A local environmental watchdog group, San Francisco Baykeeper, is planning to take legal action against the city of San Francisco. They accuse the city’s Public Utilities Commission of regularly violating federal law by releasing millions of gallons of combined stormwater runoff and sewage into nearby bodies of water each year.
Representatives from San Francisco Baykeeper have sent a letter dated March 6 to Mayor London Breed, City Attorney David Chiu, and officials from the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. The letter notifies them of the group’s intention to file a lawsuit for alleged violations of the Clean Water Act, a federal statute aimed at addressing water pollution.
According to a news release issued by Baykeeper on Thursday, public records they have obtained reveal numerous violations of the Clean Water Act by the city over the past five years. These violations reportedly involve the discharge of mixed sewage and debris-laden urban runoff into the San Francisco Bay during periods of heavy rainfall.
Eric Buescher, an attorney with Baykeeper, expressed concern in the release, stating, “San Francisco is dumping raw sewage and trash directly into the Bay at a magnitude that’s almost incomprehensible.” He emphasized that sewage and stormwater pollution constitute the primary source of contamination in the Bay, with San Francisco being a significant contributor to this problem.
Responding to these accusations, a spokesperson for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, John Coté, criticized Baykeeper for selectively presenting information without providing the full context. Coté argued that San Francisco’s combined sewer system typically captures and treats most stormwater before it reaches the Bay or the ocean, unlike other jurisdictions in the region.
Coté explained that the city’s infrastructure treats stormwater for dirt, grit, and debris before it is discharged, and he defended the city’s practices as being in compliance with regulations set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board.
Baykeeper claims to have obtained records indicating that the Commission discharges between 1.2 billion and 2 billion gallons of combined stormwater runoff and sewage annually, containing various contaminants such as feces, bacteria, viruses, chemicals, and trash.
Coté countered by stating that the majority of these discharges consist overwhelmingly of stormwater and that the city’s permits allow for partial treatment during extreme weather events.
Baykeeper highlighted that most of the city’s discharges flow into Mission Creek and Islais Creek. They reported finding fecal matter and large volumes of urban debris, including plastics and syringes, in Mission Creek following a discharge event. Baykeeper emphasized the health risks posed by these discharges and their contribution to high nitrogen levels in the bay, which can lead to harmful algae blooms.
Sejal Choksi-Chugh, executive director of Baykeeper, condemned the city’s actions, asserting that there is no excuse for polluting the Bay with sewage and trash. She emphasized the importance of holding those responsible for pollution to account.
