Russian River County Sanitation District’s Proposed New Discharge Permit
by Brenda Adelman
Even after $5 million dollars worth of improvements a few years ago, the Russian River County Sanitation District (RRCSD) treatment system does not function properly during high flows. The system has violated its discharge permit every year since the Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) took over in 1995. A year ago, the District was fined $99,000 out of a possible $170,000 for permit violations occurring between Oct. 1, 2004 and May 31, 2007, consisting of 34 effluent limit violations and six prohibited discharges.
Recently, on December 1st, comments were due to the Regional Water Quality Control Board on RRCSD’s proposed new discharge permit. In order to address the system’s problematic history, many new requirements are being imposed.