Mission, Organization, Facts, and History
What is a "Spill Record"?
Wastewater agencies are required to track and report all overflows from their collection systems to the California State Water Resources Control Board. Union Sanitary District has one of the best spill records statewide. The graph below show USD's average spill record for Fiscal Year 2023 compared to state and regional averages.
Our Mission
To safely and responsibly collect and treat wastewater, and to recover resources from process waste streams, while protecting human health and improving the environment in a way that benefits the Tri-Cities and all USD stakeholders.
Read more about how we accomplish our Mission.
Strategic Planning and Performance Reporting
USD uses a strategic planning methodology to align District operations, which ensures effective fulfillment of our mission.
FY 19 - FY 22 Strategic Plan.
The Annual Strategic Performance Report communicates the District's performance measures and and outcomes, serving as a tool for accountability, transparency, and communication with customers.
FY 2023 Strategic Performance Report
FY 2022 Strategic Performance Report
FY 2021 Strategic Performance Report
FY 2020 Strategic Performance Report
Our Organization
See our organizational chart here.
Our Employee Union's Mission
Union Sanitary District is synonymous with quality work. Our highly skilled and qualified labor force is the cornerstone to the overall public health and success of the communities we serve. Through hard work and dedication, we provide customers with value for their dollar.
USD's Sewer System Management Plan
Our Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP) can be found here.
District Facts
When was USD founded? May 27, 1918
What area does USD serve? (annexed areas)
City of Fremont 36.4 sq.mi.
City of Newark 13.8 sq.mi.
City of Union City 9.9 sq.mi.
Total: 60.2 sq.mi.
How many people are served by USD?
| Fremont | 229,250 |
| Newark | 46,635 |
| Union City | 66,432 |
| Total population served (January 2024 California Dept. of Finance demographics) | 342,317 |
What types of customers are served? (9/23)
| Type of customer | Number of Connections |
| Domestic/Residential living unit connections | 118,338 |
| Commercial connections | 1,772 |
| Industrial connections | 1,341 |
| Total connections | 121,451 |
How many miles of sewers does USD maintain?
839 miles of underground pipelines
How many pump stations are in USD's service area?
Seven pump stations
How many gallons of wastewater are treated each day?
2023 Average Daily Flow: 24.25 million gallons
What type of treatment does the plant provide?
Secondary Activated Sludge
Who are the top ten industrial dischargers in the area served by USD and what is their flow? (total chargeable annual flow)
| Tesla Motors, Inc. | 148,071,305 |
| Lam Research Corporation (CA3/CA3E), | 78,744,242 |
| Western Digital Technologies #1 | 60,986,136 |
| Boehringer Ingelheim Fremont, Inc. | 38,905,754 |
| U.S. Pipe & Foundry | 38,069,487 |
| Mission Linen Supply | 29,461,267 |
| Washington Hospital Healthcare System | 24,437,690 |
| Masonic Homes of CA | 19,787,634 |
| Tesla Motors, Inc. | 17,569,563 |
| Kaiser Hospital and Medical Center | 14,658,451 |
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How many people does USD employ?
149 (as of 8/26/24)
What is USD's annual operating budget?
$58,861,622 (FY 2025)
USD's Fiscal Year 2025: July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025
What is the annual service charge for a single family residence?
$611.58 (FY 2025 adopted rate)
What is the current capacity fee?
$11,514 for a single-family swelling dwelling unit less than or equal to 4,500 sq. ft.
Historical Information
- 1918 Union Sanitary District (USD) founded; first Board of Directors meeting
- 1923 District reorganized under Sanitary District Act of 1923
- 1924 First two connections made to USD system
- 1949 Niles Sanitary District becomes part of USD
- 1954 Decoto Sanitary District annexed to USD
- 1956 Irvington Sanitary District becomes part of USD
- 1962 City of Union City joined USD service area
- 1974 East Bay Dischargers Authority (EBDA) JPA formed
USD contracted for 19.7 mgd of capacity in outfall to deep portion of San Francisco Bay. - 1981 Alvarado Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) completed
Abandoned Newark & Irvington plants
Transport system and EBDA outfall put into operation - 1988 Alvarado WWTP expansion completed
- 1990 Treatment Plant Facilities Plan completed
- 1994 District-wide Master Plan completed and EIR certified
- 1996 Alvarado Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade construction complete (30 mgd)
- 1997 Reorganization into a Team-based organization
- 2001 Consolidated USD Administration, Corp Yard and Wastewater Treatment Facilities at one location in Union City
District Formation and Authority
The Union Sanitary District is an independent special district which provides wastewater collection, treatment and disposal services to the residents and businesses of the cities of Fremont, Newark and Union City, in Southern Alameda County, California. Independent special districts are voted into existence by the citizens they serve and are sanctioned under California law to perform specific local government functions within certain boundaries. The District was formed in 1918 and reorganized under the Sanitary District Act of 1923. It derives its authority in the California Health & Safety Code (Sections 6400-6830). The District is governed by an elected Board of Directors which is accountable to the public. The Directors are members of the community they represent. The District recovers the cost of their service delivery through rates imposed on users of the service. The District is independently audited and subject to state and public scrutiny.
Other special districts in Alameda County provide services such as water, fire service, mosquito abatement, recreation, parks and hospital services.
