HomeMy WebLinkAbout4 9 Utilities and Service Systems
4.9 UTILITIES AND SERVICE SYSTEMS
4.9.1 Introduction
This section describes existing conditions and evaluates project impacts to public
utilities, including water supply, wastewater treatment, and solid waste
collection. Information in this section is based primarily on information from the
City of South San Francisco General Plan (1999). Additional sources included
personal communications with the following agencies: Ox Mountain Sanitary
Landfill; South San Francisco Scavenger Company; California Water Service
Company; California Integrative Waste Management Board; and the South San
Francisco/San Bruno Wastewater Treatment Plant.
4.9.2 Existing Conditions
4.9.2.1
Water Supply
The California Water Service Company (CWSC) purchases water from the San
Francisco Public Utilities Commission in order to serve its Bayshore District,
which includes communities east of Interstate 280, South San Francisco, San
Carlos and San Mateo. The Company's current contract with the San Francisco
Water Department (SFWD) entitles the City of South San Francisco to 42.3
million gallons per day (MGD) per year. An additional 1.4 MGD can be pumped
from groundwater. The Westborough County Water District serves the area
west of 1-280, an area not targeted for growth in the General Plan.
While residential users account for approximately 90 percent of the water
accounts in South San Francisco, less than half of the total consumption may be
attributed to these users. Industrial users account for 0.46 percent of the water
accounts but use 11 percent of the total water. The yearly average water
consumption for each industrial user between 1986 and 1996 was 3.65 million
gallons (South San Francisco 1999). Part of the reason for the high industrial
water usage in South San Francisco is the prevalence of biotechnology firms in
the city. Pharmaceutical manufacturing requires extremely pure water, and
large quantities of water are used to achieve necessary water purity levels.
The CWSC bases its future water-use projections on estimates of both the
number of future water users and the amount of water each type of user will
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consume. The 5-year average growth in the number of accounts is the basis for
the utility's projections of the number of water users through 2020. Water use
projections for 2020 range from 5.9 to 9.1 MGD. Assuming the SFWD contract
allocation is not modified during the remaining contract period, the CWSC has
adequate supply to meet even the highest projected demand.
The water distribution system in the East of 101 Area was designed and
constructed to meet industrial water demands (Brady and Associates 1994, cited
in Genentech MEIR 2006). A 4-inch domestic services pipe supplies water to the
project site. This pipe is fed by two water mains, including a 12-inch line in
Forbes Boulevard and a 12-inch line in Allerton Avenue. The water system is
augmented by a 1.5-million-gallon storage reservoir on the top of San Bruno Hill.
Wastewater
The South San Francisco/San Bruno Wastewater Treatment Plant (Treatment
Plant) was constructed in the early 1970s and is jointly operated by the cities of
South San Francisco and San Bruno. Sewage from both cities is treated, as is also
wastewater from Colma and the Serramonte portion of Daly City. The
Westborough Water District coordinates sewage treatment for the Westborough
portion of South San Francisco under contract with Daly City.
The Treatment Plant currently has an average dry weather flow capacity of 13.0
million gallons per day (mgd). This capacity provides secondary level treatment
for of domestic, commercial, and industrial wastewater from the cities of South
San Francisco and San Bruno, portions of the city of Daly City, and the Town of
Colma. The Treatment Plant can handle a peak hourly wet weather flow of 62
mgd. In 2001, the average annual and peak wet weather flows at the treatment
plant were 10.4 and 24.4 mgd, respectively. In 2006, the Treatment Plant handled
approximately 9.93 MGD dry weather, approximately 76 percent of its maximum
capacity (Prudhel 2007).
The cities of South San Francisco and San Bruno are each entitled up to 50
percent of the available treatment capacity. Treated wastewater is pumped
through a 54-inch force main located along the Lower Campus, then discharged
2 miles out into San Francisco Bay via a joint outfall pipe operated by the North
Bayside System Unit (NBSU), which is the joint powers authority responsible for
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operation of certain shared transport, treatment, and disposal facilities. The
NBSU includes the Cities of Millbrae, Burlingame, South San Francisco and San
Bruno, and the San Francisco International Airport (SIFA) (both the Airport's
Industrial Wastewater Treatment Plant and Water Quality Control Plant).
