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San José–Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility

January 01, 1970

The San José–Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility (abbreviated RWF; officially the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant[1]) is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Alviso neighborhood of San Jose, California. The facility treats 110 million U.S. gallons (420 megaliters) of wastewater per day, with a capacity of up to 167 million U.S. gal/d (630 ML/d), making it the largest tertiary treatment plant in the western United States. It serves 1.5 million residents and over 17,000 business facilities in eight cities. The 2,600-acre (1,100 ha) site is operated by the San Jose Environmental Services Department and jointly owned by the cities of San Jose and Santa Clara. It began operations in 1956 to address severe water pollution issues[1][2][3] and played a key role in San Jose's aggressive annexation program during the 1950s and 1960s.[4]

One of four large air pumps at the wastewater treatment plant.

Location edit

The site sits on more than 2,600 acres (1,100 ha) on the southern end of the San Francisco Bay, adjacent to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It consists of a 175-acre (71 ha) processing area, a 750-acre (300 ha) sludge-drying area, a 850-acre (340 ha) former salt evaporation pond, and open buffer space.[3] About 200 acres (81 ha) is set aside for the Western burrowing owl, a California species of special concern.[5] The plant's outfall channel is Artesian Slough, which flows into the San Francisco Bay via Coyote Creek.[2]

History edit

In the 1880s, San Jose built a simple sewage disposal system that discharged untreated wastewater directly into the San Francisco Bay. It was the largest sewage disposal system in the South Bay, with enough capacity for 250,000 people despite a population under 15,000, in order to discharge organic waste from the city's many fruit canneries. By the 1930s, the canneries along with indoor plumbing increasingly contributed to pollution in the bay. However, voters rejected bonds to fund upgrades to the sewage system. By 1948, the state declared San Jose to be in violation of state water pollution regulations, risking a moratorium on building permits.[4]

In 1950, San Jose voters finally passed bonds to construct a new wastewater treatment facility.[4] In 1954, the city purchased land near Alviso for a wastewater treatment plant. The plant began operations in 1956. Despite having only primary treatment capabilities designed for cannery effluent,[3][2] it was the first and largest treatment plant in the South Bay, giving it outsized importance in the region's development. In 1951, the city council banned connections to the sewage system from outside the city limits, giving San Jose City Manager Dutch Hamann leverage against neighboring cities and landowners in his annexation campaigns. Hamann's agents instigated local campaigns in Alviso and Milpitas to agree to annexation and give San Jose more control over its sewer infrastructure. San Jose succeeded in annexing Alviso in 1968.[4]

On May 6, 1959, the City of San José and City of Santa Clara signed a joint powers agreement, "Agreement between San Jose and Santa Clara Respecting Sewage Treatment Plant",[1] giving Santa Clara 20% ownership in exchange for helping to fund upgrades at the plant, which was renamed the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant.[2] In 1964, the plant added secondary treatment capabilities to meet state requirements. In the 1960s and 1970s, Milpitas, the Cupertino Sanitary District, and the West Valley Sanitation District began contracting with the plant. In 1979, the plant added tertiary treatment.[3] From September 4 to September 29, 1979, 4 billion U.S. gallons (15 gigaliters) of partially treated sewage flowed into Artesian Slough, much of it reaching the southernmost portion of the San Francisco Bay, where massive wildlife die-offs were reported.[6]

In 1996, the plant opened a 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m2) laboratory to monitor performance. In 1998, the South Bay Water Recycling facility began providing water reclamation service.[3] In early 2013, the wastewater treatment plant was renamed the San José–Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility, though it retained its former name for legal purposes.[1] A $114 million cogeneration facility was completed in August 2020, featuring a façade by Buster Simpson that is illuminated at night.[7]

Operations edit

As of 2020, the facility treats 110 million U.S. gallons (420 megaliters) of wastewater per day, with a capacity of up to 167 million U.S. gal/d (630 ML/d). Most effluent is discharged into Artesian Slough. However, an average 14 million U.S. gal/d (53 ML/d) of treated wastewater is diverted to the adjacent South Bay Water Recycling (SBWR) plant and distributed as reclaimed water to about 750 customers in San Jose, Santa Clara, and Milpitas.[2] Solids removed from the effluent are processed into class A biosolids, which are used as daily cover at Newby Island landfill. The plant's laboratory analyzes about 70,000 samples per year.[3]

