What's New

Recycled water will be keeping the greens green at Antioch's Lone Tree Golf Course

Antioch golf course, park to get recycled water - Contra Costa Times

Bill H.R. 2442 Focuses on Wastewater Recycling

georgemiller.house.gov/news/2009/10/house_passes_millers_bay_area.html

Hazardous Waste Collection Facility Expanded

(September 02, 2009 - Antioch, CA) The Delta Household Hazardous Waste Collection Facility has expanded capacity of its site to roughly 7,000 square feet from 3,500 square feet - doubling the amount of household hazardous waste that can be accepted from East Contra Costa residents.

East County waste collection facility doubles in size - Contra Costa Times, September 02, 2009

DDSD Supports Summer Youth Employment Program

(August 05, 2009 - Antioch, Calif.) From June-August 2009, Delta Diablo Sanitation District partnered with Contra Costa County's Summer Youth Employment Program to provide summer work experience for 15 local youth. The youth worked on various projects with our staff across a range of departments. Supported by the Workforce Development Board with funding received under President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the program provided valuable work and life skills to transition to full-time work.

Youth Employment Program a two-way street of benefits - Contra Costa Times, 05 August 09

DDSD Awarded 2008 Medium Plant of the Year

(May 15, 2009 - Antioch, Calif.) Delta Diablo Sanitation District has been awarded the 2008 Medium Plant of the Year, San Francisco Bay Section, of the California Water Environment Association.

(left-right) Steve Dominguez, Delta Diablo Sanitation District Plant Manager, Pittsburg Mayor Nancy Parent, Antioch Mayor Jim Davis, and District V Supervisor Federal Glover

New Legislation would expand innovative Bay Area water recycling program

(May 14, 2009 - Washington, DC) Water recycling in the Bay Area could get a big boost under a new bill introduced in Congress today by nine Bay Area lawmakers, helping to stimulate the economy while reducing the demand for limited fresh water supplies.

Water recycling is already underway in communities throughout the Bay Area. The new bill would make six additional Bay Area projects eligible for federal funding, projects that would save 2.6 billion gallons per year for the region's water supply. The six projects would be added to the Bay Area Regional Water Recycling Program to help address California's cycles of drought and reduce dependence on water from the troubled Bay-Delta ecosystem.

Full Press Release (pdf)

DEER VALLEY STUDENTS AND DELTA DIABLO SANITATION DISTRICT WIN FILM FESTIVAL AWARD

(April 23, 2008 - Antioch, Calif.) When Delta Diablo Sanitation District decided to produce a video promoting wastewater awareness to east county 5th graders, it enlisted local talent. The District contacted Barton Cox, Jr. at Antioch's Deer Valley High School Regional Occupational Program (ROP) Video Production classes. That resulted in two students, Chris Wiggins and Trevor Marsh, being interviewed. After presenting a budget and schedule, the two were selected to direct, write and videotape an eight minute educational film.

The video, 'Wastewater World,' follows the travels of young 'Johnny' played by Deer Valley student Dylan Allard. Johnny is tempted to pour grease down the drain, but instead is whisked down a sewer pipe and into the Delta Diablo Sanitation District wastewater treatment facility. There he learns about things that harm or clog sewer pipes, about the benefits of using recycled water for irrigation and industry, and about proper disposal of household hazardous wastes from 'Craig the Cleaner' played by former Deer Valley acting teacher Taron Hensley.

On April 16 'Wastewater World' won first place in the Public Education/Amateur Category at the California Water Environment Association's Film Festival in Sacramento. A plaque was presented to the district's community outreach coordinator, Linda Brewer, and videographer Chris Wiggins (now a student at San Francisco State University) at an awards luncheon attended by over 350 people.

Full Press Release (pdf)

EAST COUNTY CHEMIST IS NAMED "STATE LABORATORY PERSON OF THE YEAR" AND EARNS INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION

(May 10, 2007 - Antioch, Calif.) Oakley resident Mary Anne Johnson has again been recognized for her contributions to the wastewater laboratory profession. She was honored this past January as Laboratory Person of the Year by the Bay Area chapter of the California Water Environment Association. Now, she was selected at the Association's Annual Conference in Ontario, California, from a field of nominees from throughout the State, as California Laboratory Person of the Year.

Johnson was also recognized by the international Water Environment Federation with its Laboratory Analyst Excellence Award. The Water Environment Federation was founded in 1928 and represents 82,000 water quality professionals from throughout the world. California Water Environment Association President, Maura Bonnarens, attended the Delta Diablo Sanitation District board of directors meeting in May to present both awards.

Johnson earned her bachelor's of science degree in Fisheries Biology from Humboldt State University. She was hired by Delta Diablo Sanitation District as a chemist in 1981 and was promoted to Chemist II in 1996. She plays a key roll in training fellow chemists and interns and students from Los Medanos College. She authored all of the laboratory's Standard Operating Procedures and played a key role in developing the Quality Assurance manual. She also makes several classroom presentations each year to local 5th grade students and demonstrates water quality chemistry at events like the Community Environmental Faire and the Rivertown Jamboree. Johnson is also a volunteer with the Deer Valley High School Band Boosters.

