the district. The
District will determine
the amount you will be
reimbursed according to
a schedule described in
the ordinance. You are
only entitled to be
reimbursed once for the
repair of your lateral
or any portion of it.
Any future repairs will
be your responsibility.
[Top]
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What do I do if my
lateral is blocked?
Call the District first
at 644-8949 at any time,
day or night. District
crews will determine if
the backup in the
lateral is cause by a
problem in the public
sewer. If the problem is
in the public sewer,
District crews will take
necessary action. If the
problem is in the upper
lateral on your
property, the district
will recommend that you
call a plumber. The
plumber will check to
see if he can unplug the
lateral without digging
it up. If the plumber
needs to dig up the
lateral, you must obtain
a permit from the
District before the
repairs are made and the
lateral is covered up
again. If the plumber
discovers that, contrary
to the District crews’
findings, the problem is
in the public sewer, the
District will take
necessary action and
reimburse you for the
cost of the plumber’s
investigations. [Top]
Who will pay for the
repairs?
You are responsible for
all costs to repair your
private lateral. If your
lateral fails the
District’s evaluation,
you will be reimbursed
according to the
District’s cost
schedule, as funds are
available. The source of
the reimbursement is the
Upper Lateral Fee
collected with your
Sewer User Fee. [Top]
Can I ask the District
to evaluate my lateral
if it isn’t plugged?
Yes, the District will
schedule an evaluation
upon your request. If
your lateral fails the
evaluation, you must
repair it. [Top]
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Environmental
Issues
What is a storm drain
and where does it lead?
When it rains, water
flows down streets into
storm drains, which are
part of a District-owned
and maintained network
of gutters, catch
basins, manholes,
underground pipes, and
pump stations that carry
the storm runoff into
the San Francisco Bay.
Storm runoff does not
get treated at the
wastewater treatment
plant, instead it flows
directly to the Bay. [Top]
What happens if the
storm drain near my
house is full of leaves
or litter?
Stopped up storm drains
can cause flooding. If
there are leaves or
trash are on top of the
drain, you can pick them
up and dispose of them
properly in your trash
(for the litter) and
yardwaste bin (for the
leaves). If the storm
drain is clear on top,
but full down below,
please call us at
644-8949 and let us know
about the problem. We
will inspect the drain
and clean it if
necessary. Do not
attempt to clean inside
the storm drain. [Top]
Can
you use reclaimed water
for streets and highways
landscaping irrigation?
There is a never-ending
source of reclaimed
water available at the
wastewater treatment
plant that could be used
for these purposes. The
problem, however, is
that piping for
reclaimed water is not
in place and would
require millions of
dollars to install. [Top]
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I
understand that the
District cleans the
wastewater and returns
it to the Bay. What
happens to what is left?
Sewage flows from houses
and businesses through
sewer pipes to the
sanitary district, where
it is filtered and
cleaned. Once the water
has been removed, it is
cleaned and released
back into the Bay.
What's left is called
sludge. Sludge is then
disinfected and
converted to a biosolid.
The District currently
produces about 20,000
cubic yards of biosolids
each year.
Most treatment plants in
the United States pay
landfills to dispose of
their biosolids. Since
1978, the District has
been using its biosolids
as a soil amendment on a
District-owned farm. The
farm--known as Tubbs
Island--is located north
of the San Francisco Bay
adjacent to inter-tidal
marsh-lands and a large
nature preserve. Tubbs
Island provides habitat
for the endangered Salt
Marsh Harvest Mouse and
other indigenous
wildlife. Farmlands in
this area are reclaimed
baylands used mainly for
wheat and oat hay,
providing feed for
chickens and cattle.
Biosolids produced at
the District are hauled
by special truck to
Tubbs Island and used as
fertilizer to help
crops. This practice is
beneficial in two ways:
the project results in
substantially lower
costs for the District,
and the addition of
biosolids has promoted
better farming
conditions on Tubbs
Island.
The EPA recognized this
innovative use of
biosolids in 1990. The
District was awarded the
National First Place
Award as the most
outstanding project
involving land
application of biosolids
in the United States. [Top]
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What
are biosolids?
