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Wastewater sector urges balanced funding to avoid overreliance on treatment upgrades
Summary
A wastewater sector attorney cautioned the Commission against relying solely on treatment plants to meet Bay goals and urged expanded loan and grant funding to reduce ratepayer burden.
Chris Pomeroy, President of AquaLaw, told the Commission that many plants upgraded earlier now need renewed investment in nutrient removal technology and other repairs. He recommended avoiding "overreliance on the wastewater sector" when developing future Watershed Implementation Plans and urged more robust loans and grants so utilities do not pass unsustainable costs to ratepayers.
Pomeroy said historical overperformance by treatment plants masked slow progress in nonpoint-source pollution reductions and cautioned that future plans should fairly distribute responsibility and funding across sectors. Members discussed financing options and asked staff to explore mechanisms that preserve affordability while funding necessary upgrades.