The facility has an annual operating budget of about $80 million, funded by rate revenue from contracting agencies. It has about 200 employees.[2] It consumes 11 megawatts (15,000 hp) per day, about 60% of which is powered by biogas and natural gas from the plant's cogeneration facility and digester tanks.[3][7] A diesel generator provides emergency backup power for the plant.[8] Discharges are monitored by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, and emissions are regulated by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.[2]

Service area edit

As of 2020, the facility serves 1.5 million residents and over 17,000 business facilities in the following Santa Clara County jurisdictions, which maintain separate collection infrastructure:[1][2]

See also edit

  • Donald M. Somers Water Pollution Control Plant in Sunnyvale
  • Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control Plant
  • South County Regional Wastewater Authority in Gilroy
  • Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant in San Francisco

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e Newton, Sharon (July 31, 2020). "San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility 2020 First Semi-Annual Industrial User Pretreatment Compliance Report". Letter to Michael Montgomery. City of San José.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility". City of San José. June 3, 2020. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "Protecting Our Health, Bay, and Economy". City of San José. August 20, 2018. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Trounstine, Philip J.; Christensen, Terry (1982). Flashback: A Short Political History of San Jose (PDF).
  5. ^ "Protecting Our Environment". City of San José. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  6. ^ "Harbor Seal and Fish Populations—Before and After a Sewage Spill in South San Francisco Bay". California Fish and Game. 66 (4). Sacramento, California: California Department of Fish and Game: 238. October 1980 – via Internet Archive.
  7. ^ a b Yarbrough, Lisa (April 1, 2021). "Cities of San José and Ukiah lead the way on critical water infrastructure projects". Western City. Sacramento, California: League of California Cities. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  8. ^ "San José-Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility". City of San José. Retrieved August 11, 2021.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • South Bay Water Recycling