They are nutrient-rich
organic materials
resulting from the
treatment of domestic
sewage in a treatment
facility. When treated
and processed, these
residuals can be
recycled and applied as
fertilizer to improve
productive soils and
stimulate plant growth.
[Top]
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Why do we have biosolids?
Water treatment
technology has made our
water safer for
recreation and seafood
harvesting. Thirty years
ago, American cities
dumped their raw sewage
directly into the
nation's rivers, lakes,
and bays. Through
regulation of this
dumping, local
governments are now
required to treat
wastewater and to make
the decision whether to
recycle biosolids as
fertilizer, incinerate
it, or bury it in a
landfill. [Top]
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How are biosolids used?
After treatment and
processing, biosolids
can be recycled and
applied as fertilizer to
improve and maintain
soils and stimulate
plant growth. By
treating sewage sludge,
it becomes biosolids,
which can be used as
valuable fertilizer,
instead of taking up
space in a landfill or
other disposal facility.
[Top]
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Are biosolids safe?
The National Academy of
Sciences has reviewed
current practices,
public health concerns
and regulator standards,
and has concluded that
“the use of these
materials in the
production of crops for
human consumption when
practiced in accordance
with existing federal
regulations, presents
negligible risk to the
consumer, to crop
production and to the
environment.” [Top]
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Do biosolids smell?
Biosolids may have their
own distinctive odor
depending on the type of
treatment it has been
through. Some biosolids
may have only a slight
musty, ammonia odor.
Others have a stronger
odor that may be
offensive to some
people. Much of the odor
is caused by compounds
containing sulfur and
ammonia, both of which
are plant nutrients. [Top]
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District
Organization and
Structure
Who is the Vallejo
Sanitation and Flood
Control District (VSFCD)?
VSFCD is a legally
separate Special
District created by an
Act of the California
Legislature in 1952. The
District is not
coterminous with the
City of Vallejo, and
serves an area slightly
larger encompassing
unincorporated County
areas and Mare Island. [Top]
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What does VSFCD do?
VSFCD provides
wastewater collection,
treatment and disposal,
and storm water
transmission and
pollution control
services to all customer
connections within its
boundary. The District
owns 432 miles of sewer
main and 223 miles of
storm water main and
channel, operates 34
wastewater pump stations
together with 10 storm
drainage pump stations,
operates a secondary
treatment wastewater
treatment plant and
manages it biosolids
disposal through
District owned land on
Tubbs Island in Sonoma
County. [Top]
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Who runs the District?
The District is governed
by an eight member Board
of Trustees, composed of
the seven members of the
Vallejo City Council and
one member from the
Solano County Board of
Supervisors. The Board
sets policy for the
District and appoints
the District Manager and
Treasurer who serve at
the pleasure of the
Board. The District
Manager is the chief
administrative official
responsible for the
District’s day-to-day
operations in accordance
with Board policies,
approved budget and
legal and regulatory
compliance. The
Treasurer is charged
with cash and investment
management in accordance
with California law,
policy and general
direction. [Top]
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Who are the District’s
customers?
The District services
approximately 35,000
accounts that equate to
approximately 46,000
dwelling units. Dwelling
units exceed accounts
due to multi-residential
apartments and mobile
home parks. VSFCD’s
service area is
predominantly
residential with low
strength commercial
establishments and
professional offices.
The District does not
contain any large
industrial users;
however, there are three
significant dischargers,
Marine World, Angelica
Textile Services and
Meyer Cookware
Industries. [Top]
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Does the District have
oversight beyond the
Board of Trustees?
Yes, very much so. The
District is subject to
extensive laws, rules
and regulations that
cover the complete
spectrum from
environmental laws, to
operating practices to
financial
accountability. The
District benchmarks with
other sanitation and
flood control agencies
and maintains a standing
Citizens Advisory
Committee. Citizens are
welcome and encouraged
to attend meetings, ask
questions and voice
opinions. [Top]
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Why do I send my bill
payments to Suisun City?
Shouldn't we be keeping
deposits in Vallejo
banks?
We use a local bank,
West America Bank on
Tennessee Street.
However, their lock box
and data operations
center are in Suisun, so
they prefer that we have
our customers send their
payments directly there.
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© 2009 Vallejo Sanitation and Flood
Control District |