HomeMy WebLinkAbout11.a. (Handout) Additional Written Announcement Item 11.a.
(Handout)
Board Meeting of August 19, 2021
General Manager Additional Written Announcement
COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE
2) Central San Outreach applauded by Regional Water Quality Control Board
The recent San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board's Executive Officer's
Report dated August 11, 2021, provides an update on sanitary sewer overflows. In the
report, Central San's Don't Flush Your Wipes! outreach is highlighted. The excerpt from
the report is attached.
Executive Officer's Report 6
August 11, 2021
Sanitary Sewer Overflow Update (Kerry O'Connor)
In the May 2020 Executive Officer's Report, we reported on the increase of wipes-
related sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) during the coronavirus pandemic. We
postulated the increase was due to the increased use of disinfectant wipes to prevent
the spread of COVID-19 and was exacerbated by the toilet paper shortage. Here, we
provide an updated analysis showing that wipes-related SSOs continue to plague the
136 sanitary sewer collection systems in our Region.
Minimizing SSOs is one of our highest priorities because untreated sewage can contain
pathogens, viruses, metals, and organics that can spill into local waterways and
endanger human health and the environment. The figure below shows the total number
of SSOs and wipes-related SSOs in our Region during March, April, and May of each
year since 2011. We chose to focus our analysis on spring conditions to show the
impact of the "Stay-At-Home" mandates in California that began in March 2020.
Springtime SSOs in San Francisco Bay Region
20 500
Ln 500
v) 15
a 400 p
a� N
-2 10 300
cn 200
a�
4_- 5
� � � � � 1 1 1 1 � 1 100
0 0
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2015 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Since 2011, the total number of SSOs occurring in the San Francisco Bay Region has
steadily decreased (faster than statewide rates have decreased). In spring of 2020 and
2021, however, the number of SSOs caused by wipes-related blockages drastically
increased, accounting for 7 to 10 percent of the total number of SSOs, compared to just
4 percent or less in previous years.
This phenomenon continues to be reported in the news and social media. In fact, the
reduction in wipes-related SSOs observed in spring 2021 compared to spring 2020 may
be a result of outreach efforts by agencies throughout our Region on Facebook, Twitter,
Instagram, Linkedln, and YouTube. A "Don't Flush Your Wipes!" video posted on
YouTube by Central Contra Costa Sanitary District has received over 300,000 views
since it was posted in April 2019. Some examples of wipes outreach on Twitter are
shown below.
Executive Officer's Report 7
August 11, 2021
Regional Water Board Twitter
SFBaywatersoard SFISayWaterBoard ..•
3 ®SFBayWatereoard ✓ @SFBaMale,Board
Happy holidays!A friendly reminder from
@SFBayWaterBoard that Santa is always watching.
#wipesclogpipes
TOILED PAPER A USHABLE WIPES
+ FEB 2018 FEB 2018
Those who flush wipes will .. on the
Q rooav O @rooAyShow-Apr s
naughtyAre flushable wipes really flushable?on.today.conV311Aulk
923 AM ITe<24,2020 Twitter web App 10'.01 AM-Apr 6,2021-Twitter Web App
East Bay Municipal Utility District Twitter
East Bay Municipal uNllry oistrict0
•••
East gay Municipal utility dstridO
@ebmud W -
Running low on TP? Check 99%Invisible's Some say on All Hallows'Eve,the wipes you flushed
down the toilet come back to haunt you.
Qa 99piorg"Wi e Out"to hear about alternatives. #yyipesCausefrights#WipesClogPipes
Spoiler Alert paper towels,tissues,napkins and
"flushable"wipes are not flushable and can wreak
havoc on your plumbing and ours.Toss them in the
#wipesclogpipes#beatcovid19
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9.15 AM Apr 10,2020,HooWle Inc.
Central Contra Costa Sanitary District Twitter
# ointral SanCeral San •••
@CentralSan Wnt@Central5an
Flushing anything other than the 3 P's?Inconceivable! So-called "flushable"wipes?Swipe left! Show your
#WipesClogPipes some III this#ValentinesDay:Flush only the three P's:
NE Ohio Regional Sewer District*@neorsd Jun 13 pee,poop,and(toilet)paper.#WipesClogPipes
you fell victim to one of the classic blunders
Toilets & "flushable" wipes
DON'T match on
Valentine's Day
(or any day)
I .I t I
Happy
#wipesclogpipes
8..-47 AM-1un 15,2021 Twitter Web App 10:13 AM Feb 14,2021.Twitter Web App