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Dedicated to protecting
public health
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As our community and the world grapple with the unprecedented coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, West County Wastewater remains dedicated to protecting public health and the environment.
Your wastewater service is not impacted by the outbreak. We continue to operate our treatment plant, provide permit services, conduct emergency inspections, respond to sewage emergencies and more.
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Customers worried about coronavirus in wastewater can rest assured that our collection and treatment process meets all state and federal regulations, ensuring viruses like COVID-19, bacteria and other contaminants do not survive. |
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Our office employees, including our customer service team, are working remotely. Phone calls to West County Wastewater are monitored, but response may not be immediate except for emergencies. To report an emergency, call (510) 222-6799. Crews are available to respond 24 hours a day, seven days week.
West County Wastewater will continue to provide reliable, safe service to keep our community healthy. Stay up to date and find COVID-19 FAQs at www.wcwd.org. For Contra Costa County updates, visit cchealth.org.
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Check out our new online services! |
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West County Wastewater customers can now obtain a sewer permit, submit a lateral inspection video and more at www.wcwd.org. The new online services were developed to meet the needs of the community during the office closure, but will be offered on a permanent basis.
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West County Wastewater is now connected to our local community on Nextdoor as a public agency. The move allows us to provide residents with resources and information that is relevant to their neighborhoods. Look for our posts or view the page at https://nextdoor.com/pages/wcwd!
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Remember to find us on Facebook and LinkedIn, too! |
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Board of Directors 2020 Election |
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Three West County Wastewater Board of Director seats are up for election as part of the General Election in November.
West County Wastewater is governed by a five-member Board, with each position representing a certain geographic area. The three seats up for election are:
- District 1, held by Cesar Zepeda (two-year term)
- District 2, held by Sherry Stanley
- District 4, held by Harry Wiener
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Board members serve a four-year term, unless a member is appointed to fill a mid-term vacancy. In those instances, the appointed position will expire with the next election and the remaining term will be filled by the individual who wins the election. |
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The West County Wastewater Board voted to transition from at-large elections to district-based (zone) elections in compliance with the California Voting Rights Act, effective November 2020.
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New look and fresh ideas for
the future
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West County Wastewater adopted a new logo and a five-year Strategic Plan at its Board of Directors meeting on July 1, 2020.
The Strategic Plan will guide West County Wastewater over the next five years as we continue to protect public health and the environment. The document maps out a path that ensures ongoing reliable service with maintained and improved systems and a team that is invested in serving the community. The plan also outlines our goals to strengthen partnerships, remain accountable and transparent, and engage with customers clearly and frequently.
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Our new logo represents West County Wastewater’s mission and commitment to environmental and community stewardship. It embodies our dedication to upholding our core values in our day-to-day actions.
The logo is accompanied by a new tagline that ties into the Strategic Plan: “Embracing the future by planning today…”
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Together, the three items reflect our direction as an agency, supporting a vision for a future of collaboration, innovation and trust. Read the Strategic Plan online at www.wcwd.org.
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West County Wastewater and EBMUD (East Bay Municipal Utility District) announced a recycled water agreement that will preserve valuable drinking water for the region and support West County Wastewater’s ongoing mission of environmental stewardship and protecting public health. |
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Under an existing arrangement, West County Wastewater sends the majority of its treated wastewater to EBMUD. The updated agreement increases the amount of discharged wastewater that can be transferred to EBMUD, which then distributes the recycled water to local businesses for industrial reuse, such as cooling towers and boilers. |
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“Collaborating with local agencies such as EBMUD to provide recycled water is an integral part of our efforts to support environmental sustainability and community stewardship,” said Board President David Alvarado. “We are pleased to be able to maintain this important relationship.”
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FOG and wipes can be a pain in
your pipes!
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Communities across the country are seeing an increase in sewage overflows as people use more disinfectant wipes and turn to “flushable” wipes instead of toilet paper amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Families are also cooking more at home, generating food waste that can clog pipes. It’s important to remember to throw wipes and FOG (fats, oils, and grease) in the trash instead of sending it down the drain. |
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Many people are unaware of the costly and hazardous effect wipes and FOG can have on the sewage system. FOG thickens and other waste clings to it, clogging pipes and jamming pumps. Wipes and other products, such as paper towels, floss, hygiene products and more, do not readily breakdown, also wreaking havoc on the system. Blockages in pipes, pumps and treatment systems can cause backups and overflows.
Overflows into homes, businesses and streets can result in thousands of dollars in damage for both property owners and wastewater service providers. Often times, the sewage ends up in rivers, lakes, streams, creeks and oceans, leading to beach closures and threatening public health and the environment.
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Do you know what to do if you see something like this? |
If you notice an overflow, call (510) 222-6799 immediately. West County Wastewater responds to sewer emergencies 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A quick response can mean the difference between a cleanup of 100 gallons of sewage versus 10,000 gallons!
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You can prevent backups and keep sewage flowing away from your home by keeping drains and pipes clear of these materials. Even items labeled as “flushable” should not be flushed down the toilet.
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To keep FOG from building up in your pipes, follow these tips:
- Pour FOG into a covered, disposable container and throw it into your garbage. Never put FOG down sinks, drains or toilets.
- Soak up remaining oils and grease with an absorbent material such as paper towels and dispose of it in your green waste bin or garbage.
- Before you wash dishes, scrape food scraps and FOG into the compost, green waste or garbage bin.
- Use sink strainers to catch any remaining food waste while washing dishes. Empty it into the compost, green waste or garbage bin.
Note: Small quantities of FOG are safe for green waste and compost, but large amounts should be thrown in the trash.
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Remember, when in doubt, throw it out! Learn more at www.wcwd.org.
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David Alvarado
President
Cheryl Sudduth
Vice President
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Sherry Stanley
Director
Harry Wiener
Director
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Phone: (510) 222-6700
Business Hours: M-F 8a-12p, 1p-5p
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