CULTURE
COMMUNITY
CLIMATE
AGENDA
• Introduction
• Introduction to Capital Projects
• Clean & Green Project
• Force Main
– Lakeside
– Hilltop Green
• Sea Level Rise Protection
• Agency Coordination
• Questions
WEST COUNTY WASTEWATER
(WCW):
WHAT DO WE DO?
• In December 2021, West County Wastewater (WCW) celebrated its 100th Anniversary
• For100 years, WCW has run the Water Quality & Resource Recovery Plant (WQ&RR) in Richmond, California
• West County’s wastewater goes through a series of physical, biological, and chemical processes to meet state and federal regulations
• At the end of the process, WCW wastewater is safe and clean enough to be used for other uses or discharged to the San Francisco Bay
WHERE IS WEST COUNTY?
WCW’s Service Area covers:
• The City of San Pablo
• Tara Hills neighborhood
• Northern subdivisions of Richmond
• Designated sectors of the City of Pinole
• El Sobrante
• Rollingwood
• Bay View
• Parts of unincorporated Contra Costa County
WCW serves approximately:
• 34,000 residences
• 900 commercial and industrial businesses
• A total population of 100,000 residents
WCW service area covers almost 17 square miles, and:
• Contains about 250 miles of underground pipes
• Contains 6 miles of force mains
THE WORK WE DO
Operate sewer mains and monitor sewer
pipes
Maintain Lift Station & respond to sewer-
related problems
Monitor businesses and industries’ sewer
discharge
Keep sewers clear of debris & roots
Run a certified, environmental laboratory
Educate the community about how to
protect pipes and pollution
Maintain all WCW facilities
Keep our employees, waterways, and the
public healthy and safe from the dangers of
polluted water
PUBLIC
OUTREACH &
EDUCATION
WCW’s Environmental Programs Division does
extensive public outreach to remind people about
Fats Oils, & Grease (FOG), and wipes.
Outreach includes:
– Social media campaigns
– Special events throughout West County
– Classroom visits
– Hand-outs including magnets, door-hangers, and
other materials distributed to businesses and
residents, including apartment complexes
LIFT STATIONS
Lift Stations are structures located all around the sewer network that house equipment including pumps.
The purpose of a Lift Station: lift stations are designed to lift, pump, and move wastewater from lower elevations to higher elevations so sewage can flow down through pipes installed at a gradual slope.
WCW maintains 20 Lift Stations.
WCW’s Collection Systems Division oversees the 24/7
maintenance of pipes from where laterals meet sewer mains and continue all the way to the WQR&R
.
THE FUTURE OF WCW
In the spring of 2022, WCW embarked on the Clean
& Green Project, a comprehensive energy and
sustainability upgrade for our WQR&R, which will
improve many Plant processes, especially those
related to the handling of solids.
It will also reduce WCW’s carbon footprint by:
– Reducing emissions of greenhouse gases
– Producing renewable electricity
– Reducing electricity produced by burning fossil fuel
– Enhance reliability for the next century
CLEAN & GREEN PROJECT
FORCE MAIN PROJECTS
SEA LEVEL RISE PROTECTION
CITY OF RICHMOND
CAPITAL PROJECTS DIVISION
CLEAN & GREEN OVERVIEW
The purpose of the project is to reduce energy consumption and Green House Gases (GHG) emissions, improve operational safety and efficiency, and improve the quality of the biosolids produced.
These goals are consistent with the goals of theWest County Wastewater strategic plan:
Adopt infrastructure maintenance and modernization
strategies
• Adopt infrastructure maintenance and
modernization strategies
• Environmental Steward
• Community Engagement
CLEAN & GREEN
Water Quality Resource and Recovery Plant
• Demolition of existing digesters
• New digesters and appurtenant
equipment
• New dryer building and
appurtenant equipment
• Headwork channels
• Modifications to existing thickener
building
• Modifications to Primary Clarifier
Pump Stations
• Aeration Blower
CLEAN & GREEN
Solar
CLEAN & GREEN
Clean + Green Project
FORCE MAIN REPAIR & REPLACEMENT
The purpose of the Force Main Repair and
Replacement program is to improve operational
safety and efficiency by installing a dual force
main system to allow the diversion of flow from
the primary line to the redundant line should a
failure occur.
This goal is consistent with the goals of the
West County Wastewater Strategic Plan:
• Adopt infrastructure maintenance and
modernization strategies that maximize
performance, reduce risk and ensure reliable
service
FORCE MAIN OVERVIEW
Lakeside
• Richmond (Hilltop Lake)
• 3,214 LF
• Jan 2021 – Sept 2022
Hilltop Green
• Richmond (Hilltop Park)
• 1,744 LF
• 11/21-2/23
FORCE MAIN REPAIR & REPLACEMENT
Lakeside Force Main
FORCE MAIN REPAIR & REPLACEMENT
Hilltop Green
SEA LEVEL RISE PROTECTION
The purpose of the project is to protect critical
infrastructure and to implement best practices
with multi-agency coordination as this project will
have impacts across the region.
These goals are consistent with the goals of the
West County Wastewater strategic plan:
•Adopt infrastructure maintenance
and modernization strategies
•Environmental Steward
•Community Engagement
AGENCY COORDINATION
West County Agency
Utility Coordination
• Emergency Response
• Design Review
• Permitting
• Inspections
• Moratoriums
• Specifications and Standards
• Regional Utility Coordination Meetings led by City of Richmond
THANK YOU