Happy Earth Day from all of us at Silicon Valley Clean Water.
Earth Day began on April 22, 1970, and according to earthday.org, 20 million Americans—at the time 10% of the total United States population— were inspired to participate. In 2020, for Earth Day’s 50th anniversary, in total more than one billion people worldwide participated in Earth Day actions, and 100 million observed the anniversary.
Each year, SVCW participates in local Earth Day events, this year at events held by the City of Belmont and the City of San Carlos. On June 6, we’ll participate at Marine Science Institute’s World Ocean Day in Redwood City. We hope you’ll join us at community events throughout the year and when we launch our expanded public tour program, which is coming soon.
A team of environmental stewards
We celebrated our 50th anniversary last year, proud of our wastewater treatment innovations over the past five decades, excited for all that’s ahead. Since becoming a Joint Powers Authority in 1975, we’ve provided advanced wastewater treatment services to safeguard public health, the environment, and the San Francisco Bay. Our team is passionate about building a sustainable future, and we’re proud to be united in mission with the member communities we serve, including Belmont, Redwood City, San Carlos, and West Bay Sanitary District.
At SVCW, our team comes to the table as environmental stewards, visionaries, and innovators. In addition to responsibly transporting and treating millions of gallons of wastewater daily from nearly 300,000 community residents, we’re committed to recovering and recycling precious resources. We cultivate forward-looking ideas, with the vision of turning them into solutions that will help us advance our goal of achieving energy neutrality at our treatment plant.
Innovation for future generations
At our 45-acre wastewater treatment plant in Redwood City, CA, we lead with innovation to turn what others call waste into valuable resources for local and regional benefit. We generate 70% of our facility’s electricity from biosolids, methane, and other renewable resources, advancing our goal of achieving energy neutrality. Lithium-ion batteries, acquired through a grant from the State of California, store the power generated from the conveyed wastewater.
Our recycling of wastewater for use in irrigation and toilet flushing means less water is imported from rivers and streams, and more water is available to protect ecosystems during droughts. Our biosolids management program supports sustainable farms across California, providing nutrient-rich soil amendment while diverting material from landfills. We are piloting innovative technologies such as pyrolysis that will convert the biosolids into biochar, which can be sold as a commercial product in ink, concrete, and other industrial uses.
What’s deeply meaningful to me about the work we do is that we’re helping to create a healthier planet for our children, their children, and future generations. I have a 16-month-old granddaughter who is discovering the world around her. I want her, and your loved ones, to enjoy all that surrounds them; to experience the beauty of the San Francisco Bay like we do; to live in a world with sustainable resources, and to explore a healthy planet, wherever life take them.
Let us know what is most meaningful to you.
Matt Zucca