Both the federal and state governments have accused San Francisco of illegally pouring massive amounts of untreated wastewater and sewage into the bay and the ocean for years.
In a lawsuit filed in federal court by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Regional Water Quality Control Board, it was revealed that "since 2016, the city has discharged an average of 1.8 billion gallons of combined sewage, which includes untreated sewage, each year from its combined sewer systems into the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay.
The suit is seeking court orders mandating the city to change its procedures, as well as hundreds of millions of dollars in penalty fees to be paid to the federal and state governments, reported the San Francisco Chronicle.
"San Francisco's aging wastewater system has exposed the public to risks for too long," said Alexis Strauss, chair of the regional water board.
Amidst the legal action, San Francisco city officials have responded that they are doing all they can to reduce offshore pollution.
San Francisco has also countered the EPA's pollution-control requirements for the city's Oceanside Plant, which treats roughly 20% of its wastewater and sewage.
However, last July, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the federal agency can enforce its standards, necessitating that the city put more effort into preventing pollution by bacteria and other contaminants.
The city has appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court.
