Sick of Sewage Campaign

Every year, during rainy winter weather, millions of gallons of raw and undertreated sewage are spilled into San Francisco Bay and local waterways. Baykeeper has been working to stop sewage spills to the Bay for more than a decade, and in 2008, we launched our Sick of Sewage campaign. Since then, we’ve made significant progress toward keeping sewage out of Bay Area homes, streets, creeks, sloughs and the Bay.

Enforcing the Clean Water Act

Baykeeper uses the citizen suit provision of the Clean Water Act to hold polluters accountable for illegal sewage spills. Baykeeper has secured settlement agreements compelling major sewer repairs in sixteen Bay Area cities and sewage districts: in the East Bay, Vallejo, Richmond, Oakland, Emeryville, Piedmont, Alameda, Berkeley, Albany and the Stege Sanitary District; on the Peninsula, San Bruno, South San Francisco, Millbrae, San Carlos, Burlingame, Hillsborough and Burlingame Hills. Read more about our successful settlements to prevent sewage spills to the Bay.

Tracking Sewage Spills

Every winter Baykeeper compiles and analyzes reports of sewage spills from around the Bay Area to establish the total impact of dilapidated sewer systems on the health of the Bay. In winter 2010-11, nearly a quarter billion gallons of sewage and contaminated rainwater were released into the Bay and local waterways. See the map of last winter's sewage spills.

How You Can Help Stop Sewage Spills

Baykeeper works in Bay Area communities to increase the public’s understanding of how our daily actions impact our sewer systems and; can lead to sewage spills. There are easy changes you can make at home to protect San Francisco Bay and our community from sewage pollution. Read Baykeeper’s tips to help prevent sewage spills and overflows to the Bay.