For this type of project, it is anticipated that wastewater would be produced at a
maximum flow rate of 2501 gallons per day (gpd), per 1,000 square feet of
building space. At this rate, the project would generate approximately 0.08
MGD, which represents an increase of less than 1 percent over the 2006 dry-
weather flow rate of 9.93 MGD.
4.9.2.3
Solid Waste
Solid waste is collected from South San Francisco homes and businesses and
processed at the Scavenger Company's materials recovery facility and transfer
station (MRF/TS). Materials that cannot be recycled or composted are transferred
to the Ox Mountain Sanitary Landfill, near Half Moon Bay. The Ox Mountain
Landfill was recently expanded by 6.7 million cubic yards (yrd3) to a permitted
capacity of 37.9 million yrd3 of municipal solid waste (MSW). The landfill
currently has 35 million yrd3 of remaining space and can accept up to 3,598 tons
per day of MSW. Based on its current permit, the facility would have sufficient
capacity through June of 2027 (Gunderson 2007).
The Blue Line Transfer Station provides recycling facilities for newspaper,
cardboard, glass, mattresses, and waste oil. The City of South San Francisco
coordinates recycling of newspaper, aluminum, glass, and waste oil. There are
also certified recycling centers at South San Francisco's two Safeways, Bell
Market, and Reynolds Aluminum. Sewage sludge produced at the South San
Francisco/San Bruno Wastewater Treatment Plant is composted by combining
the dry sludge with sawdust and rice hulls, producing a commercial soil
conditioner.
The Scavenger MRF/TS, which was approved in April 1999, is permitted to
receive a daily maximum of 1,250 tons per day of wastes and recyclable
1 According to the South San Francisco/San Bruno Sewage Treatment Plant, 400 gallons per day per 1,000 square feet
of building space is a conservative estimate. Other projects in the Project vicinity emit approximately 250 gallons per
day per 1,000 square feet.
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materials. This facility provides the Scavenger Company increased capability to
recover valuable materials from wastes, reducing the amount of waste sent to the
landfill. South San Francisco recycles both household and industrial solid waste
and sewage sludge. The facility has a design capacity of 43,050 tons, and
remaining capacity of 3,000 tons. It is anticipated that the company will meet the
requirements and will apply for a new permit after the current one expires in
2010 (Button 2007).
Hazardous waste is generated in homes and businesses alike, and includes
products ranging from used motor oil to infectious compounds to dioxins.
Impacts involving hazardous waste are analyzed in Section 4.4, Hazards and
Hazardous Materials.
With an expected buildout population of 67,400 residents in South San Francisco,
the City would generate approximately 38,000 tons of solid waste each year,
based on the assumed generation rates used by the County. Development, such
as research and development land use, can produce up to 0.0108 pounds per
square foot per day. However, this generation rate varies widely due to the
different types of research activities possible under this land use2.
4.9.3 Regulatory Considerations
4.9.3.1
Federal
Clean Water Act
The Clean Water Act (CWA) is the primary federal law regulating water quality
in the United States. Section 303( d) of the CW A requires each state to identify
waters that will not achieve water quality standards after application of effluent
limits. The State of California has developed a number of water quality laws,
rules, and regulations to assist in the implementation of the CW A and related
federally mandated water quality requirements. Additional information on the
CWA can be found in Section 4.5, Hydrology and Water Quality.
2 This generation rate of 0.0108 pounds per square foot per day is applicable to office, manufacturing, and
eating/drinking establishments sectors, according the Guidelines for Preparation of Environmental Assessments for
Solid Waste Impacts (Ventura County Solid Waste Management Department, May 1998), and was used to describe
generation rate for the Genentech Corporate Facilities Master EIR. According to the South San Francisco Scavenger
Company, research and development sites typically produce less MSW than the average residential unit per capita.
Therefore, this rate would overestimate actual waste generated.