SANITATION DISTRICT HONORS NATURE'S BOUNTY CAFÉ FOR PROTECTING ENVIRONMENT

(February 14, 2007 - Antioch, Calif.) The Delta Diablo Sanitation District honored Nature's Bounty Café with its Environmental Business Partner of the Year award. The award was presented by Antioch Mayor Donald P. Freitas at the Antioch Chamber of Commerce Awards Gala in January.

District spokesperson Linda Brewer said the award is presented annually to businesses that have earned special recognition for their environmentally friendly business practices. "Nature's Bounty goes far beyond simply complying with regulations, they make protecting our planet a core element of their business plan," said Brewer. Both the sanitation district and Nature's Bounty are certified by Contra Costa County as "Green Businesses."

The menu at Nature's Bounty, which is located at 211 G Street in Antioch, uses all natural, organic ingredients. The owners, Lynn Kutsal and Tina Steele, conserve water and energy, use compostable carryout containers made of corn and potato starch, use less toxic cleaning products and even reduce indoor air pollution by remodeling with low volatile organic compound paints and sealers.

In cooperation with the Antioch Chamber of Commerce, the sanitation district has presented this award for the past four years. Previous Environmental Business Partners were Tri Delta Transit, Johnny Carino's Restaurant, Kaiser Permanente and Sutter Delta Hospital. The goal of the award is to foster a pollution prevention ethic by recognizing model pollution prevention achievements by businesses and organizations.

DELTA DIABLO SANITATION DISTRICT NAMED “BEST IN THE BAY AREA”

(January 17, 2006 - Antioch, Calif.) The Delta Diablo Sanitation District has been selected as this year’s best mid-size (5 – 20 million gallons per day) wastewater treatment plant in the San Francisco Bay region. The award was presented at the annual banquet of the California Water Environment Association (CWEA) – San Francisco Bay Section (SFBS) in Walnut Creek on January 13. Two District employees were also honored. Gurmukh Grewal of Vallejo was named Laboratory Person of the Year. Grewal, a Chemist II, has been with the District since 1990. Discovery Bay resident Shawn Redmond, Maintenance Mechanic II, a 4- year employee, was named Mechanical Technician of the Year. The San Francisco Bay Section is one of 16 local chapters in the state. It was founded in 1947 and covers San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda and Contra Costa counties. The Plant of the Year Award is based on compliance results, innovative practices, management systems, cost effectiveness and reduction, and other evidence of superior plant operations.

The award is presented each year to municipal wastewater treatment facilities in the Bay Area which demonstrate excellent compliance records and have outstanding operations, maintenance and management programs. Delta Diablo, along with Grewal and Redmond, will now compete against other regional winners for the California Water Environment Association’s State award at the CWEA annual conference in April in Sacramento.

DELTA DIABLO SANITATION DISTRICT RECEIVES PEAK PERFORMANCE AWARD

(August 31, 2005 - Antioch, Calif.) The Delta Diablo Sanitation District has been honored by the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) for achieving 100 percent compliance with national and state water quality regulations for the entire calendar year 2004.

NACWA announced its "Peak Performance Gold Award" to Delta Diablo at the Association's annual meeting in Washington, D.C. This is the District's fourth Peak Performance Award. Fewer than 150 wastewater agencies nation-wide were honored with the Gold Award.

"Delta Diablo Sanitation District is an outstanding example of environmental efforts. NACWA is honored to showcase the achievements of Delta Diablo and our nation's public wastewater utilities through the Peak Performance Awards Program." Ken Kirk, NACWA's Executive Director.

Delta Diablo Sanitation District provides wastewater treatment, recycled water and street sweeping services in the Bay Point, Pittsburg and Antioch areas. It also operates the regional Delta Household Hazardous Waste Disposal Facility where residents of East County can safely dispose of household cleaning supplies, pesticides, paints, florescent lights and other hazardous items. The household hazardous waste facility is open Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and is free.

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (formerly Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies) maintains a key role in the development of environmental legislation, and works closely with federal regulatory agencies in the implementation of environmental programs.

ODOR CONTROL INVESTMENT TO MEET REGIONAL NEEDS

(June 22, 2005) Following its recently adopted Strategic Business Plan, the Board of Directors of the Delta Diablo Sanitation District kicked off an investment in added odor control equipment at the wastewater treatment plant and pumping stations in Antioch and Pittsburg. The Strategic Plan endorses a strong commitment to customer satisfaction and the ability to embrace the best practices of the water environment industry.

