Private Sewers and Septic Systems

Sewage from private properties must be properly treated to protect public health and groundwater quality. In most areas of the City, wastewater is conveyed through private sewer pipes from buildings to public sanitary sewers. Properly installed and maintained backwater valves are also an important part of a private sewer system.

However, in some areas where public sewers are not available or where homes were built before sewer infrastructure was installed, wastewater is treated using On-site Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS), also known as septic systems. Approximately 13,000 residential, multi-family, and commercial/industrial properties within the City rely on OWTS.

Because these systems are located on private property, owners are responsible for their proper operation and maintenance.

The City manages several programs to help homeowners and businesses avoid common issues, reduce repair costs, and protect neighborhood health.
 

LA Sanitation’s OWTS Group serves as the responsible local agency for OWTS within the City and works closely with federal, state, and local agencies to ensure compliance with water quality and construction standards.

The State Water Resources Control Board oversees statewide regulation of OWTS and groundwater protection. Locally, LA Sanitation collaborates with agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board, and the Department of City Planning to protect both surface and groundwater resources.

The OWTS Group also partners with the EPA, the Department of City Planning, and the Green Streets Committee to phase out high-risk large-capacity cesspools that pose significant risks to water quality.
 

LA Sanitation provides resources to help property owners understand how OWTS function and how to maintain them properly. A homeowner’s guide is available online with information on system care and best practices.

Proper maintenance helps extend the life of OWTS and prevents issues such as system failure, spills, and overflows. According to the EPA, poorly maintained septic systems can fail and contribute to environmental pollution.

LA Sanitation’s OWTS Group continues to pursue funding opportunities to assist property owners who wish to abandon their OWTS and connect to the public sewer system.

To date, approximately $13.5 million in grant funding applications have been submitted, including:

• Cleanup and Abatement Account: $10,000,000
• Community Development Block Grant: $1,893,421
• Integrated Regional Water Management Program: $1,339,486
• Clean Water Act Section 319(h) Nonpoint Source Grant: $218,750

If secured, these funds will support the construction of public sewer infrastructure in unsewered areas, particularly in high-risk and disadvantaged communities.

LA Sanitation’s OWTS group is assisting the Bureau of Engineering (BOE) in developing Sewer Assessment Projects that would provide sewer infrastructure within areas of the City that are currently unsewered. An Assessment Proceeding allows a majority of OWTS owners within an area to work together to construct sewer infrastructure and share the cost over time. To initiate a sewer assessment process, residents are encouraged to obtain a petition form from any of the following four BOE district offices:

Valley District Office
6262 Van Nuys Blvd., Suite 251
Van Nuys, CA 91401-2615
(818) 374-5090

West Los Angeles District Office
1828 Sawtelle Blvd., 3rd Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90025-5516
(310) 575-8384

Central District Office
201 N. Figueroa Street, 3rd Floor Counter
Los Angeles, CA 90012-2601
(213) 482-7030

Harbor District Office
638 Beacon Street, Suite 402
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 732-4677

LA Sanitation assists property owners with permits for the construction, alteration, or replacement of OWTS. This process involves coordination with:

• Bureau of Engineering
• LA Sanitation Watershed Protection Division
• Department of Building and Safety
• Regional Water Quality Control Board

The City permits conventional OWTS configurations, including systems with cesspools or drain fields.
 

For questions regarding septic systems, please contact:

• Email: septic.systems@lacity.org
• Phone: 1-800-773-2489