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Public raises health concerns about chloramines; PUC schedules staff report; commission approves yellow-grease biodiesel pilot
Summary
A Belmont resident told the commission she believes chloramines in drinking water are causing skin and nasal symptoms; staff said a report is due Nov. 14. Separately, the commission approved a three-year technical assistance contract to collect yellow grease for biodiesel and sewer maintenance benefits.
A member of the public told the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission on Oct. 24 she believes recent use of chloramines in the water supply has caused skin irritation, nasal symptoms and other health effects and urged the utility to stop using the chemical and test potential impacts on humans and marine life.
Jan Frederickson of Belmont described persistent itching, nasal irritation from steam and other symptoms she attributed to chloramines and asked the commission to remove chloramines from the water and "please test whatever chemicals are to be used in our water on humans and marine animals." Commissioners responded that staff had already been instructed weeks earlier to prepare a definitive study and that the commission will receive a staff report on Nov. 14 to inform any decision about continued use.
Separately, the commission approved a three-year technical assistance contract to pilot collection of yellow grease from food service establishments and use the grease in biodiesel production. Tom Franza, assistant general manager of wastewater, said the program will start small and ramp up toward an expected 50,000 gallons per month in pickups; he noted ancillary benefits from keeping grease out of the sewer system and said staff will report back with cost-per-gallon estimates. Commissioners expressed interest in coordination with Brisbane’s program and asked staff to provide cost and program comparisons.
Next steps: staff will deliver the chloramine study on Nov. 14 and will return with cost-per-gallon and program comparisons for the yellow-grease biodiesel pilot.
