04/11/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/11/2024 12:41
April 11, 2024
Under a 2014 Clean Water Act settlement, EBMUD and seven East Bay cities paid a $1.5 million civil penalty for past sewage discharges. They agreed to assess and upgrade their 1,600-mile-long sewer system infrastructure over 21 years. Since then, over 114 miles of sewer main pipe have been rehabilitated or replaced and over 650 miles of private sewer laterals have been certified as leak-free.
"These East Bay cities and utilities made commitments to upgrade aging sewer infrastructure, which is a necessary step for protecting the waters of San Francisco Bay and surrounding communities," said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman. "We're taking this action to ensure they live up to those commitments and undertake the efforts needed to renew wastewater infrastructure."
The parties are being assessed the following penalties for violations of the settlement that occurred between July 2021 and June 2023:
When wastewater infrastructure is not properly maintained, untreated sewage can escape and be discharged to the bay. Older sewer systems in particular can be overwhelmed during rainstorms, releasing untreated sewage. In addition to polluting waterways, untreated sewage can spread disease-causing organisms, metals and nutrients that threaten public health. Sewage can also deplete oxygen in the bay, threatening fish, seals and other wildlife.
Read the settlement on EPA's website.
Learn more about efforts to protect San Francisco Bay.
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