Upgrades to SLO’s 100-year-old water facility are nearly complete
Upgrades to SLO's 100-year-old water facility are nearly complete KCBX
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A Big Upgrade to San Luis Obispo’s Wastewater Plant Nears Completion
A big upgrade to San Luis Obispo’s 100-year-old wastewater plant is nearly complete. Officials say it’s a major step towards securing the City’s water supply.
The SLO Water Plus Project
On a sunny afternoon at the plant, sounds of whirring construction machinery and clanging metal fill the air.
The SLO Water Resource Recovery Facility has been cleaning wastewater for irrigation for a century, but now it’s going through a multi-million dollar update– the biggest one since it was built.
The SLO Water Plus project has been underway since 2015, and it’s finally set to be finished by the end of this year.
Enhancing Sustainable Development Goals
“Well, I’m thrilled,” SLO Mayor Erica Stewart said at a tour of the construction site earlier this month.
“This is helping us to have another hundred years of safe water recovery,” Stewart added.
The project is a joint effort between the City and PCL Construction; they’re replacing the plant’s old equipment with newer, more sustainable technology.
Key Upgrades for Sustainable Treatment
One key upgrade is a new Membrane Bioreactor, or MBR.
Project Manager for PCL Project Manager Jon Merryman said the MBR uses microfiltration to treat wastewater more effectively than the old design.
“Switching over to an MBR treatment has a smaller footprint than the traditional conventional treatment, a lot less moving parts and really enhances the treatment flow,” Merryman said.
The decision to upgrade the facility started when the California State Water Resources Control Board issued a permit expressing concerns about the plant releasing nitrates and other chemicals into the San Luis Obispo Creek.
Merryman said the new MBR treatment process not only discharges higher quality water, but also releases fewer harmful chemicals.
“It’s gonna reduce chemical demand by about 80 percent,” Merryman said.
Addressing Water Scarcity and Environmental Impact
Before the water is discharged into the creek, it goes through a rigorous disinfection process that can take up to 45 days. This ensures the water’s clean and safe for aquatic ecosystems in the creek.
Merryman said this approach also addresses the pressing issue of water scarcity in California.
“Using higher quality discharge gives us the ability to reuse, repurpose some of that water and not have the water loss, right?” Merryman said. “Scarcity is our issue; we’re dealing with every drop that we could get, we’re utilizing it to the best of our capabilities.”
Enhanced Protection and Resilience
The upgrades to the facility go beyond water conservation; they also include enhanced protection against floods and natural disasters.
Merryman said some of the upgrades already proved their resilience during this year’s heavy winter storms.
“We had two large rain events where we had significant water running through the job site,” Merryman said. “All the new gear stayed dry and clean, so that’s a testament to preparing for the future.”
Renewable Energy and Odor Control
Another part of the upgrade project renews the facility’s digesters, which use special microorganisms to break down organic waste. Improved digesters may produce more biogas, a form of renewable energy that can power the plant and make it more environmentally friendly.
Water Resource Recovery Facility Supervisor Patrick McGrath said upgraded digesters can also solve another problem.
“At the end of the day, what the community really wants from us is to not smell bad,” McGrath said.
One of the plant’s digester tanks, which has been around since the 1940s, will be repurposed into an odor control facility.
Towards Potable Water Production
The plant plays a key role in conserving the City of SLO’s drinking water reserves by making wastewater safe for irrigating farms, parks, and lawns.
But– McGrath said the goal is to eventually make the plant capable of producing potable water on its own.
“Through engineering, construction, and design, we can make that water potable,” McGrath said. “We can make that water drinkable.”
Following Morro Bay’s Example
Morro Bay’s new Water Resources Center, which opened in February, is the most recent example of a local project with similar upgrades to this one.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
1. SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article:
- SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
- SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
- SDG 13: Climate Action
2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Based on the Article’s Content:
- SDG 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials.
- SDG 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
- SDG 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters.
- SDG 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries.
3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article to Measure Progress Towards the Identified Targets:
- Reduction in chemical demand by about 80% through the use of new Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) treatment technology.
- Enhanced treatment flow and discharge of higher quality water with fewer harmful chemicals.
- Increased production of biogas through improved digesters for renewable energy generation.
- Enhanced protection against floods and natural disasters, as demonstrated by the resilience of the upgraded facility during heavy winter storms.
Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping, and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials. | – Reduction in chemical demand by about 80% through the use of new Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) treatment technology. – Enhanced treatment flow and discharge of higher quality water with fewer harmful chemicals. |
| SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation | 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. | – Addressing water scarcity in California through the utilization of higher quality discharge and water reuse. – Preparation for the future by upgrading the facility to enhance protection against floods and natural disasters. |
| SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities | 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters. | – Enhanced protection against floods and natural disasters, as demonstrated by the resilience of the upgraded facility during heavy winter storms. |
| SDG 13: Climate Action | 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. | – Enhanced protection against floods and natural disasters, as demonstrated by the resilience of the upgraded facility during heavy winter storms. |
Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.
Source: kcbx.org
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