HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.d. Receive update on the most recent meeting of the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (BACWA) Page 1 of 2
Item 3.d.
CENTRAL SAN
October 21, 2019
TO: REAL ESTATE, ENVIRONMENTAL AND PLANNING COMMITTEE
FROM: LORI SCHECTEL, ENVIRONMENTALAND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
DIVISION MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: JEAN-MARC PETIT, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL
SERVICES
ROGER S. BAILEY, GENERAL MANAGER
SUBJECT: RECEIVE UPDATE ON THE MOST RECENT MEETING OF THE BAYAREA
CLEAN WATER AGENCIES (BACWA)
BACWA Meetings & Upcoming Events:
• September 26-27, 2019: BACWA Annual Technical Seminar, Pardee
• October 2, 2019: SFEI-5 Gyres Microplastics Symposium, Berkeley
• November 15, 2019: Next Executive Board Meeting, EBMUD
• January 10, 2020: BACWAAnnual Meeting, Oakland
Nutrients:
• David Senn of the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI), presented on current science priorities.
The main question on nutrients is what loads can Bay sub embayments assimilate without adverse
impacts and what management actions would be effective at achieving protection. Scientific work is
continuing — part of the science will be looking at potential future scenarios — still figuring out how to
take those into account. Need to determine the level of certainty we are aiming to achieve.
According to the Regional Water Board, the current Watershed Permit may be amended to extend it
a bit, potentially a year, to accommodate ongoing scientific research. The Regional Water Board
restated their commitment to recognizing early actors in nutrient reduction per the fact sheet that
accompanies the current Nutrient Watershed Permit. They are going to work on an appropriate way
to document and recognize comprehensive master planning as well. How compliance schedules will
work has not been fleshed out completely.
• Holly Kennedy of HDR, discussed preliminary findings of the fiscal year 2019 dry season nutrient
loads as HDR prepares the annual report for the Regional Water Board.
• The scoping plans for the nature-based solutions study and the recycled water study will be
submitted to the Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) by the December deadline per
the Nutrient Watershed Permit.
PFAS:
• The Regional Water Board wants to make sure a practical approach is taken on Per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and will be working with the Regional Monitoring Program as to
strategy. According to the Regional Water Board, the number of POTWs being considered for the
State Water Board's Phase I I I of the PFAS study is considerably less —they are unsure whether the
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focus will be on those agencies who discharge to Municipal and Domestic Water Supply/MUN
designations. The California Association of Sanitation Agencies has also developed a short fact
sheet.
Microplastics:
• BACWA produced a microplastics fact sheet (Central San staff Jeff Skinner and Charles Waltmire
both contributed to the fact sheet). SFEI and 5 Gyres co-hosted a Microplastics Symposium on
October 2, 2019 in Berkeley, presenting research results. Speakers included scientists from SFEI,
5 Gyres, and academia, as well as Jared Blumenfeld of CalEPA.
Toxicity:
• With the new Test of Significant Toxicity that the State Water Board plans to adopt the first quarter of
2020, the Regional Board plans to drop required acute toxicity monitoring requirements (currently
monthly) and will likely reduce the frequency of required chronic toxicity(currently quarterly).
RWQCB staff along with BACWA staff attended a State Board Workshop the week of September
30, 2019.
Additional Information/Monthly Bulletins: https:Hbacwa.org/bacwa-bulletins/
Strategic Plan Tie-In
GOAL TWO: Strive to Meet Regulatory Requirements
Strategy 1 - Strive to achieve 100%permit compliance in air, water, land, and other regulations
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