Sewers, Stormdrains & Wastewater Treatment

Frequently Asked Questions

Protecting public health and the environment are top concerns for all of us at the Riverside Water Quality Control Plant.

We are proud of the expertise of our staff and the reliability of our wastewater treatment facility.

Can't find your question? Ask us by calling 951-826-5311.

• Who runs the Riverside Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP)?
• How reliable is the treatment facility?
• How is the quality of treated wastewater ensured?
• What does a wastewater treatment plant do?
• Where does the water go once it is treated?
• What is the difference between a sewer system and an onsite treatment system?
• Why are onsite systems necessary? Why don't we just run sewers everywhere?
• I cannot find my septic tank. How do I find it?
• What can I do to prevent sewer line problems?
• My sewer line is not working, who is responsible to fix it?
• What can I do about slow drainage in my toilets and drains?
• What can be done about sewage odors coming from the manholes?
• What part of the sewer line is the city responsible to fix?
• Can anyone dump into the city's manholes?
• Where can I dump sewage from my R.V.?
• Do I need to notify the City before I drain my pool?
• What not to flush down the drain?

Who runs the Riverside Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP)?

Highly trained, experienced, State-certified treatment plant operators employed by the City of Riverside are on duty 24 hours a day to oversee treatment plant processes, and react promptly to any unusual condition. Many controls of treatment processes are automated requiring a great deal of technical expertise. Other processes require manual controls which rely on the operators frequent physical presence to observe conditions and make adjustments. Weekends, holidays, and at the wee hours of the morning...operators are carefully monitoring every aspect of the facility.

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How reliable is the treatment facility?

Reliability at the Riverside Water Quality Control Plant is very high. The plant is staffed 24 hours a day with operators who are able to respond to any situations that arise. Critical treatment processes are designed with redundant equipment, which means that if a mechanical or electrical component fails, a spare is waiting to take its place. Mechanical and electrical staff members are on-call 24 hours a day in case of a failure that requires their immediate assistance. Maintenance staff diligently cares for the equipment to predict and prevent breakdowns, further adding to the reliability of the facility.

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How is the quality of treated wastewater ensured?

Our on-site instrumentation provides information and records data on wastewater quality around the clock. Information is collected and stored automatically in a database for evaluation by our operational process specialists. Samples are collected and analyzed by certified laboratory technicians in our on-site, State-certified laboratory. This information is also added automatically to our operational database. Independent laboratories periodically verify quality as well.

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What does a wastewater treatment plant do?

Treatment plants remove impurities contained in wastewater so treated wastewater can be safely returned to the environment. This same stabilization process occurs in nature to break down wastewater into its most basic components of carbon dioxide and water. Common methods of treatment include physical, biological and chemical treatment steps to stabilize the wastewater. The City of Riverside's wastewater treatment plants are designed to accelerate and control nature's process to insure proper treatment is provided.

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Where does the water go once it is treated?

Treated wastewater is returned to the environment by a number of different methods. Depending on the degree of treatment and local regulations, it may be absorbed into the soil, discharged directly into a surface waterway or reused by a method like spray irrigation.

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What is the difference between a sewer system and an onsite treatment system?

A sewer system is a series of pipes that collect wastewater and transport it to a remote location where the wastewater is processed by a municipal treatment system. An onsite treatment system collects, treats and disposes of wastewater from a single source in the same location that it is generated. Municipal and onsite treatment systems utilize many of the same treatment processes, but a municipal sewer system collects and treats wastewater from many different locations.

Contact the 311 Call Center for additional information.

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Why are onsite systems necessary? Why don't we just run sewers everywhere?

Population density, the topography of the area, soil conditions and numerous other factors are involved in the construction and operation of a sewage collection system. Increasing migration to suburban and rural areas make municipal sewers more difficult and costly to build and maintain. Onsite treatment systems are often the most practical and cost-effective solution for wastewater treatment and disposal.

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I cannot find my septic tank. How do I find it?

