HomeMy WebLinkAbout0474.092October 22, 1992
THE HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
Palo Alto, california
Regignal Water Quality
Agency 1992 Nat ional
~eatment program
Members of the Council~
Report in Brief
Control Plant -Environmental Protection
Second Place Award for Dut?tanding
This is an informational report to advise City Council that the
Regional Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) has received the
United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Seccnd Place
Award in this year's competition am~ng the nation's Source control
Programs.
In 1989, state and federal regulatory agencies were considering
enforcement action against the city of Palo Alto in light of what
they considered to be major deficienc::ie;; in the Source Control
Program. The resources added since then have allowed the program
to become a nationally recogni zed leader. However, it is not
anticipated that Palo Alto and its Partner cities viII be able to
rest on their laurels. Due to the special 'Water qualit~~ probl-ems
of th~ South Say, discharge standards here are as stringent as
anywben: in the nation. The regulatory agencies will expect Palo
Alto and the other South Bay communities to continue to develop
creative programs at the Mcutting edge.n
Discussion
The RWQCP's Source Control Program has impJemented a series of new
programs in the last several years in its efforts to meet new,
stringent requirements for discharge of treated wastewater to the
Bay. Thanks to the combined efforts of m~nufacturing facilities,
small business~s such as photo shops and auto shops, and institu
tions such as hospitals, the pollutant loading to the Bay is being
decreased.
The following initiatives contributed to the program's success:
• Early and continued i!:lvolvement by business in new-program and
regulatory development.
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• A silver reduction proqram tor photoprocessing facilities
which achieved an 80 per~ent silver reduction.
• A positive incentive "Clean Bay Business" p~ogram for vehicle
service facilities.
• Establishment of Best Management Practices for laboratories.
• A Jr;aste Minimization Plan/Review Process for manufacturing
facilities~
• Firm and consistent enforcement policies and implementation.
The communities of East Palo Alto, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills,
Mountain View, Palo Alto and Stanford all contributed to the source
control etfort. The cities have adopted three sets of ordinance
changes within the last several years and successfully communicated
the need for maximum reductions to their businesses l institutions
and residents. The city of Mountain View joined Palo Alto in
adding program staff to address previ¢usly unregulated facilities.
These efforts allowed the RWQCP to compete successfully, despite
-the fact that the competition involved much larqer cities and
metropolitan a~eas with a far larger resource base.
Respectfully Bubmitted,
PHILIP BOBEL
Manager # Environmental Compliance Di~ision
DAVID G. ADAMS
Director of Public Works
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Interim city Ma~ager
JIo.ttachment: Award
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CHR:474:92
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lbtitetf States
EnvironmmtaC Protection A9ency
Natioruti Award
Second" .pface
Outstanding Pretreatment Program
Greater 1'han 20.0 !MGt[) Wastewater Treatment Categ0T'}j
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City of 'Palo ~lto, Caltfornta
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WiWam K. RdUy, A(fminL,trator
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