Up until 1910,

San Lorenzo was

largely rural farms,

fruit-drying fields, and

cherry orchards. The land

was very flat, close to sea level, with foothills to the

east. In 1910, the area began to see the subdivi-

sion of large farms and estates for individual home

sites. With such development, and with large areas

subject to winter flooding, community leaders envi-

sioned the need for a public storm water and sewer

system. On August 7, 1911, a petition to form Oro

Loma Sanitary District was approved

by the County of Alameda Board

of Supervisors. It encom-

passed an area of about 800

acres north of Hayward in

an area bounded roughly

by San Lorenzo Creek and

Mattox Road on the north,

Meekland Avenue on the

west, Grove Way on the south,

and Foothill Boulevard on the east.

By the beginning of 1940, development of the

area created an urgent need for proper sew-

age treatment and disposal. In April 1940, the

District was reorganized under the Sanitary

District Act of 1923. On April 19, 1940, a five-

member Board of Directors was elected.

Between 1940 and 1952, 47 large parcels

were annexed to the District and 146 subdivi-

sions were accepted.

On March 26, 1941, by Resolution

No. 26, Oro Loma approved the first

of many joint agreements between

Oro Loma, Castro Valley Sanitary Dis-

trict (CVSD), and the City of Hayward

in regard to the sewer outfalls, as well as

future sewer works. In 1941, a joint outfall

sewer was constructed from the intersection

of Grove Way and Meekland Avenue to a point

of discharge in the San Francisco Bay.

Oro Loma contracted with Oakland Scavenger

Company to provide trash collection and dis-

posal services to the District’s customers.

Continuous growth in the San Lorenzo com-

munity resulted in the construction of major

sewer lines.

By 1947, the California State Board of Health

required all jurisdictions dumping raw sew-

age into fresh waters to provide treatment

sufficiently adequate to avoid pollution. The

District acquired land at the west end of Grant

Avenue for construction of a sewage treatment

and disposal plant. A $1,840,000 General Ob-

ligation Bond was issued on July 2, 1948, to

finance the District’s first sewage treatment

plant.

Construction of the new plant began in 1948 and

completed in 1950. It had a primary treatment

capacity of 12 million gallons per day (mgd).

By 1967, federal wastewater discharge requirements became more stringent, and the State Water

Resources Control Board set new treatment standards, including secondary treatment. To meet these

standards, the District constructed a more technologically sophisticated sewage treatment plant.

This modern sewage treatment plant, designed by Kennedy Engineers, used the activated sludge

method of secondary treatment. Construction began in 1967 and was completed in 1969.

The East Bay Dischargers Authority (EBDA), a joint-powers agen-

cy, was formed in 1974 by agreement between Oro Loma and four

other sanitation agencies in the East San Francisco Bay.

The purpose of the “joint exercise of powers” agreement was to

provide for more efficient disposal of wastewater by enabling

member agencies to jointly construct common wastewater facili-

ties. These facilities included pipelines, pump stations, a com-

mon submarine outfall, and a dechlorination station.

Additional areas were annexed to the District.

Over 1,000 new sewer connections, three new

lift stations and more than 8.5 miles of sewer

lines were added to the service area.

$12 million in Sewer Revenue Bonds were

issued to improve and renovate the District’s

aging facilities.

A biweekly collection of household recycla-

bles and weekly collection of green waste was

implemented.

Sodium hypochlorite replaced chlorine in disin-

fecting effluent going into San Francisco Bay.

Awards for the first Oro Loma Earth Day Poster

Contest were presented. There were 200 entries

in the environmental awareness contest.

Expanded recycling program began.

Oro Loma exceeded 50% diversion from land-

fill as required by AB939.

Curbside recycling began. Green waste and

recycling services were expanded and bulky

waste pickup was reinstated.

Entries in the fourth annual Oro Loma Earth

Day Poster Contest reached 3000. $17,000 was

awarded to students and schools in the District.

The District will offer free tours of the treatment plant every Wednesday in August, 2011. Reservations are required and must be made by the Friday

before the requested date. Call (510) 276-4700 during regular business hours, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, to reserve your spot on a tour.

PRSRT STD

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PAID

OAKLAND CA

PERMIT NO. 591

Bayfair trunk sewer upgrade and the Lewel-

ling Boulevard interceptor sewer projects

were completed.

A major upgrade project to restore the treat-

ment plant’s 20 million gallons a day flow

was proposed.

Recycling trucks switched to compressed

natural gas.

Bulky pickup and recycling services were

expanded. Ground was broken on the plant

restoration project. A target completion date

of 2007 was established.

The Plant Capacity Restoration Project was

completed, nearly a year ahead of schedule

and under budget.

Oro Loma Earth Day Poster Contest prizes

are increased.

Washington Avenue sewer project was com-

pleted.

Oro Loma paid off all debt. Food scrap re-

cycling began.

A grease-receiving project began.

The District’s new solar array project was

completed. Oro Loma is now able to supply

almost all of its electrical energy needs.