Nutrients: FAQ

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But isn’t reducing nutrients in the Bay the right thing to do?

Absolutely! However, the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board’s (SF Regional Board’s) proposed order does not follow their own science. Instead of targeting the large nutrient loads in the South and Lower San Francisco Bay—the two regions of the Bay that are impacted more than 90% of the time—the Regional Board chose a one-size-fits-all approach. Because the proposed requirements are not based on well-developed science, there is no assurance that they would have the intended benefit to the Bay. 

Furthermore, by forcing 37 Bay Area wastewater agencies to implement nutrient reductions all within the same 10-year timeframe, the proposed order forces competition for limited resources, driving up costs on materials, designers, contractors, and subcontractors. The wiser approach is to follow the science and focus first on the Bay’s biggest nutrient problem areas to maximize the benefit of Bay Area residents’ rate dollars.

Can’t the Bay Area’s wastewater utilities use Federal and State funds to deal with nutrients?

No Federal or State funds are available to tackle nutrient loads in the Bay. The SF Regional Board’s proposed order is an unfunded mandate forcing wastewater agencies to fund any nutrient-reducing infrastructure through rate dollars from Bay Area residents. Estimates in today’s dollars suggest that this cost would average over $4,000 per Bay Area household. Central San customers alone will have to foot a $665 million bill, and that is in today’s dollars. This is nearly $5,500 per household, even if the cost is financed by issuing bonds over 30 years. And this is just to meet the SF Regional Board’s proposed requirements, with no accounting for our region’s other critical infrastructure needs. 

How would the SF Regional Board’s proposed order affect my Central San sewer bill?

Central San currently has planned for modest rate increases to meet operations, maintenance, and capital improvement needs in the coming years. Meeting the proposed requirements would require an additional 28% increase—or nearly $200 per year for residential customers—phased in over seven years beginning July 1, 2025. 

Regardless of cost, why is Central San not supporting the environment by reducing nutrients?

Central San’s mission is to Protect Public Health and the Environment. Our staff run a 24/7 operation that is ranked one of the most reliable collection systems in California. Central San also has maintained 100% compliance with our National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for 26 consecutive years—more than a quarter century without a single permit violation. This is a record achieved by fewer than 20 of the over 16,000 publicly owned treatment facilities in the United States. Additionally, we operate one of the most successful household hazardous waste collection facilities in the country and have national and state award-winning environmental education and advocacy programs. We have carefully invested hundreds of millions of dollars in upgrading our infrastructure and providing programs and services to be at the forefront of environmental stewardship. This level of performance and programs is not required but showcases our 78-year culture of unwavering commitment to doing the right thing for our customers and the environment. 

Our work and our record speak for themselves. However, our commitment to our customers and the environment requires us to speak up about proposed policies that do not align with scientific research. Even if Central San’s customers are forced to spend $665 million to fund nutrient upgrades, the SF Regional Board’s own data show there will be no discernable benefit to nutrient reduction in Suisun Bay, where Central San discharges our cleaned water. We feel strongly that the SF Regional Board should follow its own science and prioritize nutrient reductions in the regions where they can have the greatest benefit for the Bay. 

If reducing nutrients in the Bay is important, why hasn’t Central San implemented projects earlier?

While Central San takes its role of protecting the water quality in Suisun Bay very seriously, we want to ensure it happens in a way that also protects the viability of the communities we serve. Central San has been engaged in the science of studying the potential impacts of nutrient discharges in Suisun Bay for well over a decade, having invested more than $1 million in various studies. To date, there have been no compelling research findings indicating that Central San’s discharge of nutrients is causing impairment. In fact, the scientific justification used for the proposed order indicates that the dissolved oxygen level in Suisun Bay only drops below the desired level less than 1% of the time. Central San remains committed to running our operation in a way that protects the environment, while getting the remaining useful life out of our existing facilities and investing in new treatment infrastructure in a way that dampens the costs to our customers. Additionally, we are actively seeking water agency partners to develop multi-benefit projects that will reduce nutrient discharges while producing recycled water to augment the region’s water supply.

How can I let the SF Regional Board know what I think?

Although the 32-day public comment period closed on May 8, there are still opportunities to let your voice be heard. The SF Regional Board will hold a public hearing beginning at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 10, 2024. We encourage you to: