Dear Planning Commission,
I am writing tonight in to
support 4 changes to the existing plans for the new sewage treatment plant;
size, location, decentralization and sustainability.
1) Size
The proposed
plant, 78 million gallons per day, is far larger than necessary if measures are
taken to seal the laterals and mains which have failed. Shoring up the whole
sewage system will result in smaller peak wet weather flow predictions, the
outcome of which would be the option to reduce the size of the proposed plant’s
capacity. This would result in significant savings for the city, both in terms
of capital outlay but also annual maintenance expenses as a larger plants uses
more energy.
2) Location
There are key
shortcomings of the proposed plant’s location. Primarily, its location at the
bay front is questionable. San Mateo County has been deemed the number one
county in California at risk due to sea level rise. Placing the city’s sole
sewage treatment plant in the direct path of where water is projected to
inundate the coast is a risky proposal. And, even if we accept the existing
site is the most satisfactory under expected conditions, it is essential that
the plant be elevated as much as possible in order to avoid a catastrophic
citywide failure.
3) Decentralization
The most
progressive practice advanced in the area of waste water treatment today is for
processing to be dispersed throughout the city. There are two key benefits to
this model. One, energy use is cut down due to the decreased distance waste
must be pumped for treatment, resulting in annual cost savings. Two, having
several substations dramatically reduces the likelihood of a citywide failure.
4) Sustainability
Given San Mateo
has no emergency water reserves, it is critical our waste water treatment plant
process water to the level it is clean enough to drink, as well as keep supply
available in the case of a disaster. Having multiple plants in dispersed
locations with this capability would be the safest option to ensure the health
and safety of our residents in all circumstances.
Thank you for your time and
consideration
