SAM will celebrate 30 years of cleaning water Wednesday, May 10

Three decades ago—in between the enactment of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972, then amended to become commonly known as the Clean Water Act in 1977—the coastside’s “clean water pioneers” signed a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement (JPA) that institutionalized Sewer Authority Mid-Coastside (SAM) as the cornerstone of the community’s water quality protection efforts.  The JPA, a monumental cooperative action between SAM’s current member agencies:  the City of Half Moon Bay, Granada Sanitary District, and Montara Water and Sanitary District, created a consolidated system of collecting, transporting and treating wastewater to protect public health and safety, and preserve our natural environment.
 
On May 10th, SAM honors their founders, and the contributions of many who followed, who had the optimistic vision and foresight to provide the coastside community with reliable high-quality wastewater treatment services.

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As the region’s wastewater treatment facility, SAM has cleansed more than 13 billion gallons of dirty water in 30 years. A network of more than 100 miles of pipelines that lie under and around Highway 1 carries four million gallons of wastewater generated by 25,000 coastside residents and businesses each day.   SAM is managed by a six-member elected Board of Directors and staffed by 12 employees and skilled operators providing 24 hour coverage, 7 days a week.
 
Community partners will join SAM at the commemoration including Surfrider Foundation, Recycleworks, Coastside County Water District and the San Mateo Countywide Pollution Prevention Program.  Featured speakers include Bruce Wolfe, executive officer of the Regional Water Quality Control Board and Ed Larenas, chair of the San Mateo County chapter of Surfrider Foundation, along with presentations from local Boy Scout Troop 263 and the Sewer Science program, a hands-on lab that introduces students to pollution prevention and careers in the wastewater field, which launches this spring at Half Moon Bay High School. 
 
All members of the coastside community all invited to attend by registering on www.samcleanswater.org  Tickets are $20.00 per person before May 5th; $30.00 per person at the door.  Registration is required to attend.  Seating is limited. The event is generously underwritten by Carollo Engineers, an engineering firm that provides solutions in the water, wastewater and water resources industries incorporating sustainable design principles, innovative strategies and technologies from a watershed perspective, and has worked in partnership with SAM to develop their wet weather management system and feasibility studies related to recycled water technology.  Admission fees directly benefit the Sewer Science youth education initiative.  For more information, call (650) 726-0124 ext. 144 or email [email protected]
 
The evening will be followed by a public open house featuring tours of the SAM treatment facility from 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon on Saturday, May 13.  The facility is located at
1000 North Cabrillo Highway off of Kehoe in Half Moon Bay.  To reserve a tour time, directions to the facility, or more information, log onto www.samcleanswater.org
 
Quick Facts:
Wastewater Treated Since 1976: Over 13 billion gallons
Wastewater Treated Systemwide: 4 million gallons per day
Population Served: Over 25,000
Area Served: 22-square miles
Wastewater Lines: Over 100 miles
Transmission Line: 8 miles
Wastewater Pipe Diameter: 4 to 24 inches
Main Pump Stations: 3
Lift Stations: 17
No. of Employees: 12