(a) As used in this section, the following terms have the following meanings:

(1) “Collection system owner or operator” means the public or private entity having legal authority over the operation and maintenance of, or capital improvements to, the sewer collection system.

(2) “GIS” means Geographic Information System.

(b) On or before January 1 of a year in which the Legislature has appropriated sufficient funds for this purpose, the state board, in consultation with representatives of cities, counties, cities and counties, special districts, public interest groups, the State Department of Public Health, and the regional boards shall develop a uniform overflow event report form to be used for reporting of sanitary sewer system overflows as required in subdivision (c). This event report form shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:

(1) The cause of the overflow. The cause shall be specifically identified, unless there is an ongoing investigation, in which case it shall be identified immediately after completion of the investigation. The cause shall be identified, at a minimum, as blockage, infrastructure failure, pump station failure, significant wet weather event, natural disaster, or other cause, which shall be specifically identified. If the cause is identified as a blockage, the type of blockage shall be identified, at a minimum, as roots, grease, debris, vandalism, or multiple causes of which each should be identified. If the cause is identified as infrastructure, it shall be determined, at a minimum, whether the infrastructure failure was due to leaks, damage to, or breakage of, collection system piping or insufficient capacity. If the cause is identified as a significant wet weather event or natural disaster, the report shall describe both the event and how it resulted in the overflow. If the precise cause cannot be identified after investigation, the report shall include a narrative explanation describing the investigation conducted and providing the information known about the possible causes of the overflow.

(2) An estimate of the volume of the overflow event.

(3) Location of the overflow event. Sufficient information shall be provided to determine location for purposes of GIS mapping, such as specific street address or the latitude and longitude of the event.

(4) Date, time, and duration of the overflow event.

(5) Whether or not the overflow reached or may have reached waters of the state.

(6) Whether or not a beach closure occurred or may have occurred as a result of the overflow.

(7) The response and corrective action taken.

(8) Whether or not there is an ongoing investigation, the reasons for it and expected date of completion.

(9) The name, address, and telephone number of the reporting collection system owner or operator and a specific contact name.

(c) Commencing on July 1 of a year in which the Legislature has appropriated sufficient funds for this purpose, in the event of a spill or overflow from a sanitary sewer system that is subject to the notification requirements set forth in Section 13271, the applicable collection system owner or operator, in addition to immediate reporting duties pursuant to Section 13271, shall submit to the appropriate regional board, within 30 days of the date of becoming aware of the overflow event, a report using the form described in subdivision (b). The report shall be filed electronically, if possible, or by fax or mail if electronic submission is not possible.

(d) (1) Commencing on July 1 of a year in which the Legislature has appropriated sufficient funds for this purpose, in the event of a spill or overflow from a sanitary sewer system that is not subject to the reporting requirements set forth in Section 13271 that is either found by the State Department of Public Health or any local health officer to result in contamination pursuant to § 5412 of the Health and Safety Code, or is found by the State Department of Public Health to result in pollution or nuisance pursuant to § 5413 of the Health and Safety Code, the agency making the determination shall submit to the appropriate regional board, within 30 days of making the determination, a report that shall include, at a minimum, the following information:

(A) Date, time, and approximate duration of the overflow event.

(B) An estimate of the volume of the overflow event.

(C) Location of the overflow event.

(D) A description of the response or corrective action taken by the agency making the determination.

(E) The name, address, and telephone number of the reporting collection system owner or operator, and a specific contact name.

(2) The report shall be filed electronically, if possible, or by fax or mail if electronic submission is not possible.

(e)Before January 1 of a year in which the Legislature has appropriated sufficient funds for this purpose, the state board, in consultation with representatives of cities, counties, cities and counties, and special districts, public interest groups, the State Department of Public Health, and regional boards, shall develop and maintain a sanitary sewer system overflow database that, at a minimum, contains the parameters described in subdivisions (b) and (d).

(f) Commencing on July 1 of a year in which the Legislature has appropriated sufficient funds for this purpose, each regional board shall coordinate with collection system owners or operators, the State Department of Public Health, and local health officers to compile the reports submitted pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (d). Each regional board shall report that information to the state board on a quarterly basis, to be included in the sanitary sewer system overflow database.

(g)The state board shall make available to the public, by Internet and other cost-effective means, as determined by the state board, information that is generated pursuant to this section. In a year in which the Legislature has appropriated sufficient funds for the purposes described in this subdivision, the state board shall prepare a summary report of the information collected in the sanitary sewer system overflow database, and make it available to the general public through the Internet and other cost-effective means, as determined by the state board. To the extent resources and the data allow, this report shall include GIS maps compiling coastal overflow events.

(Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 288, Sec. 18. (SB 1169) Effective January 1, 2011.)