Sanitary Sewer System

After water leaves homes and businesses, it travels through an intricate, 2,200-mile underground pipe system. 10-hours later, the water arrives at the San Jose/Santa Clara Water Pollution Control Plant (Plant). This underground pipe system is the sanitary sewer system.

The system includes 35,000 manholes, 16 pump stations, and other related infrastructure. City crews maintain the sanitary sewer systems by regularly monitoring and cleaning sewage blockages.

A five-year sanitary sewer improvement program was launched to rehabilitate and replace infrastructure. This program runs independent of the Plant Master Plan.

Fats, oils, and grease washed down the drain are the primary cause of most sanitary sewer blockages. The City of San José developed an outreach program to raise awareness of keeping these materials out of sewer pipes.

The Plant does not collect or treat stormwater. A separate stormwater system collects all outdoor water, including rain and runoff, and discharges into local rivers and creeks without treatment.