How the City of Palo Alto treats wastewater to protect San Francisco Bay.

Summary

The San Francisco Bay, a crucial estuary on the west coast, is home to wildlife and supports the region's climate. The city of Palo Alto's water quality control plant treats up to 20 million gallons of wastewater daily through physical and biological processes, including tertiary treatment with UV light to ensure cleanliness before release. The plant also generates recycled water for non-potable uses, conserving drinking water. Despite these efforts, pollutants like chemicals and stormwater runoff remain challenges, requiring community efforts to prevent pollution and protect this vital ecosystem.

Takeaways

• 🌊 The San Francisco Bay is the largest estuary on the west coast and plays a crucial role in supporting wildlife and maintaining the local climate.
• 🏡 Before modern wastewater treatment, pollution from homes and industry was released directly into the bay, causing significant harm to the ecosystem.
• 💧 The federal law in 1970 mandated communities to treat wastewater before releasing it into waterways to protect local environments like the San Francisco Bay.
• 🚰 The city of Palo Alto's regional water quality control plant treats up to 20 million gallons of wastewater daily to protect the bay.
• 🔄 The wastewater treatment process includes preliminary, primary, secondary, and tertiary treatments to remove various pollutants.
• 🦠 Secondary treatment involves aerating water to provide oxygen for bacteria that consume biological wastes.
• 🌱 Tertiary treatment uses sand and coal filters and ultraviolet light to remove additional pollutants and kill bacteria without chemicals.
• 💧 After treatment, most water is discharged into the Palo Alto Baylands, and some is released to a reconstructed wetland to further clean the water before it enters the bay.
• 🔥 The leftover sludge from the treatment process is ground up and incinerated, but there are plans to replace this with a more environmentally friendly process.
• 🌱 Recycled water is a valuable byproduct of the treatment process, used for landscaping, fountains, and industry, conserving drinking water.
• 👥 The public is encouraged to help protect the bay by properly disposing of hazardous wastes and preventing stormwater pollution.

Q & A

What is the significance of the San Francisco Bay?

The San Francisco Bay is the largest estuary on the west coast, serving as a nursery and home to wildlife, including endangered species and millions of birds.

How does the Bay's ecosystem help in reducing flooding and contributing to the climate?

The Bay's ecosystem acts like a natural sponge, reducing flooding, and is responsible for the Mediterranean climate in the area.

What was the situation of the Bay before modern wastewater treatment?

Before modern wastewater treatment, garbage and dirty water from homes and industries were released directly into the Bay, making it difficult for the Bay to sustain life.

When did the federal law change to require communities to protect local waterways?

The federal law changed in 1970 to require communities to protect local waterways by cleaning and treating wastewater before releasing it.

What is the role of the Palo Alto regional water quality control plant?

The Palo Alto regional water quality control plant treats up to 20 million gallons of wastewater each day, collected from homes, businesses, and industrial facilities in its service area.

How does the wastewater treatment process work at the plant?

The wastewater undergoes preliminary, primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment, which includes physical and biological processes to remove pollutants before it's released to the Bay.

What happens during the preliminary treatment of wastewater?

During preliminary treatment, large solid materials are removed as the wastewater passes through bar screens.

What is the purpose of secondary treatment in the wastewater process?

Secondary treatment involves aerating water to provide oxygen for bacteria that consume biological wastes, mimicking the natural process of water flowing over rocks.

Why is tertiary treatment necessary for the South San Francisco Bay?

Tertiary treatment is added to filter more pollutants because the South San Francisco Bay is a delicate and fragile ecosystem that requires extra care.

How is the treated wastewater released back into the environment?

Most of the treated water is discharged into the Palo Alto Baylands, and some is released to Rennes Elle Marsh, a reconstructed wetland, before entering Maternal Creek and the Bay.

What is done with the leftover solids from the wastewater treatment process?

The leftover solids, called sludge, are ground up and incinerated to become ash, which is then sent to a landfill. Soon, incineration will be replaced with a process that converts sludge to energy and reusable fertilizer.

