US Municipalities Ordered to Protect San Francisco Bay

The US Environmental Protection Agency, the Justice Department, California Water Boards and San Francisco Baykeeper have ordered seven municipalities in the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) to protect San Francisco Bay from sewage discharges.

The settlement is part of a broader enforcement strategy to address sewage overflows into the bay, especially during periods of rain.

As part of the order, Oakland, Emeryville, Piedmont, Berkeley, Alameda, Albany and the Stege Sanitary District will make substantial improvements to their wastewater collection systems to reduce sewage spills to the bay.

According to estimates, nearly 125 million gallons of untreated or partially treated sewage from EBMUD’s wet weather facilities have flowed into San Francisco Bay since October 2010.

EPA aims to achieve zero discharge of raw or improperly treated sewage into the bay.