Septage and Private Septage Disposal Facilities

Residences and commercial facilities that are not connected to the City sewer discharge their wastewater into cesspools, septic tanks, portable toilets, or other holding devices (the accumulated liquid is known as "septage"). They hire haulers to pump out their septage and discharge it into a disposal site designated by the City. This program involves the regulation of the Septage Haulers through a permitting process, control of the quality and quantity of septage and recovery of cost for treatment of septage and administering the program.

Septage manifests help to track information on truck count of accepted and rejectedf loads, total tank capacity, and total actual volume reported, and relative percentage from sources within and outside of the City of LA.

Important: Discharges from recreational vehicles (RVs) are not accepted. RV owners must contact Los Angeles County or call 1-888-CLEAN LA. (1-888-253-2652)

The Bureau of Sanitation (BOS) operates a disposal facility for septage hauler companies. The disposal facility accepts wastewater from portable toilets, septic tanks, cesspools and other sanitation holding devices from within Los Angeles County. A Septage Disposal Permit is required prior to disposal.