The San Francisco Bay Area Nutrient Watershed Permit: A Streamlined Approach to Identify Cost Effective Strategies for Nutrient Load Reductions

The San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board (Water Board) issued a Regional Watershed Permit for 37 Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRFs) discharging into five identified hydrologic sub-embayments in April, 2014 (Order No. R2-2014-0014). The permit requires that Bay dischargers assess their nutrient loads and evaluate strategies for nutrient load reduction, should reductions be required in the future. The permit includes four key elements for evaluating nutrient load reduction opportunities at WRRFs (if supported by sound science):Plant optimizationSidestream treatmentPlant upgradesNutrient reduction by other means (including source control, natural treatment systems, diversion of effluent to water recycling, and others)The 37 WRRFs are working collectively under the joint powers agency, Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (BACWA), to submit one coordinated study. This paper will outline the studies approach to reduce nutrient loads to San Francisco Bay (SF Bay).