Sewer Spill Simulations and Emergency Response Training Support Mutual Aid

Presentation Description: Regional Sanitary Sewer Spill Simulations Increase Efforts in Emergency Response Training Through Inland Empire Utilities Agency's Mutual Aid Program
The Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA), a regional wastewater treatment and water agency encompassing 242 square miles in western San Bernadino County and servicing approximately 935,000 people, provides sewage utility services to seven sewer collection agencies and wholesale imported water from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to regional retail agencies.
In 2004, IEUA entered into a Mutual Aid Agreement with their Regional Contracting Agencies and other partners to provide emergency response in the event of a disruption which would affect the water service, sewer service or sewage treatment services provided by each agency. Over the years, IEUA has taken the lead to organize quarterly meetings between the Mutual Aid partners for sewer collection training, discussions on regional system issues, and regulatory updates.
Due to the current increase in retirements and the need for hands on training for line staff, IEUA took the lead to develop a regional approach for multi-agency sanitary sewer spill simulation trainings. In 2022, IEUA hosted the first event through the Mutual Aid Program. The training included regulatory overview and review of spill calculations in partnership with hands on spill simulations. Each agency team that participated in the training brought their sewer truck units and sewer collection crews. Members from each crew were assigned to teams to replicate a group reporting to a Mutual Aid emergency call and ran through the spill simulation while other crews watched and documented the efforts. IEUA has collaborated with Cucamonga Valley Water District and City of Ontario for the ongoing development and implementation of said training program.
The Mutual Aid Program has now incorporated this Regional Sanitary Sewer Spill Simulation training as an annual all-day event to allow members of the agreement the opportunity to provide their staff emergency response training. This provides the region with first time responders the hands-on experience necessary to manage any event.