Thumbnail photo by James Brooks
Noting that Crescent City has five to 10 years to ensure its sewer plant meets stricter regulations governing its effluent, City Manager Eric Wier introduced a pilot project aimed at fixing the system’s defects.
The pilot project involves making spot repairs to a handful of areas within the city’s 17-mile network of sewage pipes to prevent groundwater from getting into the system during the rainy season.
It’s this groundwater infiltration coupled with aging equipment that prevents the plant from meeting National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit rules governing total coliform and enteral cocci bacteria, according to the city manager. But instead of paying a $258,000 fine, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board is allowing Crescent City to apply that figure to the pilot project, Wier said.
Continue reading City Pilot Project — A Response to State Water Board Fine — Aims To Reduce Groundwater Infiltrating Sewage Pipes, Treatment Plant During Wet Season

