CA
Central Valley Water Board Releases Draft Permit for Sacramento Wasterwater Treatment Plant Discharge
Author: California Regional Water Quality Control Board
Published on Sep 4, 2010 - 5:43:01 AM

Sept. 2, 2010 - The Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board has released a tentative National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit for the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District Wastewater Treatment Plant discharge to the Sacramento River at Freeport.

“The proposed permit significantly reduces potential impacts from the District’s discharge and will ensure protection of public health, aquatic health and the environment,” said Pamela Creedon, Executive Officer of the Central Valley Water Board.

The District started discharging secondary treated wastewater to the Delta in 1982, and has provided essentially the same level of treatment to its growing discharge since that time. The tentative permit developed by Water Board staff proposes significant new, more stringent discharge limitations on pathogens, ammonia, nitrogen, and other constituents. It does not allow an increase in the permitted volume of wastewater that can be discharged by the district. To provide Board members with the broadest possible information, Board staff has included several alternative discharge plans for the Board to consider in addition to the staff-recommended plan.

The Sacramento Regional discharge is the largest discharge of treated municipal wastewater to inland waters in the State, and the largest discharge of secondary treated discharge to the Delta.

“The Delta has serious ecological problems. All waste discharges to the Delta must be carefully evaluated and any threats to Delta water quality eliminated,” Creedon said. “It is time to move the District into the 21st century in treating its wastewater, which discharges to our vitally important Delta that provides drinking water to over 23-million Californians, serves as a prime recreation area, and is habitat to many rare and endangered species.”

Under federal law, NPDES permits must be periodically reviewed and readopted. The proposed permit addresses current water quality issues in the Delta and scientific and technologic developments that have occurred since the last permit was adopted in 2000.

The Water Board is providing a 30-day comment period on the proposed permit and alternatives beginning Sept. 2. Additional information, including the documents available for review, and the date and location of the upcoming public hearing, can be found at: http://www.waterboards.ca.gov/centralvalley/board_decisions/tentative_orders/index.shtml

Following the receipt of public comments on the tentative permit and a public hearing in December 2010, the Regional Water Board will consider adoption of a final permit.

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