USD is pleased that our dedicated staff is receiving recognition as part of the California Legislature’s establishment of Water Professionals Appreciation Week. The appreciation week highlights the important role of wastewater, water, and recycled water professionals, as well as local public agencies, in ensuring safe and reliable services to their communities. This year marks the first annual event, which begins the first Saturday of October and ends on Sunday the following weekend.

USD’s wastewater professionals work to ensure protection of public health and the environment for the Tri-Cities 24/7/365. Collection system workers, plant operators, environmental compliance inspectors, lab analysts, mechanics, electricians, and engineers are just some of the District staff members dedicated to providing award-winning service to our customers. 

Recent labor studies estimate that 60,000 people work in the wastewater and water industry in California, and the industry needs roughly 6,000 new employees each year due to turnover. USD encourages exploration of wastewater industry careers, which offer a wide array of rewarding jobs providing services that are essential to society. 

We’re proud that our hardworking staff is receiving well-deserved appreciation from the California Legislature.

 

USD is pleased to support the rollout of MED-Project Pharmaceutical Take-back kiosks throughout Alameda County. There are currently 16 kiosks in the County located in several pharmacies and law enforcement agencies. These kiosks are for residents to safely dispose of unwanted and expired medications at no cost to the consumer. This program is growing and more kiosk locations will be added soon.

MED- Project is a Limited Liability Company funded by the pharmaceutical industry in response to the Alameda County Safe Drug Disposal Ordinance of 2012 that has since been amended to include sharps. During the transition, there may be changes to existing drop off locations so please check the MED-Project website for updates: www.med-project.org.

Current MED-Project locations in the Tri-Cities include:

Haller's Pharmacy and Medical Supply
37323 Fremont Boulevard
Fremont, CA  94536
(510) 797-2772
Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Haller's Pharmacy Newark
6170 Thornton Avenue
Newark CA  94560
(510) 797-4333
Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Newark Police Department
37101 Newark Blvd.
Newark, CA  94560
(510) 578-4237
Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Mowry Medical Pharmacy
1999 Mowry Avenue, Suite 2A
Fremont, CA  94538
(510) 793-5011
Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
 

USD recently honored 28 Tri-City Industries with Certificates of Merit for achieving 100% compliance with water quality requirements in the 2016 calendar year. The District annually awards Certificates of Merit to those permitted industries within its service area that maintain 100% compliance with all wastewater discharge requirements. In addition, these industries consistently implement pollution prevention measures, maintain a cooperative working relationship with the District, and demonstrate continuing awareness and understanding of environmental issues and requirements. Several of the recipients have received this honor for consecutive years of continued compliance. Photos of attendees and their awards are on the District's Facebook page.

The District is responsible for permitting, inspecting, and monitoring many industries that discharge to its sewer system to ensure compliance with Federal, State, and Local environmental regulations. This is done not only to protect the treatment plant from toxic discharges, but also to protect the water quality of San Francisco Bay.

FOG (Fats, Oils, and Grease) in your household drains can create blockages that turn a great holiday into a hot mess. Avoid sloppy, costly backups into your home and overflows that can enter local waterways, harming wildlife and the environment. NEVER put fats, oils, or grease down your drains or into storm drains, which flow untreated to our creeks and San Francisco Bay. Bring your used cooking oil and grease to the Republic Services Customer Service Center at 42600 Boyce Road in Fremont for FREE disposal Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Small amounts of cooled-down cooking oil and grease can be placed in an empty soup or pet food can with absorbent paper and discarded with your other garbage.

For more information visit www.StopFOG.com, call Republic Services at (510) 657-3500, or call Union Sanitary District at (510) 477-7500.

Union Sanitary District recently unveiled its redesigned website, revealing a dynamic, mobile-friendly format with District information organized for easy access.

USD’s goal was to create a website that reflects the District’s commitment to customer service. The new design is structured so USD’s residential, commercial and industrial customers can quickly connect to information and services they need.

The District reached out to a customer stakeholder group for suggestions at the beginning of the project, incorporating many recommendations into the final design.

New features include a “How Do I” menu to answer frequently asked questions, a location map showing USD’s many capital improvement projects throughout its service area, and a page highlighting the District’s 33-acre Alvarado treatment plant in Union City. The “Trending Now” section on the home page gives users a glimpse of the website’s most popular information. Tips about sewer safety and repairs, preventing odors, and protecting the environment are easier to find in the new website’s menus, as are details about USD’s Board of Directors, public meetings, rates, budget, and finances.

“We’re proud of the work we do to provide wastewater services to the Tri-Cities, and our new website reflects that by offering greatly improved functionality,” says General Manager Paul R. Eldredge. “USD takes customer service very seriously, and upgrading the website helps us reach out to our community with the District’s most up-to-date and relevant information. We hope everyone enjoys exploring www.unionsanitary.ca.gov, and discovering the many ways USD fulfills its mission to protect public health and San Francisco Bay.”