37°25′52″N 121°57′6″W / 37.43111°N 121.95167°W / 37.43111; -121.95167

January 01, 1970
josé, santa, clara, regional, wastewater, facility, abbreviated, officially, jose, santa, clara, water, pollution, control, plant, wastewater, treatment, plant, located, alviso, neighborhood, jose, california, facility, treats, million, gallons, megaliters, wa. The San Jose Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility abbreviated RWF officially the San Jose Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant 1 is a wastewater treatment plant located in the Alviso neighborhood of San Jose California The facility treats 110 million U S gallons 420 megaliters of wastewater per day with a capacity of up to 167 million U S gal d 630 ML d making it the largest tertiary treatment plant in the western United States It serves 1 5 million residents and over 17 000 business facilities in eight cities The 2 600 acre 1 100 ha site is operated by the San Jose Environmental Services Department and jointly owned by the cities of San Jose and Santa Clara It began operations in 1956 to address severe water pollution issues 1 2 3 and played a key role in San Jose s aggressive annexation program during the 1950s and 1960s 4 One of four large air pumps at the wastewater treatment plant Contents 1 Location 2 History 3 Operations 4 Service area 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksLocation editThe site sits on more than 2 600 acres 1 100 ha on the southern end of the San Francisco Bay adjacent to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge It consists of a 175 acre 71 ha processing area a 750 acre 300 ha sludge drying area a 850 acre 340 ha former salt evaporation pond and open buffer space 3 About 200 acres 81 ha is set aside for the Western burrowing owl a California species of special concern 5 The plant s outfall channel is Artesian Slough which flows into the San Francisco Bay via Coyote Creek 2 History editIn the 1880s San Jose built a simple sewage disposal system that discharged untreated wastewater directly into the San Francisco Bay It was the largest sewage disposal system in the South Bay with enough capacity for 250 000 people despite a population under 15 000 in order to discharge organic waste from the city s many fruit canneries By the 1930s the canneries along with indoor plumbing increasingly contributed to pollution in the bay However voters rejected bonds to fund upgrades to the sewage system By 1948 the state declared San Jose to be in violation of state water pollution regulations risking a moratorium on building permits 4 In 1950 San Jose voters finally passed bonds to construct a new wastewater treatment facility 4 In 1954 the city purchased land near Alviso for a wastewater treatment plant The plant began operations in 1956 Despite having only primary treatment capabilities designed for cannery effluent 3 2 it was the first and largest treatment plant in the South Bay giving it outsized importance in the region s development In 1951 the city council banned connections to the sewage system from outside the city limits giving San Jose City Manager Dutch Hamann leverage against neighboring cities and landowners in his annexation campaigns Hamann s agents instigated local campaigns in Alviso and Milpitas to agree to annexation and give San Jose more control over its sewer infrastructure San Jose succeeded in annexing Alviso in 1968 4 On May 6 1959 the City of San Jose and City of Santa Clara signed a joint powers agreement Agreement between San Jose and Santa Clara Respecting Sewage Treatment Plant 1 giving Santa Clara 20 ownership in exchange for helping to fund upgrades at the plant which was renamed the San Jose Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant 2 In 1964 the plant added secondary treatment capabilities to meet state requirements In the 1960s and 1970s Milpitas the Cupertino Sanitary District and the West Valley Sanitation District began contracting with the plant In 1979 the plant added tertiary treatment 3 From September 4 to September 29 1979 4 billion U S gallons 15 gigaliters of partially treated sewage flowed into Artesian Slough much of it reaching the southernmost portion of the San Francisco Bay where massive wildlife die offs were reported 6 In 1996 the plant opened a 12 000 square foot 1 100 m2 laboratory to monitor performance In 1998 the South Bay Water Recycling facility began providing water reclamation service 3 In early 2013 the wastewater treatment plant was renamed the San Jose Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility though it retained its former name for legal purposes 1 A 114 million cogeneration facility was completed in August 2020 featuring a facade by Buster Simpson that is illuminated at night 7 Operations editAs of 2020 update the facility treats 110 million U S gallons 420 megaliters of wastewater per day with a capacity of up to 167 million U S gal d 630 ML d Most effluent is discharged into Artesian Slough However an average 14 million U S gal d 53 ML d of treated wastewater is diverted to the adjacent South Bay Water Recycling SBWR plant and distributed as reclaimed water to about 750 customers in San Jose Santa Clara and Milpitas 2 Solids removed from the effluent are processed into class A biosolids which are used as daily cover at Newby Island landfill The plant s laboratory analyzes about 70 000 samples per year 3 The facility has an annual operating budget of about 80 million funded by rate revenue from contracting agencies It has about 200 employees 2 It consumes 11 megawatts 15 000 hp per day about 60 of which is powered by biogas and natural gas from the plant s cogeneration facility and digester tanks 3 7 A diesel generator provides emergency backup power for the plant 8 Discharges are monitored by the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board and emissions are regulated by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District 2 Service area editAs of 2020 update the facility serves 1 5 million residents and over 17 000 business facilities in the following Santa Clara County jurisdictions which maintain separate collection infrastructure 1 2 San Jose Santa Clara Milpitas Cupertino Sanitary District Cupertino West Valley Sanitation District Campbell Los Gatos Monte Sereno and Saratoga Santa Clara County Sanitation District No 2 3 unincorporated Burbank Sanitary District unincorporated Burbank See also editDonald M Somers Water Pollution Control Plant in Sunnyvale Palo Alto Regional Water Quality Control Plant South County Regional Wastewater Authority in Gilroy Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant in San FranciscoReferences edit a b c d e Newton Sharon July 31 2020 San Jose Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility 2020 First Semi Annual Industrial User Pretreatment Compliance Report Letter to Michael Montgomery City of San Jose a b c d e f g h San Jose Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility City of San Jose June 3 2020 Retrieved August 11 2021 a b c d e f g Protecting Our Health Bay and Economy City of San Jose August 20 2018 Retrieved August 11 2021 a b c d Trounstine Philip J Christensen Terry 1982 Flashback A Short Political History of San Jose PDF Protecting Our Environment City of San Jose Retrieved August 11 2021 Harbor Seal and Fish Populations Before and After a Sewage Spill in South San Francisco Bay California Fish and Game 66 4 Sacramento California California Department of Fish and Game 238 October 1980 via Internet Archive a b Yarbrough Lisa April 1 2021 Cities of San Jose and Ukiah lead the way on critical water infrastructure projects Western City Sacramento California League of California Cities Retrieved August 11 2021 San Jose Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility City of San Jose Retrieved August 11 2021 External links editOfficial website South Bay Water Recycling 37 25 52 N 121 57 6 W 37 43111 N 121 95167 W 37 43111 121 95167 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title San Jose Santa Clara Regional Wastewater Facility amp oldid 1182119022, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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