Why does OC San have easements?
OC San is responsible for maintaining a network of over 388 miles of regional pipelines that transport approximately 185 million gallons of wastewater daily. To ensure the proper management of its regional sewer system, OC San holds easements throughout its 479-square-mile service area.
As a public utility providing an essential service, it is vital to regularly monitor and assess all aspects of our system for necessary upgrades or improvements.
Some elements of OC San’s infrastructure were installed when much of Orange County was still farmland. As cities developed and communities formed, certain neighborhoods were designed with our sewer pipes installed in private yards rather than in public streets. Easements are necessary to ensure access to our sewer system for maintenance and construction purposes, thereby guaranteeing continued service to our ratepayers.
Utility easements are portions of a property reserved for services such as electricity, gas, telephone, cable, water, and sanitary sewer.
Things to know about easements:
- Easements are recorded documents that define permitted actions by the property owner, and the entity that holds the easement.
- OC San has a legal right to access our easements for the purpose of maintaining, upgrading, or repairing the sewer system.
- OC San easements restrict the construction or installation of permanent structures within the designated area. Easements should remain free of any obstacles, debris, etc. that prohibit or limit access.
- Easements are necessary to allow access to our sewer system for maintenance and construction purposes to ensure continued service to our rate payers.
Access to OC San easements:
If access to an easement is required, OC San personnel will inform the property owner before entering. In emergencies, it may not be possible to provide advance notice of the access needed; however, every effort will be made to contact the property owner.
Relinquishing an Easement
The relinquishment process only applies to sewer easements containing an abandoned sewer pipe. To begin the process, click here to access the portal.
The portal is designed to help streamline the process and will guide you through each step. Please note that all submissions will go through several stages of approval before being ratified by the Board of Directors.
If you are a developer, please register as a business. If you are a residential property owner, register as an owner. Once inside, follow the prompts to complete the submission. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact easement@ocsan.gov.