The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) and six East Bay cities have been levied a fine of $372,876, as per an announcement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board. The penalty is associated with the discharge of untreated sewage into San Francisco Bay, constituting a violation.
This is not the first instance of such a penalty being imposed. According to an EPA news release, EBMUD and seven East Bay cities previously paid a $1.5 million fine for a similar incident under the 2014 Clean Water Act. As part of the agreement terms, EBMUD pledged to enhance their sewer system infrastructure spanning 1,600 miles over 21 years. Approximately 650 miles of private sewer laterals have been certified as leak-free and 114 miles of sewer main pipe has been renovated.
Martha Guzman, EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator stated, "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." She added that this action was taken to ensure these entities uphold their commitments and undertake necessary efforts to renew wastewater infrastructure.
According to another EPA news release, penalties have been assessed for violations of the settlement that occurred between July 2021 and June 2023 as follows: Oakland city has been fined $278,200; EBMUD has been fined $28,000; Stege Sanitary District (serving El Cerrito, Kensington, and a portion of Richmond) has been fined $25,000; Piedmont city has been fined $15,876; Alameda city has been fined $200; Albany city has been fined $25,000; Berkeley city has been fined $600.
An EPA news release also noted that untreated sewage can spread disease-causing organisms along with metals, waterways, and nutrients that pose a risk to public health. Untreated sewage can escape and be discharged into the bay when wastewater infrastructure is not properly maintained, particularly older sewer systems during rainstorms.