The District’s 16.5 million gallon per day wastewater treatment plant is located on the Pittsburg-Antioch Highway between Loveridge and Somersville Roads. It was built in 1982. Since that time, numerous retail, service and restaurant businesses have developed within a mile of the plant. As the wastewater flow has increased with growth, so have off-site odors. The District has become more concerned with the combination of closer businesses and more odors, and recently completed a master plan study of the odor problem and solutions. As part of the master planning process, District staff reviewed odor control management approaches and technology used at other wastewater treatment facilities in the U.S. and Canada. The investigations resulted in recommendations for new state-of-the-art odor reducing equipment and technology. Acting on its customer satisfaction goals, the District has initiated its third phase of designing and constructing odor control improvements that were identified in the master plan study. Phase III improvements are:

1. Liquid Phase Treatment: A strong form of bleach will be added to the wastewater in the pipelines at pump stations. This will reduce odor-causing compounds in the wastewater before the wastewater reaches the treatment plant.

2. Install biotower system at plant headworks: The headworks is where untreated wastewater first enters the treatment process. Existing odor control equipment that is reaching the end of its useful life is being replaced with a more effective biotower system to scrub the foul air before it is exhausted.

3. Tower Trickling Filter Biofilter: The Tower Trickling Filters are a potential source of significant odors. In the Tower Trickling Filters, wastewater flows over plastic grates and beneficial microorganisms feed on organic matter. The process can produce foul air. Like the headworks scrubber, the foul air will be routed to the biofilter and scrubbed before it is exhausted.

4. Install Biotower at Pittsburg and Antioch Pump Stations. Both pump stations were built in the 1980’s. The new air quality systems, like at the wastewater treatment plant, use a biological process to remove foul air. The Pittsburg Pump Station is located at Herb White Way and West 10th Street; Antioch Pump Station is on Fulton Shipyard Road.

The total estimated design and construction cost will be $2.7 million. Annual operating costs are expected to be just under $500,000. Construction is expected to begin in 2006. The District’s investment in current technology is intended to significantly reduce detectible odors in the vicinity of the wastewater treatment plant and pump stations.

STATE FUNDS WILL HELP KEEP PITTSBURG GREEN

(April 21, 2005) The Delta Diablo Sanitation District and City of Pittsburg were selected today by the State of California Department of Water Resources to receive $880,000 for expansion of their joint recycled water project. This funding is in addition to the $75,000 previously awarded for formal study of the project which will provide irrigation for the Delta View Golf Course and landscape irrigation at Stoneman Park, City Park and City Hall.

The funds were applied for from the 2002 voter-approved Proposition 50 which provided $42 million in construction grant funding for recycled water projects in California. Statewide, 45 grant applications totaling $127 million were received by the state. The Pittsburg/Delta Diablo regional distribution system project was ranked high in the state's priority list and it was the only project in Contra Costa County to receive funding. The City of Pittsburg is contributing over half of the construction costs.

"The state is helping us in our commitment to protect our area's drinking water and the Delta," said Pittsburg Mayor Nancy Parent. Parent is appointed by the city council to serve as its representative to the sanitation district and is currently the chair of the district's board of directors. "This is a great project developed by two local agencies working closely together. It is consistent with local and state water plans to develop more recycled water projects in California."

Delta Diablo Sanitation District treats wastewater from the communities of Pittsburg, Bay Point and Antioch. Just over half of the wastewater is treated and discharged to the San Joaquin River. The other half (about 2.5 billion gallons a year) is treated further and used as cooling water by industry and for landscape irrigation. Using recycled water reduces reliance on Delta water. The City of Pittsburg has successfully used recycled water on landscaping near downtown for several years. Because of the benefit to the environment and competitive costs, the city was anxious to expand use of recycled water. The sanitation district is currently looking at opportunities to provide the city of Antioch with irrigation water.

More information about the State Water Resources Control Board - Water Recycling Grants can be found at: http://www.swrcb.ca.gov/recycling/index.html

DDSD Environmental Business Partner Award 2004
EASTERN CONTRA COSTA TRANSIT AUTHORITY

(February 1, 2005 - Antioch, Calif.) Delta Diablo Sanitation District selected Eastern Contra Costa Transit Authority (Tri Delta Transit) as its 2004 Environmental Business Partner. The award was presented on January 21 at the Antioch Chamber of Commerce Inaugural Gala.

According to the sanitation district's industrial monitoring inspector, Andy Kobayashi of Antioch, water runoff from streets and parking lots carries pollutants and debris directly into our watershed and the Delta. Street sweeping helps reduce the amount of trash and chemicals that enter into the storm drain system. Tri Delta Transit installed liners to keep dirt, sand, leaves and other debris from blowing into the storm drain system. They also purchased a mobile sweeper unit to reduce the amount of potential build-up on their surface area. In addition, Tri Delta captures its vehicle steam cleaning waste for clarifying before it enters the sanitary sewer system and flows to the sanitation district's wastewater treatment plant for final cleaning.

The Environmental Business Partner award recognizes model pollution prevention achievements by businesses and organizations. Tri Delta Transit provides over 2,500,000 trips each year to a population of nearly 230,000 residents. They operate a fleet maintenance service facility for 89 buses and 9 support vehicles.