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4.9.3.2
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
The National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit system
was established in the CW A to regulate both point-source discharges and non-
point-source discharges from construction, industrial, and municipal activities to
surface waters of the us. The State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) has
adopted a separate NPDES General Permit for Discharges of Storm Water
Associated with Construction Activity (Construction General Permit, 99-08-
DWQ). Under this permit, developers proposing construction activity that
disturbs more than 1 acre of land must submit a Notice of Intent (NOI), and
develop a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP). Additional
information on NPDES can be found in Section 4.5, Hydrology and Water
Quality.
State
Urban Water Management Planning Act
The Department of Water Resources (DWR) provides urban water management
planning services to local and regional urban water suppliers. In 1983, the
California Legislature enacted the Urban Water Management Planning Act
(Water Code Sections 10610 through 10656). The Act states that every urban
water supplier that provides water to 3,000 or more customers, or that provides
over 3,000 acre-feet of water annually, should make every effort to ensure a level
of reliability in its water service sufficient to meet the needs of its various
categories of customers during normal, dry, and multiple dry years. The Act also
describes the required contents of Urban Water Management Plans (UWMPs) as
well as how urban water suppliers should adopt and implement the plans. The
Act permits levels of water management planning commensurate with the
numbers of customers served and the volume of water supplied.
The Draft 2005 UWMP prepared by the CWSC-South San Francisco District
recognizes that a 28.8 percent cut back in normal year water demand will be
required during a multiple year drought. The drought scenario is based on
historic rainfall records.
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Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act
The Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act is the primary state regulation that
addresses water quality. The requirements of the Act are implemented by the
SWRCB at the state level, and the RWQCB at the regional level. The SWRCB, as
authorized by the Act, has promulgated regulations in Subchapter 15 of Title 23
of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) designed to protect water quality
from the effects of waste discharges to land. Under Subchapter 15, wastes that
cannot be discharged directly or indirectly to waters of the state (and therefore
must be discharged to land for treatment, storage, or disposal) are classified to
determine specifically where such wastes may be discharged.
Pretreatment Program and Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program
The City's Office of Environmental Compliance administers a Pretreatment
Program and a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Program mandated by the
state. The two programs regulate and control the concentrations of wastewater
and stormwater pollutants discharged by industrial, commercial, and residential
dischargers. Pollution prevention information is distributed to residents as well
as schools and businesses within the service area. These programs are enacted
under Chapter 14.08 (Water Quality Control) of the South San Francisco
Municipal Code (SSFMC).
Assembly Bill 939
AB 939 relates to solid waste diversion requirements for cities in the State of
California. In 1994, all cities in California were required by AB 939 to divert 25
percent of waste generation from landfills. By year 2000, these jurisdictions were
required to divert 50 percent of waste generation from landfills. The California
Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) handles compliance and
enforcement of solid waste diversion requirements, and approves requests for
time extensions on a biennial review cycle. The City submitted an application for
a time extension with the CIWMB until December 2005 to meet the 50 percent
goal, but the CIWMB's review of the City's application was delayed. According
to the San Mateo County Recycleworks, the City of South San Francisco achieved
a diversion rate of 52 percent in 2004. The CIWMB expects to review the City's
annual reports for 2004 and 2005 after its submittal of the 2005 annual report in
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March 2007. If the diversion rate achieved in 2004 is not accepted by the CIWMB
during the 2007 Biennial Review, then it is anticipated that the City would
request CIWMB approval of a time extension until December 2007.
Solid waste plans are prepared by each jurisdiction to explain how each city's AB
939 plan is integrated with its county plan. The plans must promote, in order of
priority: source reduction, recycling and composting, and environmentally safe
transformation and land disposal. Waste disposal efforts in the County of San
Mateo are governed by the Countywide Integrated Waste Management Plan.
The County's Health Department, Environmental Health Division, acts as the
solid waste disposal enforcement agency, coordinating efforts and granting
waste disposal permits.
Regional
McAteer-Petris Act (Public Resources Code Section 66600 et seq.)
The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission (BCDC) is
dedicated to the protection and enhancement of San Francisco Bay and
encourages the Bay's responsible use. The members of BCDC are local elected
officials, public appointees of the governor and the legislature, and
representatives of state and federal agencies. BCDC has been successful in
stopping the shrinkage of the Bay and has increased public access to the Bay's
shoreline and waters. Pursuant to its authority under the McAteer-Petris Act,
BCDC regulates development in the Bay and within the first 100-feet inland of
the shoreline, evaluating proposals for consistency with the provision of the Act,
and BCDC's San Francisco Bay Plan.
