Before the 1950s, raw sewage flowed into San Francisco Bay. It created a foul, polluted mess. East Bay communities turned to EBMUD for a regional solution.
This year, we mark our 75th year of providing wastewater treatment that protects public health and has helped transform the bay into a treasured natural resource.
A vote for the bay
When residents voted in 1944 for EBMUD to manage wastewater treatment, we built a plant in West Oakland and installed three massive underground interceptor pipes to capture flows from city sewers. Operations began in 1951.
EBMUD has continually improved treatment as environmental standards have evolved.
Pollution reductions
In the 1970s, EBMUD added biological processes to remove more organic matter and launched a program to control pollutants at their source. The result: a 90% reduction in toxic discharges.
Since 2020, EBMUD has significantly cut nitrogen discharges that can upset the ecological balance needed for healthy marine life, saving ratepayer dollars while improving bay water quality.
Sustainable operations
EBMUD recycles water, recovers nutrients used in soil amendments, and generates energy from waste materials. We became the first North American wastewater utility to produce more renewable energy than we consume.
The bay today
Decades of environmental stewardship by EBMUD and our regional partners have restored the marine ecosystem to support wildlife and recreation.
A team of over 50 EBMUD plant operators work around the clock to fulfill our mission of protecting public health and the environment for today’s 740,000 wastewater customers and for future generations.
