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BACWA Bulletin - April 2016

Table of Contents

Meetings

Agencies may opt into Alternate Monitoring Program

In March, the Regional Water Board adopted the order outlining an Alternate Monitoring Program for POTWs that discharge to the San Francisco Bay. This Order allows POTWs to reduce monitoring frequencies for specified chemical analyses, and eliminates the requirement to perform routine sensitive species screening for chronic toxicity . For agencies that seek coverage under the Order, the cost savings from the monitoring reductions will be transferred directly to the Regional Monitoring Program in the form of a fee surcharge that will be included in RMP invoices beginning in September 2016. Agencies opt into the Alternate Monitoring Program for a five-year period, but the surcharge is levied on an annual basis. Agencies that plan to opt in to the Alternate Monitoring Program may reduce their monitoring frequencies as specified in the Order beginning in April 2016, and should use code "9" in their DMR to indicate to EPA that the monitoring requirement for that parameter has been waived.

Delta Diablo receives East Bay Catalyst Award for Innovation

Congratulation to Delta Diablo, which has received the 2016 East Bay Innovation Catalyst Award from the East Bay Economic Development Alliance.  The award was granted after a months-long competition for the best use of innovation across eight industry sectors. Over 100 nominations for the eight categories were submitted. Delta Diablo serves as the lead agency for the Western Recycled Water Coalition (WRWC), which is developing secure, reliable water supplies for the region, and the Bay Area Biosolids to Energy (BAB2E) Coalition,which is implementing innovative resource recovery technologies.

Mike Connor of EBDA recognized with Bay Hero award from the Bay Institute

Former BACWA Executive Board Chair and EBDA General Manager Mike Connor was honored with the Bay Hero Award from the Bay Institute, at their annual award ceremony March 10, 2016. The award, with co-winners Peter Baye and Jeremy Lowe, was given for the team's innovative work on Oro Loma's pilot Ecotone project.  The project integrates treated wastewater discharge, flood risk management, climate change adaptation, and Bay wetlands restoration .

BACWA submits comments on State CECs Pilot Monitoring Program

The State Water Board has developed a pilot monitoring plan for CECs that is based on the 2012 recommendations from the SCCWRP Expert Panel.The cost for these studies is more than $400K over two years for the San Francisco Bay Region. Since the State’s pilot monitoring plan did not reflect the Regional Water Board’s RMP CEC program, BACWA and BASMAA submitted a joint letter to the State Water Board strongly encouraging them to work within the framework and budget of the RMP CECs program.

All BACWA members invited to April RMP meeting focusing on emerging contaminants

The Regional Monitoring Propgram (RMP) is the lead entity studying emerging contaminants in the Bay. Emerging contaminants are not currently regulated, yet may pose ecological or human health risks. On April 15th, the RMP's Emerging Contaminants Workgroup will review recent findings and new monitoring proposals on plastic additives like bisphenol A, flame retardants, water- and stain-repelling perfluorochemicals, and pesticides. The Workgroup will also discuss plans to revise the RMP's overall strategy for monitoring contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). BACWA members are encouraged to attend to learn more about the program and inform its future direction. For further information, please see the 2013 Pulse of the Bay, or contact Rebecca Sutton.

All BACWA members are invited to April 6 BAPPG meeting on CECs and pesticides

BAPPG's April meeting will feature a presentation from Becky Sutton with SFEI on new wastewater pesticides monitoring data, and the upcoming meeting on CEC monitoring in San Francisco Bay. Dr. Kelly Moran and Stephanie Hughes will give a presentation on pesticide regulatory activities over the last year and opportunities for further impact with pesticide registration agencies. All BACWA members with an interest in pesticides and emerging contaminants are encouraged to attend.

What's new in BACWA's Committees


AIR Committee

The AIR Committee's next meeting will be the annual joint meeting with Bay Area Air Quality Management District Staff. It has not yet been scheduled but will take place in late Spring. The Agenda will be posted prior to the meeting. View previous meeting materials.


BAPPG

The April BAPPG meeting will feature presentations from Becky Sutton of SFEI, and consultants Kelly Moran, and Stephanie Hughes on emerging contaminants and pesticides regulations. View notes from previous meetings.


Biosolids Committee

The April Biosolids Committee meeting will feature a discussion of upcoming committee activities, regulatory updates, and tour of the Lystek Organic Materials Recovery Center that is currently under construction at Fairfield-Suisun Sewer District. View Agenda.


Collections Systems Committee

The March meeting featured a presentation by Vince Falzon of Burlingame on Managing Private Sewer Lateral SSOs. For more information, see previous Collections Systems Committee Reports.


Permits Committee

Regional Water Board Staff attended the March committee meeting and discussed the Alternate Monitoring Program, described above. The meeting also featured a discussion about the Nutrient Stakeholder Advisory Group meeting that was held in February. A summary of regulatory priorities from the BACWA Annual Meeting was distributed. For more information about committee activities, please see previous Permits Committee Reports.


Recycled Water Committee

The March committee meeting focused on the latest revisions to the CCMP's Recycled Water elements, as well as the DWR's development of regulations for surface water augmentation. For more information about committee activities, please see Recycled Water Committee meeting notes.

Upcoming Events


North Bay Water Association Meeting
Friday, April 22, 2016
Embassy Suites
1075 California Boulevard
Napa, CA 94559

 

BACWA External Representation

Collaboration with outside groups and initiatives is an important facet of BACWA's mission. Below is a list of BACWA's representatives to these  technical, regulatory, and management groups:
Copyright © 2016 BACWA Bay Area Clean Water Agencies, All rights reserved.


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