San Mateo Mayor Rob Newsom and Foster City Mayor Stacy Jimenez, along with other city leaders, celebrate the opening of the upgraded wastewater treatment plant.
City leaders have officially cut the ribbon on the long-awaited wastewater treatment plan in San Mateo, a $600 million project that will serve San Mateo, Foster City, Hillsborough and parts of Belmont.
The treatment plant — which is the largest infrastructure improvement project in San Mateo’s history — is part of a larger, 10-year and $1 billion Clean Water Program effort to enhance the city’s wastewater collection and treatment services. The program kicked off over 10 years ago in response to a cease and desist order from the Regional Water Quality Control Board, which stipulated the elimination of “sanitary sewer overflows and unauthorized discharges of untreated or partially treated wastewater to San Francisco Bay,” according to a previous staff report.
The treatment plant project began in 2019 but saw several pandemic-related delays and cost increases. Earlier this year, city officials were told the final price tag would be about $25 million more than anticipated. While San Mateo was the lead agency, completing much of the design and construction aspects, the Estero Municipal Improvement District — which constitutes the Foster City Council — had a 24% stake in the expansion efforts.
Still, it was able to secure significant federal and state funds, including $277 million in low-interest federal financing, nearly half the cost of the total project, said U.S. Rep. Kevin Mullin, D-South San Francisco, adding that financing from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act was instrumental.
“San Mateo’s Clean Water program was one of only 39 projects in the country invited to apply in 2018, so it was a very competitive process,” Mullin said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The facility, located off Detroit Drive and next to Leslie Creek will treat wastewater for about 150,000 people and be able to process 78 million gallons per day, up from 60 million, which will prevent sewer overflows and unsanitary water from reaching the Bay.
“While wastewater treatment may not seem glamorous, it is essential to public health,” San Mateo Mayor Rob Newsom said. “It’s the quiet work that protects public health, safeguards our environment and gives cities peace of mind.”
It appears that the current population of the cities of San Mateo, Hillsborough & Foster City are close to the stated plant capacity of 150,000. Add "parts of Belmont" & I'm sure we are over that number. Current SM residents are already paying a hefty $1,369 annual sewer fee & Foster City's rates are also increasing. I supported these increases to correct the previous deficiencies & improve water discharges to the Bay. But how can these cities continue to increase their populations as our authoritarian state officials mandate? Who will be paying to increase the capacities of this plant to serve new residents? Or will we be going back to sewer overflows and unsanitary water again polluting the Bay? Current growth models are unsustainable until new sewer and water supply infrastructure can be identified.
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It appears that the current population of the cities of San Mateo, Hillsborough & Foster City are close to the stated plant capacity of 150,000. Add "parts of Belmont" & I'm sure we are over that number. Current SM residents are already paying a hefty $1,369 annual sewer fee & Foster City's rates are also increasing. I supported these increases to correct the previous deficiencies & improve water discharges to the Bay. But how can these cities continue to increase their populations as our authoritarian state officials mandate? Who will be paying to increase the capacities of this plant to serve new residents? Or will we be going back to sewer overflows and unsanitary water again polluting the Bay? Current growth models are unsustainable until new sewer and water supply infrastructure can be identified.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.