Mercury-What are the issues

Because the Union Sanitary District's Wastewater Treatment Plant processes only remove some of the mercury in wastewater, much of the toxic metal finds its way back into our environment.

Water

• Many of California's surface water bodies contain too much mercury. The State Water Resource Control Board has listed 860,000 acres of estuaries, lakes and reservoirs and 303 miles of rivers and creeks as mercury impaired. Mercury-impaired water bodies include San Francisco Bay and Delta, Sacramento River, and Santa Monica Bay.
  
  
• Fish consumption warnings due to elevated mercury levels exists for San Francisco Bay and several lakes. Bioaccumulation of mercury is the primary concern-mercury concentrations are higher in species that are higher in the food web.
  
  Sources: SWRCB 303d list; OEHHA fish consumption advisories