Aliso Creek Ocean Outfall

San Juan

  • Year Built: 1979
  • Length: 1.5 Miles (8,700 feet) off Aliso Creek Beach at a depth of 195 feet
  • Capacity Used Today: 9.3 million gallons per day
  • Ocean Water Quality Monitoring Sites:  21
  • Ocean Monitoring Frequency: Once per month
  • Beach Water Quality Monitoring Sites: 12
  • Beach Monitoring Frequency: Weekly
  • Annual Water Quality Samples: Nearly 2,200

Purpose: The Aliso Creek Outfall discharges highly treated wastewater 1.5 miles off the Orange County coast in accordance with strict state and federal laws. The Regional Water Quality Control Board governs this discharge process. SOCWA holds a National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit, which must be renewed by the Regional Board by application filed every five years.