By Jacob Klein
In January, Chapter staff and volunteers took a tour of EBMUD to learn more about the wastewater utility’s water treatment process. The treatment plant in West Oakland receives wastewater from residences and businesses ranging as far north as Richmond and as far south as San Lorenzo.
The treatment of wastewater is of major concern to the health of the San Francisco Bay. EBMUD has been providing drinking water to East Bay residents since the 1920s, but its wastewater treatment began in the 1950s, and the Clean Water Act of 1972 set federal standards.
While significant strides have been made in the treatment of wastewater, we’ve grown increasingly concerned with certain nutrients that are impacting the health of the Bay. The harmful algae bloom in the summer of 2022 led to a massive fish kill. There are many contributing factors, but a key one is nutrient pollution, particularly nitrogen, which allows certain harmful algae to grow.
Around two-thirds of the nitrogen pollution in the Bay Area comes from wastewater dischargers, and the remaining third from agricultural runoff and other inflows. However, EBMUD is developing strategies to help reduce their nutrient load.
The Sierra Club prefers nature-based solutions to water and shoreline issues to the extent possible. However, EBMUD — surrounded by freeways and other developed property on three sides with the Bay on the fourth — doesn’t necessarily have the room to try out more expansive solutions, such as a living levee. Instead, they’re trying out different onsite treatment measures. This requires off-lining a portion of their regular treatment process in order to refit for further nutrient removal. Simultaneously, EBMUD must account for stormwater surges.
Wastewater treatment is a careful balance, but in order to assure the health of our Bay, we continue to push for high standards. That’s why as wastewater discharge permits come up at the Bay Area Regional Water Quality Control Board, Sierra Club will work for stricter controls on the amount of nutrient pollution allowed. Learn more at sierraclub.org/sfbay/blog/2023/09/recognizing-one-year-anniversary-bay-s-infamous-2022-algae-bloom.
Jacob Klein, Zephir O'Meara, Dani Zacky, Heinrich Albert, and Matt Bielby outside the EBMUD treatment facility on their tour of the plant.