Questions to consider for the report on the combined San Jose Creek Water Reclamation Plant and the Puente Hills Landfill
San Jose Creek WRP
1. What is the highest level of treatment that characterizes the San Jose Creek Plant?
2. Describe the sequence of processing that takes place in the plant and compare it with Mother Nature's system.
3. What process is said to disinfect the water prior to discharge? Is the chemical additive used allowed to remain in the water or is it removed? If not removed what environmental impacts might occur?
4. What is sludge? Where does the sewage sludge produced at this plant go? How is it processed and where? What is made of this material?
5. How are the organics in the water removed?
6. How are heavy metals or pesticides handled?
7. Can the water produced by this plant be used directly for drinking water? Why or why not? How and where is the water used?
8. Describe the use of this water for underground water recharge. Where does the recharge take place? How much water is percolated on a daily basis?
Puente Hills Landfill
1. Describe the operation of a sanitary landfill. How often is the garbage buried? How do sanitary landfills differ from a dump or simple landfill?
2.How many tons of waste are permitted for disposal per day at Puente Hills? Where does this garbage come from? When will this site be closed?
3. What is the "Garbage Crisis" in the Los Angeles area? where will garbage in the future be taken?
4. Where are sanitary landfills such as Puente Hills sited? How is the land prepared for solid waste disposal?
5. Describe efforts to reduce or recycle waste within the landfill, especially tires, greenwaste and chlorofluorocarbons.
6. Describe monitoring programs to prevent groundwater contamination.
7. How are disease vectors, such as rats and flies, controlled?
8. Why are seagulls a problem in a landfill? How are these birds controlled?
9. What gases are produced by decomposition of organic material within a landfill? Is this aerobic or anaerobic decay?
10. How are the landfill gases used at Puente Hills Landfill? Describe the gas to energy facility at the landfill. How many homes are served and what are future plans for expansion? for anaerobic decomposition?
11. How is Puente Hills Landfill being prepared for the future disposal of trash?