What is the benefit of using recycled water from the treatment plant?

Recycled water is a safe, reliable, and valuable alternative source of water for landscaping, fountains, and industry, which conserves drinking water and becomes more valuable as the population increases and climate change impacts are felt.

Why is it important to prevent stormwater pollution?

Preventing stormwater pollution is crucial because it carries pollutants like pesticides, oil, and other contaminants directly into creeks and the Bay without treatment, harming wildlife and water quality.

What can individuals do to help preserve the San Francisco Bay?

Individuals can help by ensuring only water, human waste, and toilet paper are flushed, properly disposing of hazardous wastes, avoiding pollutants in storm drains, and using environmentally friendly practices for car washing and pet waste management.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 San Francisco Bay's Water Treatment

The San Francisco Bay is the largest estuary on the west coast and serves as a habitat for wildlife, including endangered species. It also plays a crucial role in flood control and climate regulation. Before the implementation of wastewater treatment, pollution from homes and industries was a significant threat to the bay's ecosystem. The 1970 federal law mandated communities to treat wastewater before release. The city of Palo Alto's regional water quality control plant treats up to 20 million gallons of wastewater daily, using physical and biological processes to remove pollutants. The treatment includes preliminary, primary, secondary, and tertiary stages, with the final step involving UV light to kill bacteria and viruses without chemicals. The treated water is either discharged into the Palo Alto Baylands or released into the Rennes Elle Marsh, a reconstructed wetland, where it takes about 12 days to pass through before entering the bay. The leftover sludge is incinerated, but plans are in place to convert it into energy and reusable fertilizer.

05:02

💧 Preventing Stormwater Pollution

Pollution from stormwater runoff is a significant challenge for the San Francisco Bay. Pesticides, oil, and other pollutants from yards and streets can enter storm drains and flow directly into the bay without treatment. Home pesticide use is identified as the primary source of pesticide pollution. The script advises against using pesticides near homes and recommends proper disposal of car wash water and pet waste to prevent contamination. It also warns against draining pool or hot tub water into storm drains, as the chemicals can harm aquatic life. Understanding the importance of wastewater treatment and preventing stormwater pollution is essential for protecting the bay. The community is encouraged to play its part in preserving this valuable resource.

Keywords

💡San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Bay is the largest estuary on the west coast of the United States. It serves as a critical habitat for wildlife, including endangered species, and millions of birds that use the Pacific Flyway. The bay also plays a significant role in reducing flooding and contributes to the region's Mediterranean climate. In the context of the video, it is the primary water body that the wastewater treatment process aims to protect and preserve.

💡Endangered Species

Endangered species are those that are at risk of extinction due to various factors such as habitat loss, pollution, and overexploitation. The video mentions that the San Francisco Bay is home to such species, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the health of the bay's ecosystem for their survival. The conservation efforts are, therefore, crucial for these species' protection.

💡Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater treatment refers to the process of cleaning and treating used water from homes, businesses, and industries before it is released back into the environment. The video outlines the steps involved in this process, highlighting its importance in protecting the San Francisco Bay from pollution. The treatment includes preliminary, primary, secondary, and tertiary treatments to remove pollutants effectively.

💡Preliminary Treatment

Preliminary treatment is the first stage of wastewater treatment where large solid materials are removed from the water as it passes through bar screens. This step is essential for preventing damage to the equipment used in subsequent treatment stages and for reducing the overall load of pollutants entering the treatment process.

💡Primary Treatment

Primary treatment involves settling tanks where smaller solids settle to the bottom or float to the top, where they are collected for later processing. This step helps to remove a significant portion of the suspended solids and organic matter, making the water clearer and preparing it for secondary treatment.

💡Secondary Treatment

Secondary treatment is a biological process that uses microorganisms to break down organic matter in the wastewater. The video describes how this process mimics the natural aeration of water in rivers and streams, providing oxygen for bacteria that consume biological wastes. This step is crucial for further reducing the amount of pollutants in the water.

