The startup spun out of research at Princeton, where the founders drew inspiration from aquatic plants that can naturally attract microplastic. The plants have fibrous roots coated in a hydrophobic gel that pulls in pollution. "We managed to imitate the geometry and hydrophobility of the aquatic plant root," says cofounder Yidian Liu. "It has a lot of unevenness on the surface that creates little cavities for smaller pollutants to be trapped inside."
It's not just the noise and the smell of the site that angers him. Soon, a pumping station will begin operation at the site, spewing wastewater from surrounding rich neighborhoods directly into Vila da Barca, from where it will then be pumped to Belem's first large-scale wastewater treatment facility. Wastewater from Vila da Barca, however, will continue to flow directly into the estuary.
A historic East Bay company that generated the foul stench of sewage odor that polluted a town's air has settled a lawsuit with Contra Costa County prosecutors for approximately $500,000, authorities said Tuesday. C&H Sugar, whose plant has been a staple in the unincorporated city of Crockett since 1906, committed the odor violations in 2022 at a wastewater treatment plant it jointly owns at Dowrelio Drive, according to a statement from the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office.
Residents in Antioch and Pittsburg face an 8.5% rate increase for sewer services, while Bay Point residents see an 8.8% hike in their charges. This will mean an additional annual cost of $40.25 for Antioch and Pittsburg residents, and $57.35 for those in Bay Point.