Local San Mateo Countywide Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program
The countywide Stormwater Pollution Prevention Program (STOPPP) is a
consortium of all incorporated cities and towns located within the County and
the County of San Mateo. The STOPPP includes the following elements:
. Provisions for a model ordinance;
. Identification of BMPs, including street sweeping, storm drain stenciling,
spill clean-up, and annual catch basin maintenance;
. Measures for extensive public education and public awareness;
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4.9.3.4
. Pollutant source identification and water quality measurement, and
elimination of illicit discharges;
. Structural and nonstructural controls for commercial and residential areas,
and controls for industrial facilities; and
. Controls for new development and construction sites and other elements.
For additional information on STOPPP, see Section 4.5, Hydrology and Water
Quality.
San Mateo County Hazardous Waste Generator Program
Since 1984, the County Health Department, Environmental Health Division, has
maintained a Hazardous Waste Generator Program aimed at protecting public
health and the environment. The California Department of Toxic Substances
Control (DTSC) authorized the Division at that time to inspect and regulate non-
permitted hazardous waste generators in the County based on the Hazardous
Waste Control Law found in the California Health and Safety Code Division 20,
Chapter 6.5 and regulations found in the California Code of Regulations, Title 22,
Division 4.5.
These regulations require businesses generating any amount of hazardous waste,
as defined by regulation, to properly store, manage, and dispose of such waste.
Division staff members conduct annual inspections at over 1,900 businesses in
order to assess compliance with state law and regulations. Division staff
members also conduct surveillance and enforcement activities in conjunction
with the County District Attorney's Office for businesses or individuals that
significantly violate the regulations. Furthermore, staff members respond within
24 hours to complaints filed with the Division regarding potential violation of
hazardous waste regulations.
Local
South San Francisco General Plan
This subsection discusses the City's General Plan, which contains policies
regarding utilities as they relate to the proposed project.
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Water and Wastewater
The following General Plan policies from the Parks, Public Facilities, and
Services Element are pertinent to the proposed project.
Policy 5.3-I-1
Policy 5.3-1-2
Policy 5.3-1-6
Policy 5.3-1-7
Solid Waste
Work with California Water Service Company and Westborough
County Water District to ensure coordinated capital
improvements with respect to the extent and timing of growth.
Establish guidelines and standards for water conservation and
actively promote the use of water-conserving devices and
practices in both new construction and major alterations and
additions to existing buildings.
Monitor industrial discharges to ensure that wastewater quality
continues to meet various federal, State, and regional standards;
treatment costs should remain affordable.
Encourage new projects in East of 101 Area that are likely to
generate large quantities of wastewater to lower treatment needs
through recycling, pretreatment, or other means as necessary.
The following General Plans policies from the Health and Safety Element are
pertinent to the proposed project:
Policy 8.3-G-1 Reduce the generation of solid waste, including hazardous
waste, and recycle those materials that are used, to slow the
filling of local and regional landfills, in accord wi th the
California Integrated Waste Management Act of 1989.
Policy 8.3-G-2 Minimize risk to life and property from the generation, storage,
and transportation of hazardous materials and waste in South
San Francisco. Comply with all applicable regulations and
provisions for the storage, use and handling of hazardous
substances as established by federal (EP A), State (DTSC,
RWQCB, Cal OSHA, Cal EP A), and local (County of San Mateo,
City of South San Francisco) regulations.
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Policy 8.3-I-1
Policy 8.3-1-2
Policy 8.3-1-4
Continue to work toward reducing solid waste, increasing
recycling, and complying with the San Mateo County Integrated
Waste Management Plan.
Continue to maintain hazardous waste regulations in the City's
Zoning Ordinance.
Establish an ordinance specifying routes for transporting
hazardous materials.
East of 101 Area Plan
Public Facilities Element
In regard to water, sewer, drainage, and utility facilities, the East of 101 Area
Plan is intended to ensure that there are adequate municipal services to serve all
development, and to limit development if it would exceed available service
capacity.