Your local health department should have information regarding the location of your septic tank. Also, a local septic tank pumping service can employ several different types of technology to verify the tank location.

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What can I do to prevent sewer line problems?

The main causes of blocked sewer lines are grease that builds up in the line and tree roots that seek the water in the line. Regular maintenance products (Drain-O, Liquid Plumber, etc.) should be used on a regular basis to avoid build up of grease in your traps. Never pour kitchen grease down the drain. Put it in a container and dispose of it in the trash. Trees and shrubs planted too close to sewer pipes can also cause problems. The roots get into the pipes creating blockages and broken sewer lines that can be expensive to repair.

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My sewer line is not working, who is responsible to fix it?

Care and maintenance of the house sewer line (lateral) is the responsibility of the property owner including any part that extends from the building into the street or public right-of-way. This sewer lateral goes all the way from the building to where it taps into the city’s main sewer line usually located in the street or alley. When this line becomes plugged, it is the property owner's responsibility to fix.

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What can I do about slow drainage in my toilets and drains?

Check with your neighbors to see if they are experiencing similar problems. If neighbors are having the same slow drainage, there is a chance that there is a problem in the public sewer main and the city’s responsibility. Call: 951-351-6140 to report the problem. If neighbors are not having sewer problems your sewer lateral may be blocked or broken and the homeowner is responsible for repairs.

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What can be done about sewage odors coming from the manholes?

Wastewater contains naturally occurring gases that can build-up and create odors. Sometimes during heavy rains or warm temperatures the odor can increase and cold weather and low temperatures can decrease odors. Call 951-351-6140 to report unpleasant odors coming from manholes so we can investigate and correct the problem.

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What part of the sewer line is the city responsible to fix?

The city is responsible for repair and maintenance of the sewer mains located in the streets and in public easements. Our responsibility ends where the lateral line connects to the main line.

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Can anyone dump into the city's manholes?

No, dumping into city manholes is not permitted. Please call us at 951-351-6140 and report anyone illegally dumping into our city manholes.

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Where can I dump sewage from my R.V.?

The Riverside Water Quality Control Plant R.V. Dump Station is temporarily closed from September 30, 2012 until 2016.

The City of Riverside is in the process of upgrading and expanding the wastewater treatment plant. Construction activities are causing the temporary closure of the RV Dump Station.

To better assist you, a list of the closest RV Dump Stations can be found in the brochure below:

Alternative RV Dump Station Locations

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Do I need to notify the City before I drain my pool?

Yes, call 951-351-6145 to notify us. Our Industrial Waste Division Environmental Compliance Section will need your address and 24 hours notice to approve draining your pool. Swimming Pool Discharge Requirements are as follows per the Riverside Municipal Code:

14.12.340 Swimming Pool Discharge Requirements.

Discharges from swimming pools, wading pools, spas, whirlpools, therapeutic pools and landscape ponds shall be discharged to the following locations in compliance with Section 14.12.315 of this Chapter and under the following conditions:

1. Surface discharge and/or storm drain, requiring that the chlorine residual is less than 0.1 mg/L; or
2. Sanitary sewer if such discharge to surface or storm drain would create a public nuisance or hazard or violate any regulation, order, or requirement of the Regional Board, including NPDES Non-Point Source (Storm Water) Permit requirements. User shall first obtain permission from the City prior to discharging any of these waters to the City's sanitary sewer. Permission may be granted by the Director if the discharge will not cause a hydraulic overload condition in the area's sewer lines; or
3. Pumped out and hauled off to a legal treatment and/or disposal site if the water is found to have hazardous levels of chemicals, elements, or materials.

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What not to flush down the drain?

Antifreeze, Car and Home Batteries, Oil and Oil Filters, and Latex Paint. When leftover paint, used oil, pool chemicals or any other product containing potentially dangerous materials are thrown away, they become household hazardous wastes. They should never be washed down the drain into our sewer or storm drain systems.

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