HomeMy WebLinkAboutBOARD MINUTES 08-27-92
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MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR BOARD MEETING
OF THE DISTRICT BOARD OF THE
CENTRAL CONTRA COSTA SANITARY DISTRICT
HELD ON AUGUST 27, 1 992
The District Board of the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District convened in an adjourned
regular session at the Velvet Turtle, 100 Chilpancingo Parkway, Pleasant Hill, County of
Contra Costa, State of California, at 6:30 p.m. on August 27, 1992, for a joint meeting
of the Sanitation and Water Agencies of Contra Costa County.
The Secretary of the District noted the attendance of the following Board Members.
PRESENT:
Members:
Clausen, Starita, Rainey
ABSENT:
Members:
Boneysteele, Dalton
Members Boneysteele and Dalton had previously advised that they would be unable to
attend this meeting.
1. INTRODUCTIONS
Chair Wallis welcomed everyone to the meeting of the Sanitation and Water Agencies of
Contra Costa County. The representatives of each agency and members of the public
attending the meeting introduced themselves.
2. APPROVAL OF JUNE 25. 1992 MINUTES
It was noted that Mr. Joe Campbell, of Contra Costa Water District, was present at the
meeting of June 25, 1992. There being no further corrections or additions, the minutes
of June 25, 1992, were approved.
3. OVERVIEW OF WCCSD PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAM:
STUDENT PARTICIPATION
Mr. Bill Braga, General Manager of West Contra Costa Sanitary District (WCCSD),
introduced Mr. Jack Foley, Plant Superintendent, who provided an overview of the
WCCSD Public Information Program. Mr. Foley stated that WCCSD is located on the east
side of San Francisco Bay off San Pablo Bay and serves the Cities of San Pablo, EI
Sobrante, part of Richmond, and some unincorporated areas. In recent years WCCSD has
become more involved in water reclamation and has cooperative agreements with East
Bay Municipal Utility District to provide irrigation water to the Richmond Golf Course and
will soon provide reclaimed water to the Chevron facility.
With the support of the Board of Directors, the character Willie Wastewater was
developed for use in public information pieces and first appeared in the 1988 annual
report. In 1990 and 1 992, calendars were distributed that featured Willie Wastewater
giving pointers on sanitary sewer do's and don'ts. In 1990, WCCSD was selected as
California Water Pollution Control Association (CWPCA) Bay Section Plant of the Year.
As part of the Plant of the Year Program, a tour of the treatment plant was conducted.
At the same time, the Board was working with the Richmond School District and agreed
to one trial plant tour and table-top demonstration of the treatment process. That tour
was so successful that the following year, all 6th grade students were given an
opportunity to tour the plant in a four-day intensive program.
In preparation for the four-day program, safety improvements were made at the plant,
Members of the Board of Directors met with each of the sixth grade classes, and WCCSD
employees involved in the tours rehearsed their presentations. In addition to the actual
tour and table-top demonstration, disinfection, dechlorination, and safety concerns, were
discussed. Following the tour and table-top demonstration, job openings, kinds of work
available in the wastewater field, and education and training requirements were
communicated to the students. The public information program has had many benefits
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for WCCSD including: bragging rights, employee satisfaction, positive press coverage,
parents' education, assistance to the schools, strengthening WCCSD's role in the
community, progress in source control, and increased public awareness. There were also
some drawbacks, such as: the cost of approximately $1,000 per day, 20 employee hours
per tour, some of the information presented was shocking to some of the visitors, and the
possibility of injuries. Mr. Foley stated that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks and
WCCSD will definitely conduct more tours in the future. The response from the students,
parents, and the community has been very positive.
Chair Wallis thanked Mr. Foley for his interesting and informative presentation.
4. PRESENTATION ON USE OF ULTRAVIOLET (UV) DISINFECTION
Chair Wallis stated that UV disinfection has received a lot of attention recently as
agencies evaluate existing practices in light of meeting new laws. Chair Wallis introduced
Ms. Lynne Putnam, of Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD), who provided an
overview of the use of UV disinfection at CCCSD. Ms. Putnam stated that CCCSD is a
45 MGD treatment plant serving approximately 380,000 people in the Central Contra
Costa area. CCCSD discharges treated effluent into Suisun Bay. CCCSD recently found
that at high flows there was insufficient time for the chlorine treatment to be completely
effective. The District began looking at alternatives to chlorine. There were also safety
concerns with regard to the use of chlorine although a great deal of training is done and
every precaution for the use of chlorine is taken. In addition, there have been air pollution
concerns recently and CCCSD found that chlorine represents 42 percent of the District's
very small health risk.
Ms. Putnam stated that for those reasons, CCCSD did a bench scale study to look at
chlorine, UV, and ozone for disinfection. Based on the results of that bench scale study,
CCCSD is proceeding with a pilot test of UV. Ms. Putnam described the properties and
performance of UV light. The annualized costs for UV are very comparable to chlorine.
Ms. Putnam showed slides and described the UV operation at the four facilities toured.
The findings of the tours of the four facilities were that: 1) UV disinfection is well liked;
2) UV disinfection appears to be fairly low maintenance; 3) discharge limits were met
using UV disinfection although their limits were higher than CCCSD's limits; and 4) in one
case UV dosages were much less than the range of dosage being pilot tested by CCCSD.
Based on the findings of the bench scale study and the information learned from facilities
currently using UV disinfection, CCCSD is proceeding with a pilot test of UV disinfection.
The project capital and operating costs are estimated to be $3-$4 million a year for a 30
MGD facility.
Following questions, Chair Wallis thanked Ms. Putnam for her presentation.
5. ANNOUNCEMENTS
None
6. DEVELOP AGENDA FOR OCTOBER 22. 1992 MEETING
Items suggested for the October 22, 1992 agenda included San Francisco Chlorination
Study and Delta Outflows. Any other suggestions should be submitted to Ms. Joyce
Murphy at Central Contra Costa Sanitary District.
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7. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Chair Wallis adjourned the meeting at the hour of 7:38
p.m. Dinner was served immediately following the business meeting.
;:~;/ ~
President Of the Board of Directors
Central Contra Costa Sanitary Di ict,
County of Contra Costa, State of California
COUNTERSIGNED:
U-
Se r a of the Central ont
Co Sanitary District, County of
Contra Costa, State of California
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