Policy PF-1
Policy PF-2
Policy PF-7
Policy PF-8
Policy PF-9
The City shall allow development in the East of 101 Area only if
adequate water supply to meet its needs can be provided in a
timely manner.
Low flow plumbing fixtures and drought tolerant landscaping
shall be installed as part of all new developments in the area.
Projects in the East of 101 Area that would generate large
quantities of wastewater shall be required to lower their
wastewater treatment needs through water recycling, on-site
treatment, gray water irrigation and similar programs where
feasible.
Specific development proposals in the East of 101 Area shall be
evaluated individually to determine drainage and flood
protection requirements.
All development in the East of 101 Area shall comply with the
NPDES discharge program. Developments over 5 acres in size
shall obtain a stormwater discharge permit from the NPDES,
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which may require inclusion of on-site treatment of stormwater
from parking areas.
Policy PF-10
During the rainy season, developers shall be required to place
appropriate erosion control devices, such as silt fences, hay
bales, etc., during construction activities to minimize the amount
of silt directly entering the Bay or other wetlands.
Policy PF-11
Utility companies shall be provided early notification for any
proposed project that could have an unusual requirement for
water, sewer, gas, electric, or telephone services.
Design Element
The overall design policy of the City is to promote quality design; promote a
functional, safe, and attractive environment; preserve the character of the City's
heritage; protect public investment and land values; protect the natural
environment; and facilitate evaluation of individual development proposals
using Design Guidelines.
Policy DE-3D
Utility lines serving new development shall be installed
underground, unless the City finds that undergrounding would
be financially infeasible for a specific project.
City of South San Francisco Municipal Code
Chapter 8.28 (Recyclable Materials)
The purpose of Chapter 8.28 of the SSFMC is to increase participation in the
City's recycling programs, improve recyclable material recovery rates, reduce
landfill dependency, and maintain a cost-effective solid waste and recycling
program. While the current SSFMC does not appoint an authorized recycling
agent, the Scavenger Company is responsible for providing recycling services in
the City.
Chapter 14.04 (Stormwater Management and Discharge Controls)
Chapter 14.04 of the SSFMC was created to protect and enhance water quality
pursuant to the CW A. Controls include measures to eliminate non-stormwater
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discharges to the municipal separate storm sewer; control discharges to the
municipal storm sewer from spills, dumping, or disposal of materials other than
stormwater; protect watercourses from modifications to natural flow; and reduce
pollutants in stormwater discharges to the maximum extent practicable.
Chapter 14.08 (Water Quality)
Chapter 14.08 of the SSFMC sets forth requirements for direct and indirect
contributors into the City's wastewater collection and treatment system and
enables the City to comply with all applicable state and federal laws required by
the CWA and the General Pretreatment Regulations. Objectives of Chapter 14.08
are the following:
To prevent the introduction of pollutants into the municipal wastewater
system which will upset or interfere with the operation of the system or
contaminate the resulting sludge;
To prevent the introduction of pollutants into the municipal wastewater
system which will pass through the system, inadequately treated, into
receiving waters or the atmosphere or otherwise be incompatible with
the system;
To improve the opportunity to recycle and reclaim wastewaters and
sludges from the system;
To provide for equitable distribution of the cost of the municipal
wastewater system; and
To prevent the exposure of workers at the publicly owned treatment
works and the collection system to chemical hazards.
This chapter provides for the regulation of direct and indirect contributors to the
municipal wastewater system through the issuance of permits to certain non-
domestic users. Further, through the enforcement of general requirements for all
users, the chapter authorizes monitoring and enforcement activities, requires
user reporting, assumes that existing customers' capacity will not be preempted,
and provides for the setting of fees for the equitable distribution of costs.
Under this chapter, the superintendent of the Treatment Plant is responsible for
administering, implementing, and enforcing the provisions of Chapter 14.08.
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4.9.4 Consistency with Applicable Regulations
The project is generally consistent with the applicable regulations outlined in the
South San Francisco General Plan, as well as the solid waste disposal and
recycling regulations in the South San Francisco Municipal Code, particularly
Chapters 8.16 and 8.28. The project would not be subject to diversion
requirements because neither of the Municipal Code chapters establishes
quantitative disposal or recycling rates. Additional health and sanitation
requirements set forth in the South San Francisco Municipal Code would be met
by the Scavenger Company.
