Dr. Yigi Dearborn — Introduced as CEO of CEL Analytical.
Dr. Chunhung-Shin — Introduced as research director with the Kodiah Resource Recovery Center at Stanford University.
Dr. Jeremy Feister — Noted as unable to present due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.
Dr. Chakarvati — Dr. Chakarvati explained that carbon-fluoride bonds are difficult for microbes to break down, motivating the use of natural microbial communities rather than a single engineered microbe. She clarified that these communities are not genetically modified, but are sourced from soil and water and studied in the lab to identify beneficial microbial interactions. She then described a Berkeley Lab project using machine learning and literature review to assemble potent microbial communities from individual members. As a second example, she discussed treating produced water from hydraulic fracking, noting its heavy contamination and inefficiency, and proposed using microbes to pre-treat wastewater so downstream chemical processes work better. She described a proof-of-concept collaboration with the Colorado School of Mines in large tanks, where microbial treatment reduced carbon load and removed organics and dissolved solids. She concluded by briefly referencing water research efforts at Lawrence Berkeley Lab and the National Alliance of Water Institute before ending her remarks.
Dr. Dearborn — Dr. Dearborn was introduced and then began her testimony by apologizing for losing her voice. She identified herself as the owner and operator of Cell Analytical Laboratory, an ELAP-certified environmental lab in California established in 2005 as a woman-owned business in San Francisco. She explained that in 2019 she became a lead laboratory with the Water Research Foundation and California State Water Board on direct potable reuse work, where her lab unexpectedly detected SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. She noted that this work highlighted the lack of baseline data on pathogens in raw wastewater and described California’s indirect potable reuse framework as being based on pathogen control through wastewater reuse.
Dr. Dearborn — Concluded testimony and was thanked by the committee.
Dr. Dearborn — Asked about whether pathological testing is standard regulation or used only during public health events.
Dr. Dearborn — Explained that utilities interested in direct reuse testing use a battery of pathogen tests.
Dr. Dearborn — Addressed regarding ELAP certification and testing trends.
Dr. Shin — Introduced as the last panelist from Stanford University.
Dr. Shin — Concluded the presentation by emphasizing simultaneous clean water and energy recovery through advanced biotechnology.
Dr. Shin — Dr. Shin was praised for an inspiring presentation and asked about the scale of the prototype. Dr. Shin then explained that the system is designed to support decentralized applications using small on-site units, with biogas upgrading and the possibility of future centralized implementation.
Chung-Hon Shin — Chung-Hon Shin introduced himself as the research director at the Kodiga Resource Recovery Center at Stanford and began his presentation, titled "Turning Domestic Wastewater into Clean Water and Energy Through Advanced Biotechnology."
Dr. Chukabody — Addressed with a question about AI and predictive technologies for microbial effectiveness and new compounds.
Dr. Sopadavadhi — Dr. Sopadavadhi explains that the biogas produced has a higher methane composition, meaning it should require less cleaning. He then clarifies the slide animation, noting that the bars and colored boxes illustrate energy use versus net energy production, with the blue box representing the positive net energy outcome and being the key focus.
Ms. Bono — Invited to provide closing thoughts.
Spencer Sacks — Testified on behalf of the California Association of Sanitation Agencies and thanked the committee and panelists.
one of our guests here in the audience — The speaker said this point had been mentioned earlier to a guest in the audience, but no name was given.
Jeremy Alberta (questionable; later identified as Jeremy Alberga) — Introduced as the COO from Bakar Labs who will provide opening remarks.
Chris Ward — Chris Ward is repeatedly addressed and thanked during the exchange. The speaker acknowledges him for the introduction, references his earlier remarks and statistics, and thanks him again for the opportunity, with a final direct address to him at the end.
Diane Papan — Diane Papan is welcomed to the hearing, introduced as the chair of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife, and then offers opening remarks. The discussion continues with speakers thanking her and noting that Bay Area wastewater agencies include facilities in her district, with a comment that she is already familiar with the wastewater issues being discussed.
Jeremy Alberga — Identified himself as the Chief Operating Officer of Bakar Labs and began describing the facility.
Lorien Fano (questionable spelling) — Identified as the executive director of the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies and the first panel witness.
Lori and Fono / Lorien Fono (questionable) — The witness begins speaking and identifies themself as executive director of the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies.
Laurie Enfono / Lorien Fono (questionable) — The witness identifies themself as executive director of the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies, also BACWA, and explains the organization’s membership.
Darshana Patel — Welcomed as being present at the hearing.
Darshana Patel — Referenced as having previously noted that low-interest loans can be equivalent to a grant.
Corey Jackson — Welcomed as being present at the hearing.
Corey Jackson — Dr. Jackson is invited to continue the discussion and then asks about engineering challenges, focusing on aging infrastructure and the resulting cost pressures on customers.
Ms. Pesito — She introduced herself as coming from an agricultural district and described prior experience with wastewater and dairy farm waste management.
Dr. Romine Jakarwati — Dr. Romine Jakarwati is introduced as a senior scientist and department head at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and then describes their current role there as a senior scientist working in microbiology/environmental microbiology.