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FAQs

I just closed escrow on my new house. What are my next steps? 

Please contact your sewer agency directly to verify if your new home is connected to a sewer system.

Big Bear City Community Services District

City of Big Bear Lake

San Bernardino County Service Area 53B

If your new home is located in Baldwin Lake, Lake Williams, or other outlying areas, you may have a septic tank, holding tank, or chemical toilet for sewage disposal. All of these methods may need regular pumping. See the Waste Disposal page for more information. 

What can and cannot be flushed down the toilet? 

We encourage our customers to only flush the three “P’s”: 

Pee, Poop, and Toilet Paper

Do not flush:

  • Oil
  • Medications
  • Diapers
  • Hair
  • Sanitary Napkins
  • Newspaper
  • Soiled Rags
  • Paper Towels
  • Coffee Grounds
  • Surface Wipes
What does a wastewater treatment plant do? 

Treatment plants remove impurities contained in wastewater so that the treated wastewater can be safely returned to the environment. This same purification process occurs in nature to break down wastewater into its most basic components of carbon dioxide and water. Common methods of treatment include physical, biological, and chemical treatment to stabilize the water.

Where does the water go once it's treated? 

The reclaimed water is currently pumped to Lucerne Valley for fodder crop irrigation. In the future, the goal is to keep the reclaimed water in Big Bear through the Replenish Big Bear Project. The Replenish Big Bear Project is a multi-agency effort to secure our water future.

Are wastewater treatment plants necessary? 

Yes. They serve to primarily protect the health of the general population by ensuring that water supplies remain clean. They contribute to a safer, cleaner environment by controlling the presence of bacteria and waterborne diseases.

What's the difference between a sewer system and a wastewater treatment plant? 

A sewer system is a series of pipes that collect wastewater and transport it to the treatment plant. Each of our member agencies operate and maintain their own wastewater collection systems (sewer) and deliver the wastewater to our interceptor system for transport to our wastewater treatment plant.

Do you still provide water for landscaping or construction? 

We no longer provide reclaimed water for these purposes and have no current plans to provide this service.

 

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