PINOLE WWTF - Pinole, California Wastewater Treatment Plant

PINOLE WWTF is a municipal wastewater treatment facility located in Pinole, Contra Costa County, California. Serving a population of about 43,287, the plant is part of the region's infrastructure for managing wastewater from residential and commercial sources. Its location near the San Francisco Bay places it within a densely populated urban area with significant environmental oversight. As a U.S. facility, PINOLE WWTF operates under the Clean Water Act and is regulated by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit program. For a plant serving a medium-sized agglomeration (over 10,000 people), secondary treatment is typically required, with additional nutrient removal in sensitive areas like the San Francisco Bay. The plant's designed capacity is 1.00 million gallons per day, indicating it is sized to handle the community's wastewater flows. The treated effluent from PINOLE WWTF is discharged into the San Francisco Bay watershed, which ultimately drains to the Pacific Ocean. The Bay is an ecologically sensitive estuary that supports diverse aquatic life, including fish, birds, and marine mammals. The plant's operations are critical for protecting water quality in this important ecosystem, which faces challenges from urban runoff and nutrient pollution.

PINOLE WWTF discharges into the San Francisco Bay, a large estuary that connects to the Pacific Ocean via the Golden Gate. The Bay supports a rich ecosystem, including migratory birds, fish species like salmon and steelhead, and marine mammals. As part of the San Francisco Bay watershed, the plant's effluent quality directly affects the health of this ecologically sensitive area, which is subject to strict water quality standards under the Clean Water Act.