ACWA Comments on Wastewater Permit Issue Paper

ACWA today urged the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board to broaden a recent issue paper on discharges from the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant to include recent scientific findings regarding nutrient loading and its effects on the Bay-Delta ecosystem.

In comments submitted June 1, ACWA requested that the regional board revise the issue paper to include a critical evaluation of the effectiveness of current discharge requirements in the context of cumulative nutrient loading in the Delta. The paper was prepared by regional board staff to support a decision regarding renewal of an NPDES permit for the treatment plant, which has been identified as the largest source of nutrient pollution in the Sacramento River.

A study released last month by a researcher at the University of Maryland found a strong correlation between the decline of Delta fish species and nutrient pollution, including effluent from the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Operators of the plant have proposed increasing the plant’s allowable discharge of secondary treated wastewater from 181 million gallons per day (MGD) to 218 MGD.

ACWA’s comment letter can be read here.