💡Tertiary Treatment

Tertiary treatment is an additional step beyond primary and secondary treatments, designed to filter out more pollutants. The video explains how this process uses fine sand and coal filters to remove tiny particles of waste and ultraviolet light to kill bacteria and viruses, ensuring that the water released into the bay is as clean as possible.

💡Sludge

Sludge refers to the solid byproduct of the wastewater treatment process. The video mentions that this sludge is ground up and incinerated to become ash, which is then sent to a landfill. However, the process is set to be replaced with a more environmentally friendly method that converts sludge into energy and reusable fertilizer or land cover.

💡Recycled Water

Recycled water is treated wastewater that is safe and suitable for non-potable uses such as irrigation, landscaping, and industrial processes. The video highlights that the regional water quality control plant generates 1 million gallons of recycled water each day, which conserves drinking water and is a valuable resource, especially in the face of population growth and climate change.

💡Stormwater Pollution

Stormwater pollution occurs when rainwater runoff picks up pollutants from yards, streets, and other surfaces and carries them directly into storm drains, eventually reaching creeks and the bay without treatment. The video emphasizes the importance of preventing this type of pollution by not dumping pollutants into storm drains and by using practices that minimize the runoff of harmful substances.

💡Hazardous Waste

Hazardous waste includes substances that are dangerous or potentially harmful to the environment and human health, such as medications, paints, chemicals, pesticides, and fertilizers. The video stresses that these should not be flushed down sinks or toilets but instead brought to a household hazardous waste facility to prevent contamination of the bay.

Highlights

Water from homes, schools, and workplaces drains to the San Francisco Bay, which is the largest estuary on the west coast.

The Bay serves as a nursery and home to wildlife, including endangered species and millions of birds.

The bay's ecosystem reduces flooding and contributes to the Mediterranean climate.

Before modern wastewater treatment, pollution from homes and industry was released directly into the bay.

In 1970, federal law required communities to protect local waterways by treating wastewater before release.

The city of Palo Alto treats up to 20 million gallons of wastewater each day.

Wastewater undergoes preliminary, primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment before release.

Preliminary treatment removes large solid materials through bar screens.

Primary treatment involves settling smaller solids in tanks.

Secondary treatment aerates water to provide oxygen for bacteria that eat biological wastes.

Tertiary treatment filters more pollutants through fine sand and coal filters.

UV light is used to kill bacteria and viruses without chemicals.

Recycled water is generated as a byproduct, used for landscaping, fountains, and industry.

Pollution in the bay has decreased substantially due to wastewater treatment.

The plant is designed to remove biological wastes but not all chemical compounds.

Hazardous wastes should be brought to a household hazardous waste facility.

Stormwater pollution is a challenge as pollutants from yards and streets enter the bay untreated.

To prevent stormwater pollution, avoid dumping pollutants into storm drains.

Understanding the value of wastewater treatment and preventing stormwater pollution is key to protecting the bay.

