Tens of millions of gallons of sewage and stormwater were released into San Francisco Bay from aging treatment plants and stormwater systems that were overwhelmed by the deluge.
They say the episode is an extreme example of a challenge that's been building for decades. Recent estimates place the cost of upgrading the dozens of wastewater systems that ring the Bay in the billions of dollars. But groups like Baykeeper say the upgrades are critical to protecting the Bay, calling for increased federal spending during President Biden's recent visit to the Bay Area to assess the storm damage.
Experts say there are added pressures from climate-driven factors as well, including fluctuating cycles of intense storms. Recent studies also point to sea level rise, pushing heavier saltwater underneath the Bay shoreline, potentially raising the water table and further degrading underground pipes, especially during heavy storm cycles.Eileen White is the Executive Officer of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality control board.
She echoes the need for state and federal funding but points out that many of the major wastewater districts in the Bay Area are already spending on upgrades.
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