Incident Report: The Dalles Wastewater Treatment Plant Compliance Status

Overview of the Non-Compliance Event

Operations at the City of The Dalles Wastewater Treatment Plant are undergoing remediation following a recent operational upset. This event resulted in the discharge of treated wastewater into the Columbia River with E. coli levels exceeding the plant’s mandated permit limits. This incident represents a significant challenge to the facility’s core mission of environmental protection and public health safety.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)

The primary function of the wastewater treatment plant is to support the achievement of SDG 6, which calls for the sustainable management of water and sanitation for all. The recent non-compliance event is a temporary deviation from this goal, specifically impacting key targets.

• Target 6.3: The discharge of insufficiently treated wastewater directly contravenes the objective to improve water quality by reducing pollution and minimizing the release of hazardous materials.
• Restoration Efforts: Plant staff are actively working to restore the biological balance within the treatment process. This immediate response is critical for returning to compliance and reaffirming the city’s commitment to the sustainable management of wastewater as mandated by SDG 6.

Remediation Efforts and Environmental Impact Assessment

Corrective Actions and Infrastructure Resilience (SDG 11)

The ongoing efforts to restore normal operations highlight the importance of resilient municipal infrastructure, a cornerstone of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). Effective wastewater management is essential for reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, as outlined in Target 11.6. The current focus is on rectifying the biological upset to ensure the plant can reliably serve the community and protect the surrounding environment.

Water Quality Monitoring and Ecosystem Protection (SDG 3 & SDG 14)

A rapid environmental impact assessment was conducted to determine the effect of the discharge on the Columbia River. The findings are crucial for safeguarding public health and aquatic ecosystems.

1. On Sunday, August 3, water samples were collected from five pre-arranged locations in the Columbia River, spanning from River Mile 180.0 to 189.5.
2. Analysis of all five samples confirmed that E. coli levels at the sample locations were well below the bacterial criteria established by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for freshwater recreation.

This monitoring effort and its results have direct implications for multiple Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The test results indicate that immediate risks to human health from recreational water contact were mitigated, aligning with Target 3.9, which aims to reduce illnesses from water pollution.
• SDG 14 (Life Below Water): By verifying the limited impact on the river’s water quality, the assessment supports the objectives of Target 14.1, which calls for the prevention and significant reduction of pollution in aquatic ecosystems from land-based activities.

Conclusion and Path to Compliance

While the wastewater treatment plant is not yet in full compliance, intensive efforts are underway to restore normal operational capacity. The subsequent environmental monitoring has confirmed that the immediate impact on the Columbia River’s recreational water quality was minimal. The incident underscores the critical importance of maintaining robust wastewater infrastructure to consistently meet regulatory standards and advance the global objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to clean water, sustainable communities, public health, and the protection of life below water.

Analysis of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  This is the most directly relevant SDG. The article’s central theme is the malfunction of a wastewater treatment plant, the resulting discharge of inadequately treated water, and the impact on water quality. This directly relates to ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

• SDG 14: Life Below Water

  The article discusses the discharge of polluted wastewater into the Columbia River, a major water body that eventually flows into the Pacific Ocean. This event represents a form of land-based pollution that can harm aquatic ecosystems, connecting it to the goal of conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The pollutant of concern is E. coli, a bacterium that can cause serious illness in humans. The article mentions that the discharge exceeded the plant’s limit for E. coli and that subsequent tests were compared against criteria for “freshwater recreation.” This highlights the public health dimension of water pollution and the goal of ensuring healthy lives.

• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

  The issue originates from infrastructure within the “City of The Dalles.” The failure of the city’s wastewater treatment plant points to challenges in municipal waste management and reducing the environmental impact of cities, which is a core component of SDG 11.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.3

   “By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.”

   The article directly addresses this target. The “plant upset that resulted in discharge to the Columbia River of treated wastewater exceeding the plant’s limit for E. coli” is a clear example of water pollution from insufficiently treated wastewater. The efforts by staff to “restore the biological balance so that the plant can quickly return to normal operations” are aimed at improving water quality by ensuring proper treatment.

2. Target 14.1

   “By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution.”

   The wastewater discharge from The Dalles plant is a “land-based activity” causing pollution in the Columbia River. Since this river flows into the ocean, such pollution contributes to the overall pollution of marine environments, making this target highly relevant.

3. Target 3.9

   “By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.”

   The specific pollutant mentioned, E. coli, is a direct threat to human health. The concern over its levels in the river, especially in relation to “freshwater recreation” standards, links the incident directly to the goal of preventing illnesses caused by water contamination.

4. Target 11.6

   “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.”

   The failure of the city’s wastewater treatment plant is a failure in “municipal and other waste management.” This incident increases the adverse environmental impact of the City of The Dalles, directly relating to the objective of this target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• E. coli levels in discharged wastewater

  The article states the discharge was “exceeding the plant’s limit for E. coli.” This implies that the E. coli concentration in the effluent is a key performance indicator for the treatment plant’s effectiveness and its compliance with Target 6.3. Measuring this level tracks the quality of treated wastewater.

• E. coli levels in the receiving water body

  The article explicitly mentions that “samples were taken at pre-arranged locations in the Columbia River” and that “Tests on five samples…show that E. coli levels at the sample locations were well below bacterial criteria.” The measurement of E. coli concentration in the river is a direct indicator of the environmental impact of the discharge and the quality of the ambient water (relevant to Targets 6.3 and 14.1).

• Compliance with regulatory water quality standards

  The article refers to “bacterial criteria set by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality for freshwater recreation.” Whether the water meets these standards is a clear, measurable indicator. The finding that river samples were “well below” these criteria provides a specific data point on the state of the environment and public health risk (relevant to Targets 3.9 and 6.3).

• Proportion of wastewater safely treated

  While not stated as a number, the “plant upset” implies that for a period, 100% of the wastewater was not being safely treated. The goal to “return to normal operations” is a move back towards safely treating all wastewater. This aligns with Indicator 6.3.1 (“Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated”) and is relevant to Target 11.6.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: columbiagorgenews.com