Home > Learn > Sewage > Treatment of Sewage

Treatment of Sewage

Attention: open in a new window. PDFPrintE-mail

Sewage at the Point Loma Treatment Facility is only treated to advanced primary levels, which means sewage is treated by coagulation and settling of solids, but no advanced biological or other treatment is used to reduce the amount of nutrients, bacteria and other contaminants that are present in the sewage. Of the more than 16,000 sewage treatment agencies across the country, San Diego’s Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Facility is the largest agency exempt from federally mandated ‘secondary’ sewage standards. This means that the wastewater that flows from the end of the pipe at Point Loma gets less treatment than other parts of the country. The lack of more advanced treatment means that more contamination is allowed to travel from our toilets to the ocean.

sewagelandingpage-s
Photo Credit Lighthawk / Matthew Meier Photography

In the absence of advanced end-of-pipe treatment standards, Coastkeeper decided to pursue the issue upstream – if less wastewater is sent to the treatment plant, less contamination will reach the ocean.  We set a new goal, one that does not focus on increasing treatment but rather seeks to reduce and eliminate discharges to the ocean.

In 2008, Coastkeeper challenged the City of San Diego to fund an $11.8M pilot project to test the use of highly-treated wastewater as drinking water that could result in reclaiming up to 16 million gallons a day of sewage at the City’s existing North City Water Reclamation Plant that would otherwise be discharged into the ocean. Following the approval of the pilot project, in 2009 Coastkeeper and Surfrider reached a Cooperative Agreement with the City that obligates San Diego to undertake a $2M assessment of its entire sewage collection and treatment infrastructure to identify opportunities to maximize water reclamation throughout the region. Recycled water can play a vital role in ensuring San Diego’s sustainable water supply while also preventing unnecessary sewage discharge into our ocean.

We also work with the military to ensure it respects our ocean. In 2006, Coastkeeper attended the ribbon cutting for Camp Pendleton’s $40 million sewage treatment plant, built as a result of a settlement with Coastkeeper. It currently treats 800,000 gallons of sewage from the base and will eventually treat and reuse all five million gallons of sewage a day on the base.

TAKE ACTION

Donate Now

sewage-spill
Sick of Sewage Spills?

To protect your beaches from the toxic mess, donate to Coastkeeper today.

Become a Member

IMG_7706

Start Coastkeeping. Become a member today and protect and restore swimmable, fishable and drinkable waters in San Diego County.

Report a Problem

plastic-beach-feat
Catch the Polluters

If you see someone pollute, report it to Coastkeeper. Let us help you protect your waters.

Attend an Event

Get the News

Read our Blog

Prev Next

Top 10 Ways to Keep Beaches Clean this M

Top 10 Ways to Keep Beaches Clean this Memorial Day

Top 10 Ways to Keep our Beaches Clean this Memorial Day Memorial Day is fast approaching and on Memorial Day weekend, we will have an influx of trash on our beaches....

A Message from Coastal Champion Jim Peug

With World Ocean's Day and Coastal Champion Awards right around the corner, there could not be a better time to hear from our 2013 Lighthouse Lifetime Achievement award winner Jim...

Annual Report Part IV: How Can You Get I

Annual Report Part IV: How Can You Get Involved?

Part four of four in our Annual Report blog series highlighting everything Coastkeeper in the year of 2012. How can you get involved this year? Adaptable- From rinsing your fruits and veggies...

Annual Report Part III: Coastkeeper in 2

Annual Report Part III: Coastkeeper in 2012: Invaluable.

Part three of four in our Annual Report blog series highlighting everything Coastkeeper in the year of 2012. I offer you one word to sum up Coastkeeper in 2012: Invaluable. There...

Annual Report Part II: San Diego Coastke

Annual Report Part II: San Diego Coastkeeper's 2012 Accomplishments

Part two of four in our Annual Report blog series highlighting everything Coastkeeper in the year of 2012. Restorable - Coastkeeper Helps Clean San Diego BayCoastkeeper, along with Environmental Health Coalition,...

Annual Report Part I: Fishable. Swimmabl

Annual Report Part I: Fishable. Swimmable. Drinkable. _________able.

Part one of four in our Annual Report blog series highlighting everything Coastkeeper in the year of 2012. Fishable. Swimmable. Drinkable. _______able. How do you fill in the blank? Kayakable. Protectable. Enjoyable....

The Stormwater "Safe Harbor" Explained

The Clean Water Act is the primary tool we use to protect and restore fishable, swimmable, and drinkable waters.  At its heart, the Clean Water Act focuses on the quality...

The educational value of volunteering

The educational value of volunteering

Before starting at Coastkeeper, I spent a few years as a teacher. From 3rd-12th grade, teaching science is frequently an uphill battle. Sadly, the majority of students in middle and...

EPMG gives back to San Diego

EPMG gives back to San Diego

Beach cleanup volunteers with EPMG could not have chosen a nicer day to pick up debris on Pacific Beach while enjoying the beautiful San Diego weather. EPMG hosted one of...

Harvest and Recycle: Rainwater and Grayw

Harvest and Recycle: Rainwater and Graywater

We recycle lots of things— plastic bottles, aluminum cans, paper, styrofoam, etc. But did you know that you could also recycle water? Recycling water is possible and very...

FACTOID:

San Diego Coastkeeper's efforts have helped to reduce the number of sewage spills by 90% since 2001.

  • Video
  • Facebook Fans
Join Our Newsletter
  
 
  • EarthShare_Californiaweb

SAN DIEGO COASTKEEPER
2825 Dewey Rd., Ste. 200 • San Diego CA 92106 • TEL. 619.758.7743