Clogged Jail Sewer System Lands California County in Court

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. — San Mateo County faces a lawsuit for failing to stem a flow of debris from the Maguire Correctional Facility that is clogging the area’s sewer system.

In the Superior Court suit, the South Bayside System Authority, which manages wastewater treatment for Belmont, Redwood City and San Carlos, claims almost $800,000 in damage and maintenance costs allegedly caused by debris from the county detention facility.

Sanitary personnel have removed orange jumpsuits, bed linens, plastic bags of illegal drugs and handmade weapons from sewer lines emanating from the facility. The water-treatment authority is also seeking penalties of $5,000 per day dating back to a cease and desist order filed against the county in 2005.

The clogging of the sewer system is a growing problem as inmates attempt to beat cell searches or try to cause disruptions to facility operations by flooding cells, officials say. The jail houses about 400 more inmates than its 688-bed rated capacity.

Inmates working in the laundry room sneak extra clothing and sheets to friends and overcrowding and understaffing mean authorities are not able to always monitor inmates or search every cell.

The county attempted to remedy the problem with the installation of a grinder unit on one of the several sewage lines that run from the jail, officials say. The water-treatment authority also placed grates on a nearby pump station to catch most of the debris.

Jail officials are looking to the experience of other jails that have encountered similar problems and are considering alternatives, such as installing delayed-flush mechanisms and toilet rods or screens. Other strategies under consideration include stocking the jail commissary with items packaged in biodegradable materials and limiting the possessions offered to inmates, officials say.

The water-treatment authority and the county will keep negotiating to find a permanent solution and to reach a financial compromise, officials say. A case-management conference involving the two sides is scheduled for May.