HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.b. Receive written update on recent BACWA meetings Page 1 of 2
Item 6.b.
CENTRAL SAN
January 26, 2022
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 WRITTEN REPORT ON THE MOST RECENT MEETINGS OF THE
BAYAREA CLEAN WATER AGENCIES (BACWA)
BACWA Meetings and Upcoming Events:
• Last BACWA Board Meetings:
December 17, 2021
January 14, 2022
• BACWA Board Meeting with Regional Water Board:
January 6, 2022
• Next BACWA Board Meeting:
February 18, 2022
Key Items:
Nutrients:
The Nutrient Watershed Permit Group Annual Report is due February 1, 2022 and will be submitted by
BACWA consultant HDR. Flows the past year were down overall, but particularly in the South Bay and
Lower South Bay. Both dry and annual loads for Total Inorganic Nitrogen are the lowest since 2012 when
the State's investigative order was issued. The dry season dropped 6% since 2020 (approximately 10%
lower than the 9-year average), and the average annual dropped 8% since 2019/2020 (approximately 10%
lower than the 9-year average).
Regarding the preparation for the third Nutrient Watershed Permit, the Regional Water Board is now taking
a "one-bay" approach to load caps versus subembayment-based caps. BACWA will be updating its key
tenets and draft memo related to early actors, multi-benefit projects, and impact of organics diversion and
solids handling changes. These updates will be circulated to the internal BACWA Nutrient Strategy Team
(NST)for review. I n March, the NST will meet again to review statistical analysis and develop a load
cap/target/trigger calculations proposal. BACWA will finalize the key tenets in early April and later in the
month will hold a workshop with the Regional Water Board.
January 26, 2022 REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 23 of 26
Page 2 of 2
Biosolids:
BACWA presented the 2021 Biosolids Trends Survey Report. For more information, see
https:Hbacwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/BACWA-2021-Biosolids-Trends-S urvey-Report.pdf.
Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFA S):
San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI) is hosting a PFAS in Sport Fish Workshop on February 4, 2022.
Participants will include scientists, regulators, subsistence fishing community representatives, and
BACWA. BACWA's message is continued focus on sources from a regulatory and legislative angle
versus end of pipe treatment.
Sanitary Sewer Systems Waste Discharge Requirements (SSS WDR):
Draft for public review to be made available by January 31, 2022. A 60-day period for review will be
allotted. There's an understanding that many of the changes that the California Association of Sanitation
Agencies (CASA), BACWA, and others in the industry pushed for were likely included. BACWA will work
with CASA on comments following the release of the public review draft. The State Water Board will
potentially hold a workshop in late March 2022.
Air.'
The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) adopted amendments to Regulation 2, related
to toxic emissions reductions from new sources in overburdened communities, which includes Central
San's solids building. On December 15, 2021, at the BAAQMD hearing, BACWA, and a few BACWA
members, including Central San, commented on a conflict in definitions of"essential public service". In
previous rules, wastewater was captured under this definition, but wastewater was not captured as an
essential public service in the amended draft rule. The amended draft rule included only emergency
services. BACWA did not ask for a carve-out that was allowed for those services but asked that
BAAQMD redefine this group as "emergency services." BACWA followed up with a letter to the
BAAQMD Board and staff to clarify its position further. At the December 15, 2021 BAAQMD meeting,
the Board also adopted a resolution to develop a workgroup with BACWA to implement the Regulation 2
amendments and future rulemaking development. This will be a critical piece for improved
BACWA/BAAQMD collaboration. Due to cross-media concerns, the Regional Water Board has also
agreed to participate in this workgroup.
Additional Information/Monthly Bulletins: https:Hbacwa.org/bacwa-bulletins/
Strategic Plan re-In
GOAL TWO: Environmental Stewardship
Strategy 1—Achieve 100% compliance in all regulations, Strategy 3— Support regional development of local water
supply
January 26, 2022 REEP Committee Meeting Agenda Packet- Page 24 of 26