AB 939 requires that local jurisdictions divert at least 50 percent of all solid waste
by 2000. As of 2004, the City of South San Francisco has not been able to meet
the AB 939 requirement. However, the CIWMB has granted the City time
extensions to achieve the 50 percent diversion goal. Furthermore, the project
would not be a substantial contributor to the City's generation of solid waste
disposal at the Ox Mountain Sanitary Landfill. Therefore, because the proposed
project would not hinder the City's compliance with AB 939, it would be in
compliance with this regulation.
4.9.5 Impacts and Mitigation
4.9.5.1
Significance Criteria
The following thresholds of significance are based on Appendix G of the CEQA
Guidelines. The project would cause a significant impact if it would:
. Require new or expanded entitlements and resources for water supplies;
. Require or result in the construction of new water or wastewater treatment
facilities or expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which would
cause significant environmental effects;
. Result in a determination by the wastewater treatment provider which
serves or may serve the project that it has inadequate capacity to serve the
project's projected demand in addition to the provider's existing
commitments;
. Require or result in the construction of new stormwater drainage facilities or
expansion of existing facilities, the construction of which could cause
significant environmental effects;
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4.9.5.3
. Generate a demand for wastewater treatment that exceeds the capacity of the
wastewater treatment provider, when considered in addition to the
provider's existing commitments;
. Be served by a landfill without sufficient permitted capacity to accommodate
the project's solid waste disposal needs;
. Exceed wastewater treatment requirements of the applicable Regional Water
Quality Control Board; or
. Not comply with federal, state, and local statutes and regulations related to
solid waste.
Utilities Issues Not Discussed Further
As described above in Subsection 4.9.4, Consistency with Applicable
Regulations, the City of South San Francisco complies with applicable federal,
state and local statutes related to solid waste. Since the proposed project would
not impede the City's compliance with AB 939, there would be no impact related
to regulatory compliance.
Project Impacts
Impact 4.9-1: The proposed project would increase demand for water services
in the project area. The increased demand could require offsite
improvements. (PS)
Implementation of the project would increase the overall demand for water
provided by the CWSC. Existing domestic and fire lines serve the project site
directly, and two 12-inch AC pipelines are in streets adjacent to the site.
Implementation of the project would require additional onsite pipelines that
would connect to existing water supply mains, located offsite. However, it
should be noted that because future tenant/s for the site are not yet known, the
increase for water services could vary dramatically.
For example, biotechnology, which is included under the definition of research
and development in the General Plan, would have a much higher water usage
than that of more traditional commercial office development. According the
California Water Supply Company, additional demand from biotechnology land
uses would not be anticipated to require improvements to existing infrastructure
surrounding the project site (CWSC 2007). However, the project is likely to
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increase demand for water resources provided to the CWSC by the San Francisco
Public Utilities Commission. This would lead to a potentially significant impact
to water supply resources.
Mitigation Measure 4.9-1: The project applicant shall include methods of water
conservation in the proposed project's buildings and landscaping. These
methods shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following:
. Install water-conserving appliances, such as such as water-efficient toilets,
faucets, and showerheads.
. Install water-efficient centralized cooling systems in all new buildings (this
measure would not apply to process development or research development
laboratory equipment).
. Install water-conserving irrigation systems (e.g., drip irrigation and
Evapotranspiration based irrigation controllers).
. Gray water irrigation system (as detailed in General Plan Policy PF-7, but
other elements of that policy do not apply here, such as wastewater
treatment facilities).
. Design landscaping with drought-resistant and other low-water-use plants.
Impact After Mitigation: Less than significant.
Impact 4.I3-2: The proposed project would generate increased demand for
wastewater services. (L TS)
As discussed previously, the project would generate wastewater at a flow rate of
250 gallons per day per 1,000 square feet of building space. At this rate, the
estimated 326,020 square feet of building space would generate approximately
0.08 MGD. This represents an increase of less than 1 percent over the 2006 dry-
weather flow rate of 9.93 MGD. Additionally, this is a conservative estimate
because other research and development projects in the project area have lower
generation rates (South San Francisco/San Bruno Wastewater Treatment Plant
2007).
