Mercury and PCBs

The Contra Costa Clean Water Program assists Permittees in implementing control programs for mercury and PCBs in order to reduce pollutant loads to receiving waters and make substantial progress towards maintaining and improving water quality.

Many of the State Permit requirements related to PCBs are being addressed regionally through regional projects and/or collaborations.

Quick Links:

• EPA: Learn about Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs)
• PCBs in Building Demolition
• San Francisco Fish Risk Project

 

 

Urban stormwater is the largest pathway of PCB loads to the Bay. As one major element of the RMP, concentrations of PCBs and mercury on suspended sediment particles from a wide range of watersheds are being measured as an index of the degree of watershed contamination and potential for effective management action. Stormwater samples from Pulgas Creek Pump Station North and South, Industrial Road Ditch, and Gull Drive Storm Drain in San Mateo County; Santa Fe Channel in Contra Costa County; Outfall at Gilman Street and Ettie Street Pump Station in Alameda County; and Outfall to Lower Silver Creek in Santa Clara County had the highest concentrations of PCBs on suspended sediment particles measured to date. These watersheds may present good opportunities for load reduction.