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Panel: Wastewater ammonia ‘likely’ alters Delta

Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on April 23, 2009 at 8:30 am

From the Sacramento Bee:

A panel of independent scientists has affirmed in a new report that ammonia from urban wastewater is a “likely” contributor to environmental shifts in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. But the panel, assembled by the CalFed Bay Delta Authority, says more research is needed to determine where ammonia fits among numerous threats to the estuary.

The Bee reported last year on emerging research suggesting that ammonia from treated urban sewage, discharged continuously into Central Valley rivers, may disrupt the Delta food chain. The Sacramento metro area’s wastewater, treated by the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District, is the largest source of ammonia in the Delta.

But the research has been hotly disputed by the sanitation district and others. So CalFed agreed to host an independent review of existing science. That review, released last week, raises more questions than it answers. But significantly, the four scientists on the panel conclude the subject merits further study as a potentially significant factor in the degradation of Delta.

Read more from the Sacramento Bee by clicking here.

April 23, 2009 · Filed Under Other Delta Issues

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