The City has approximately 3 MGD of remaining capacity. The proposed project
would use approximately 2.5 percent of this remaining capacity, which would
not be considered significant. Thus, the Treatment Plant would have adequate
capacity to serve the project's projected demand.
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As part of its design, the project would construct sewer system drains to relay
wastewater from the project site to the City's sewer system. The Treatment Plant
would charge a connection fee that would account for wastewater flow,
biological oxygen demand (BOD), and total suspended solids (TSS). At that time
the Treatment Plant would quantify its ability to serve the project. However,
since the project alone would not cause the capacity to be exceeded, the project
would not alone result in expansion of this facility, or construction of an
additional facility that could cause significant environmental effects. Thus,
project impacts would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measures: None required.
Impact 4.I3-3: The proposed project would increase the amount of runoff that
flows from the site into the City's stormwater facilities. (L TS)
The project would connect to existing storm drains in the adjacent city streets
that drain directly to San Francisco Bay. The drainage system in the East of 101
Area is generally designed and constructed for industrial development and
associated large areas of impervious surfaces. The drainage system is therefore
capable of accommodating large amounts of stormwater, as discussed in Section
4.5, Hydrology and Water Quality. Redevelopment of the project site would
result in lower runoff volumes compared to runoff that was previously
discharged from the site when it was developed with industrial uses. Thus, the
project would not require construction or expansion of offsite stormwater
drainage facilities and the impact on the storm drain system would be less than
significant.
Mitigation Measure: None Required.
Impact 4.9-4: Implementation of the proposed project would not exceed the
solid waste permitted capacity for either Scavenger Company's
Blue Line MRF/TS or the Ox Mountain Sanitary Landfill. (L TS)
The Scavenger MRF/TS, which was approved in April 1999, is permitted to
receive a daily maximum of 1,250 tons per day of wastes and recyclable material,
while Ox Mountain Sanitary Landfill can accept up to 3,598 tons per day of
MSW. At the conservative rate of 0.0108 pounds per square foot per day, the
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project would produce 3.5 tons per day, which represents less than 1 percent of
the total permitted waste handling capacities of both facilities.
As described in Existing Conditions, BFI is permitted until 2027 to expand the Ox
Mountain Sanitary Landfill. Thus, the increase in waste generated under the
proposed project would be sufficiently served by the MRF/TS and the Ox
Mountain Sanitary Landfill and the impact would be less than significant.
Mitigation Measure: None required. However, future ordinances and waste
reduction programs could be implemented in response to the CIWMB biennial
review. The City could require that developers of the proposed project contact
the Scavenger Company at the more-detailed design stage to ensure that proper
waste disposal procedures and access requirements for Scavenger Company and
other special vehicles are met. Also, the City could require that contained space
for recycling is provided for each building.
Cumulative Impacts
The City has approximately 3 MGD of remaining capacity for Treatment Plant.
The proposed project would use approximately 2 percent of this remaining
capacity, which is not considered significant. However, the General Plan states
that large amounts of water generated by Biotech companies could result in
higher wastewater volumes than the projections for the East of 101 Area Plan.
Thus, continued development of research and development land uses involving
Biotech companies could result in an exceedance of the Treatment Plant's
capacity.
Mitigation Measure 4.9-2: The City shall implement wastewater conservation
measures in order to comply with General Plan Policy 5.3-1-7, "Encourage new
projects in East of 101 Area that are likely to generate large quantities of
wastewater to lower treatment needs through recycling, pretreatment, or other
means as necessary."
Mitigation Measure 4.9-3: The City shall develop a program that encourages
industries under the Research and Development land uses in the East of 101 Area
to reduce the volume of wastewater discharged to collection and treatment
systems. The program shall include incentives to implement recycling and
pretreatment and, where appropriate, provide assistance in planning these
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facilities to maximize the benefit to the City's wastewater system. In addition,
the City shall encourage high-volume dischargers to release process wastes over
longer periods of time or during off-peak periods (typically nighttime) to
minimize the impact of peak loading on both the collection system and the
Treatment Plant.
Impact After Mitigation: Less than significant.
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