Las Gallinas Valley WWTF, San Rafael

Overview

Las Gallinas Valley WWTF serves approximately 30,500 residents in San Rafael, California. The plant is part of the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District and discharges into the San Francisco Bay.

Las Gallinas Valley WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in San Rafael, Marin County, California. It serves a population of around 30,500 people within the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District, situated near the San Francisco Bay Trail. The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires NPDES permits for discharges to surface waters. For a facility of this scale serving a suburban community, secondary treatment is typically mandated, with additional nutrient removal likely required to protect the sensitive San Francisco Bay estuary. The treated effluent is discharged into the San Francisco Bay, a major estuary that supports diverse aquatic life and is a critical habitat for migratory birds and fish species. The plant plays a key role in protecting water quality in the bay, which ultimately connects to the Pacific Ocean through the Golden Gate.

Environmental context

The plant discharges into the San Francisco Bay, a large estuary that receives drainage from the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. The bay supports a rich ecosystem, including eelgrass beds, tidal marshes, and important fisheries such as salmon and Dungeness crab. Protecting water quality is essential to maintain the ecological health of this dynamic coastal environment.

Frequently asked questions

Las Gallinas Valley WWTF is located in San Rafael, Marin County, California, near the San Francisco Bay Trail in the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District.

The plant serves approximately 30,500 residents in the San Rafael area.

The treated effluent is discharged into the San Francisco Bay, a major estuary that flows into the Pacific Ocean.

The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Water Act, which requires an NPDES permit issued by the California State Water Resources Control Board or the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board.

For a plant of this size in California, secondary treatment is standard, with advanced treatment often required to reduce nutrients and protect sensitive water bodies like San Francisco Bay.