Water Pollution
		How Does Water Get Polluted? How Does Central San Prevent Water Pollution? Regulatory Requirements
		Pollution Prevention for Residents
		Information on Proper Use and Disposal of HHW Shop Green Businesses Information on Proper Disposal of Grease
		Pollution Prevention for Business
		Source Control Program information Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Automotive Repair Facilities for Dentists for Food Service Facilities for Photoprocessor Facilities Become a Green Business

How Does Water Become Polluted? The water you use everyday doesn't go away. Stormwater runs off streets and driveways and eventually ends up in creeks and in the bay without any treatment. Wastewater from your house goes down toilets, sinks, and shower drains and makes its way through an extensive collection and treatment process. While the treatment plant effectively removes organic material, it is not designed to remove chemicals and metals. So, when toxic chemicals get dumped or rinsed down household drains, they pass through the system untreated and end up in the bay where they may threaten sensitive aquatic life. Back to top

How Does CCCSD Prevent Water Pollution? Controlling toxics at their source is the most effective way of keeping pollutants out of the local water environment. Since our treatment plant is not designed to remove chemicals and metals, the goal of our Source Control Program is to monitor the wastewater discharged at various points of our collection (underground pipeline) system and ensure that business and industry are complying with discharge requirements. Our Source Control Program began in the mid 1970s in response to the Clean Water Act and was enhanced in 1981 to provide CCCSD with enforcement authority. Residential discharge is also monitored. Since there are 150,000 households in central Contra Costa County-- making enforcement difficult, if not impossible--we prefer to take another approach, EDUCATION. We believe that the more people understand the hazards of toxic discharges to the sewer, the less likely they are to pollute. CCCSD has developed educational programs for students, the general public, and businesses with the goal of informing them about how to reduce toxic discharge. Back to top

Services | Sewer System | Organization | Education

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