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Item 3.b.
CENTRAL SAN
November 18, 2019
TO: REAL ESTATE, ENVIRONMENTAL AND PLANNING COMMITTEE
FROM: TIM POTTER, ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE SUPERINTENDENT
REVIEWED BY: LORI SCHECTEL, REGULATORYAND ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE
DIVISION MANAGER
JEAN-MARC PETIT, DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERINGAND TECHNICAL
SERVICES
ROGER S. BAILEY, GENERAL MANAGER
SUBJECT: EVALUATE POTENTIAL DISCHARGES FROM BIOCREMATION
OPERATIONS
Biocremation (also known as alkaline hydrolysis) is used to manage the remains of dead animals and
humans. It was developed as an alternative to traditional cremation that uses furnaces. The biocremation
process uses alkaline liquid with high pressure and temperature to dissolve tissues and is being marketed
as a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cremation. This process was initially used by
larger research facilities to manage the remains of animals, but has been expanded for use by veterinary
facilities. Use for managing human remains is authorized in other states and will become available in
California on July 1, 2020 per California state law AB 967 passed in 2017.
Disposition of the liquid generated by biocremation processes warrants evaluation if potential operations
are proposed in Central San's service area, as one option is discharge to the sanitary sewer system.
Pretreatment and monitoring of the discharge at the business using biocremation processes will ensure
discharge standards are met and appropriate fees are assessed.
The evaluation of accepting biocremation process wastewater into Central San's system involves the
perception and public acceptance of authorizing this discharge and then delivering recycled water to the
community. Evaluation of the different sources (animal versus human remains) can be separated. There is
no statute or standard for a wastewater agency to accept biocremation process wastewater from managing
animal remains. AB 967 requires operators of biocremation processes to ensure a wastewater
agency explicitly accepts this source of wastewater before they can discharge it to the sanitary sewer
system. This standard, giving discretion to the wastewater agencies, ensures their resource recovery
programs are not compromised.
Staff is seeking direction on how to consider potential proposals to use biocremation processes in Central
San's service area from the different sources.
November 18, 2019 Special REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 5 of 71
Page 2 of 2
GOAL TWO: Strive to Meet Regulatory Requirements
Strategy 1 - Strive to achieve 100%permit compliance in air, water, land, and other regulations, Strategy 3- Comply
with all federal, state, and local regulations related to District administration
November 18, 2019 Special REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 6 of 71