MISSION STATEMENT:
"We are committed to provide safe, efficient, and effective wastewater and solid waste management. We promote waste diversion through recycling, education, and practices. We strive for public satisfaction through quality service, reasonable rates, and proper stewardship of our resources and the environment."


STRATEGIC GOAL:
"The Castro Valley Sanitary District will continue to lead the community through the use of innovative programs to increase solid waste diversion to 75% by the year 2010 and reduce sewerage overflows to less than 20 per year. The District will provide excellent service to its customers with reduced complaint calls and improved customer satisfaction. We will institute procedures which will continue to grow investments for the stability of the District to maintain a pay-as-you-go capital improvement policy."


      The Castro Valley Sanitary District of Alameda County became a political entity July 25, 1939. Castro Valley, an active agricultural and poultry center, had become a thriving residential community which, without wastewater facilities, presented serious health problems and made necessary the creation of the Sanitary District and the installation of a sanitary sewer system.

      The District is an independent political subdivision of the State of California and is a public corporation governed by a Board of Directors elected by District residents. The District operates under the authority of the Sanitary District Act of 1923 (Division 6, Part 1 of the Health and Safety Code of the State of California). The District is not a department of, nor subordinate to, the County of Alameda or any other local political entity.

      Since the formation of the District, the growth of the area has been phenomenal. In 1940, there were 5,000 persons in the immediate area. By 1950, the population amounted to over 20,000. There are some 19,500 dwellings, offices and commercial units, supporting a population of approximately 55,000. The original District has been enlarged by annexations from time to time and now has an area of about 13 square miles with an assessed valuation of $5,682,468,216 in Fiscal Year 2007/08.

      As a result of prior development and land ownership, post-war growth followed more a filling-in process rather than a solid blanketing of previously undeveloped farmland. Small residential subdivision tracts have been built where sufficient vacant land has been available. Developable land becoming scarce in the Valley proper, pressures to build on the rear portions of deep lots have increased and subdivision of the more rugged hill areas has been permitted in limited cases by the County of Alameda, the land-use control agency for Castro Valley. Although single-family homes predominate, multiple-residential units continue to develop rapidly.

      The District is principally residential in character, with adequate shopping facilities within Castro Valley and other major commercial areas close at hand. There are no significant industries in Castro Valley.

      Beginning in 1964, a "pay as you go" reconstruction program was initiated to replace, enlarge and extend major trunk lines within the District. This capital improvement program continues today, subject to the availability of funds.

      The wastewater collection system in the District comprises approximately 155 miles of sewers and nine wastewater pumping plants, together with 5 miles of outfall sewer lying outside the District boundaries. Wastewater from the District is treated under contract by the Oro Loma Sanitary District at the Oro Loma/Castro Valley Water Pollution Control Plant, of which Castro Valley Sanitary District owns 25%. Castro Valley Sanitary District is entitled to a nominal average dry-weather flow of 5.0 million gallons per day (MGD) through the plant. Daily dry-weather flows have recently been averaging 3.7 MGD. Under drought conditions in the recent past, the daily dry-weather flow averaged 2.3 MGD. Sewage treatment costs for the District amount to approximately 49% of the total annual budget for sewerage operations, exclusive of capital improvements. The solid waste programs expenses are a separate cost center and are mainly funded by user fees.

      Maintenance of the 155-mile wastewater system, including nine pump stations, equipment, groundskeeping and building maintenance, is accomplished by two, two-person crews including a leadperson who acts as foreman of the field crew and two persons assigned as technical and supervisory support. The District also has seven other full-time and one part-time employee to handle administration, solid waste management, recycling, community outreach and education, financial record keeping, clerical work, permits, filing and inspection.

      A bond issue of $2,975,000 was approved by the voters of the District in September of 1966. This amount covered the cost of the 5-mile outfall sewer from the District to the treatment plant, and Castro Valley's share of the cost of constructing the plant. The last of these bonds was paid off in 1998.

      The current cost to provide the residents of Castro Valley with sewerage collection and treatment services as required by Federal and State law is $157.50 annually per household. Other rates are prescribed for commercial and institutional users of the sewer system. The Sanitary District is administered by five elected Directors. Each Director serves a four-year term, with elections for either two or three Board seats being held every even-numbered year. Directors receive $166.70 per meeting attended, with one regular meeting scheduled on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 P.M. in the District Office.

      Like all other wastewater agencies, Castro Valley Sanitary District must comply with Federal and State environmental requirements regarding the quality and method of discharge of treated effluent to the nation's waterways. The Federal Clean Water Act of 1972, and similar State legislation, required elimination of the former near-shore discharge into San Francisco Bay. The local cost to Castro Valley residents was minimized by joining with four other agencies (the Cities of San Leandro and Hayward, and the Union and Oro Loma Sanitary Districts). Federal and State grants totaling 872% were obtained in order to construct a joint project, more commonly known as the "Super Sewer". Castro Valley's share of the construction costs was approximately $8 Million, of which $6 Million was provided by Federal grants, $1 Million by State grants, and $1 Million in local funds. The "Super Sewer" was put into operation in April of 1981.

      The Sanitary District is a member of the Alameda County Waste Management Authority, a County-wide organization to divert materials from the landfill into reuse, recycle and reduction programs. Through a franchise agreement with Waste Management of Alameda County the District collects refuse, green wastes and recyclables within the District.

      The enactment, in 1989, of the California Integrated Waste Management Act (AB 939) has resulted in a major refocusing of District activities in an attempt to meet the very ambitious goals mandated by this legislation of reducing the amount of material sent to the Altamont Landfill by 25% by the year 1995 and by 50% by the year 2000. Alameda County has set a countywide goal at 75% diversion by 2010. As a first step, the Sanitary District implemented a residential curbside recycling program in April of 1991. In 1993, additional materials were added to the program. To date the program has met with success beyond expectations. The curbside program also operates as a "mini" household hazardous waste collection, accepting used motor fluids and latex paint. In late 1994, a yardwaste collection program was implemented and has resulted in a large diversion of residential "green waste", such as grass clippings and yard trimmings. The District's 1995 and 2000 diversion goals were easily achieved with the residential recycling and greenwaste programs, however, in order to meet the year 2010's 75% diversion goal, commercial recycling and food waste programs are being explored for implementation. In March 2002, the District launched its successful residential curbside food waste collection program. In November 2002, the District launched its construction and demolition debris recycling program.

      The District Office is located at 21040 Marshall Street, Castro Valley and is open from 7:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday, except specified holidays. Emergency service is available after office hours by dialing the District's on-call cellular telephone at (510) 506-5821 day or night. Residents are encouraged to contact the District regarding sewage problems or any other questions relating to operation of the District.