Oceanside Treatment Plant - San Francisco, CA - Wastewater Treatment Facilities on Waymarking.com

San Francisco is the only city in California served by a combined sewer system. That means there is only one network of pipes to carry both sewage and stormwater to the treatment plants. Except for parts of Old Sacramento, all other cities in California have two networks of pipes in the ground, one network for sanitary waste and a second network to carry stormwater runoff to creeks, lakes or the ocean.

San Francisco is divided into two water runoff areas, bay-side and ocean-side, and has a treatment plant for each area that operates 365 days a year. A third facility operates only in rainy weather as a water collection/holding facility.

Here is a technical description of the treatment process.

On a humorous note, this is the treatment plant that was the subject of San Francisco Proposition R in the 2008 election. The proposal:

"Shall the City change the name of the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant to the George W Bush Sewage Plant?"

The arguments for and against the proposal were hilariously presented at the above Proposition R link.
The proposal failed with 70% voting No, even in the Democratic stronghold of San Francisco!

What is the capacity of the facility?: each day, on average, 80 million gallons of wastewater are collected in the San Francisco sewer system, probably half of which goes to the Oceanside Plant Describe the biological treatment technology used.: 1. A screen is used to remove large objects on arrival to the plant. The wastewater is then placed in large settling tanks, where heavier solids settle to the bottom and floatables, such as oil and grease, are skimmed off the top. 2. Oxygen is used to excite microorganisms to multiply and and consume organic material, which helps purify the water. Wastewater is then place in another settling tank, where the microorganisms are separated from the purified water. 3. Effluent, treated wastewater, from the Oceanside Plant is pumped 4.5 miles into the Pacific Ocean, where the high salt concentration and cold temperatures help kill any remaining bacteria. How are biosolids (sludge) managed?: After dewatering, a portion of the biosolids are transported for land application in fields between Fairfield and Rio Vista. The remainder of the biosolids are transported to several local landfills. What technology is used for disinfection prior to dicharge of treated water?: Wastewater effluents are chlorinated to destroy bacteria, then dechlorinated before discharge into the ocean. Who is the owner/operator fo the facility?: City and County of San Francisco How is the facility governed?: San Francisco Public Utilities Commission What is the website of the WWTP?: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:
Please post at least 2 original photographs of the site. We would much rather see photos of the plant itself as opposed to the front office, but we also understand that security and site layout may limit your opportunities.

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