Transcripts

almost every drop of water you use at

home school or work drains to the San

Francisco Bay our Bay is the largest

estuary on the west coast it's a place

that serves as nursery and home to

wildlife including endangered species

and millions of birds using the Pacific

Flyway like a natural sponge the

baylin's ecosystem reduces flooding and

is responsible for a wonderful

Mediterranean climate before modern

wastewater treatment in baylin's

conservation efforts garbage and dirty

water from homes and Industry were

released directly into the bay the

pollution and decaying wastes made it

difficult for the bay to sustain life at

the water's edge but in 1970 federal law

was changed to require communities to

protect local waterways by cleaning and

treating wastewater before releasing it

now to protect the bay the city of Palo

Alto regional water quality control

plant

treats up to 20 million gallons of

wastewater each day collected from the

homes businesses and industrial

facilities located throughout it's six

city service area wastewater travels by

gravity through the sanitary sewer

system to the plant which then uses a

series of physical and biological

processes to remove large and small

pollutants the wastewater undergoes

preliminary primary secondary and

tertiary treatment before it's released

to the bay

in the first step preliminary treatment

large solid materials are removed as the

waste water passes through bar screens

next during primary treatment the water

is pumped into tanks where smaller

solids settle to the bottom or float to

the top where they are collected for

later processing you've seen how water

in a river or stream bubbles over rocks

the next step called secondary treatment

mimics this process of aerating water to

provide oxygen for the bacteria which

eat biological wastes waste water spray

through large plastic plates in

trickling filters that are covered with

a slimy layer of microorganisms

including bacteria protozoa and fungi

like us these microorganisms need to eat

except their food is human waste

traveling from our homes schools and

work

from their wastewater moves into

aeration tanks where ammonia another

component of human waste is consumed by

different microorganisms in some cases

primary and secondary treatment clean

wastewater enough so that it can be

returned to nature but because South San

Francisco Bay is a delicate and fragile

ecosystem the regional water quality

control plant adds one more step called

tertiary treatment to filter more

pollutants during tertiary treatment

tiny particles of waste passed through

fine sand and coal filters

imitating how nature cleans water when

it passes through soil then ultraviolet

light is used to kill bacteria and

viruses without using chemicals this UV

light destroys the microorganisms or

damages their DNA so that they cannot

reproduce finally about 22 hours after

it first enters the plant wastewater is

clean enough to return to the bay most

of the water is discharged into the Palo

Alto Baylands but about 1 million

gallons each day is also released to

Rennes Elle Marsh a reconstructed

wetland east of the Bayshore freeway it

takes the water about 12 days to pass

through the marsh before entering

material Creek where it travels into the

bay

back at the plant the leftover solids

called sludge our D water ground up and

incinerated to become ash before it is

sent to a landfill

soon incineration will be replaced with

a more environmentally friendly process

that converts sludge to energy and a

reusable fertilizer or land-cover

high-quality recycled water is another

byproduct of the regional water quality

control plan 1 million gallons of

recycled water are generated each day

recycled water is a safe reliable and

valuable alternative source of water to

use on landscaping and fountains and for

industry using recycled water for these

purposes conserves drinking water and

its use will only become more valuable

as our population increases and adjust

to climate change the services of the

regional water quality control plant are

critical to keeping San Francisco Bay

healthy because of wastewater treatment

processes throughout our region

pollution in the bay has decreased

substantially in the last 50 years and

the health of the bay has improved but

the plant can't remove all types of

pollutants although it was designed to

remove biological wastes many of the

chemical compounds sometimes flush down

sinks or toilets cannot be fully removed

so we need your help

remember only water human waste and

toilet paper should be flushed hazardous

wastes such as medications paints

chemicals pesticides and fertilizers

should be brought to a household

hazardous waste facility

pollution from runoff traveling into

storm drains is also a challenge rain

and irrigation carry pesticides oil and

other pollutants from yards and streets

straight into storm drains from there

the water goes directly to creeks in the

bay with no treatment at all to prevent

stormwater pollution never dump or wash

any pollutant into a storm drain because

home pesticide use is the number one

source of pesticide pollution in our

creeks and Bay don't use pesticides

outside your home when servicing your

car make sure to avoid water pollution

recycle motor oil and radiator fluid use

a commercial car wash which recycles

dirty wash water and keeps it out of

storm drains if you wash your own car

keep soapy water even when using

biodegradable soap away from storm

drains use a cloth and a bucket of water

not a hose dispose of wash water in a

landscaped or dirt area pet waste can

carry diseases and causes problems when

it gets into a storm drain and ends up

in a creek where wildlife lives pick up

after your pet never drain pools or

fountains to storm drains where pool

chemicals can kill insects and fish if

you have a swimming pool or a hot tub

that needs draining be sure the water is

emptied to your property sewer cleanup

understanding the value of wastewater

treatment and the importance of

preventing stormwater pollution is key

to protecting the bay remember to do

your part to help preserve the

spectacular resource we all enjoy

you