Newsletter – Spring 2025
The Clean Water Program is a comprehensive plan to upgrade the aging wastewater collection and treatment system with advanced infrastructure that provides reliable services for years to come to several communities in the San Francisco Bay area, including the cities of San Mateo, Foster City, and portions of Hillsborough, Belmont, Crystal Springs County Sanitation District, and the County of San Mateo. Many of these improvements have been completed or are near completion.
The Clean Water Program has made improvements to the wastewater treatment plant, sewer collection pipes, pump stations, and has constructed a new underground flow equalization system facility to improve the capacity of the system. These improvements align with the City’s sustainability goals.
This newsletter includes updates on CWP projects that have been completed recently or are still active. Detailed information can be found on our website.
¿Preguntas? Para información en español, haga el favor de llamar al (650) 522-7298.
Los Prados, Kehoe Kelly, and Arroyo Lift Station Rehabilitation Project to Begin in Late Summer 2025; Virtual Community Meeting Scheduled for June 25, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
The East San Mateo Lift Station Rehabilitation Project is scheduled to begin in late Summer 2025. The project is being completed as part of the City of San Mateo’s Clean Water Program. The overall purpose of this project is to rehabilitate and replace existing aging sanitary sewer pump stations and significantly improve the reliability of transporting sanitary sewer flows in the City’s sewer system. The project involves installing new pumps, wet wells, and emergency generators at three pump station sites, complete abandonment of an existing pump station site, replacement of more than 1,600 linear feet of existing gravity sewer pipe, installation of more than 4,000 linear feet of sanitary sewer force main pipe, and reconfiguration of the S. Norfolk Street/Los Prados Street/La Selva Street intersection. Construction is expected to be complete in mid-2027.
The project work will occur in three different areas of the City as highlighted on the map shown in this article. Additional details about specific streets affected in each work area can be found on our project page.
The City of San Mateo is hosting a Virtual Community Meeting on June 25, 2025, beginning promptly at 6 p.m., and our community is invited to attend. The meeting will start with a presentation informing the community about details of upcoming construction activities, anticipated timeframes, and temporary impacts. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session with the project leads. The meeting will be recorded, and video will be posted to our website after the meeting. If you are unable to participate in the live event, you can view the recording and submit questions or comments to us at info@CleanWaterProgramSanMateo.org or by calling 1-650-727-6870.
To join the Zoom meeting, visit: https://bit.ly/4k2dOXs
Webinar ID: 844 6984 9629
Passcode: 706319
To join by phone: 1 408 638 0968
Webinar ID: 844 6984 9629
Meeting details and project information are also available on our project page.
Residents in affected areas will receive additional notification ahead of construction in their area.
We thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as we make steady progress toward the completion of much-needed solutions for our aging sewer system.
Wastewater Treatment Plant
Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade Project Update and Upcoming Milestones
The Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) upgrade project nears its operational status as the project and construction team continue to stay on schedule. The new processes will be operational in late August 2025.
Important construction milestones recently achieved include:
- Occupancy of the new Administration Building
- Upgrades to the sodium bisulfite tanks, transfer pumps, and the chlorine contact basins
- Plant chemical area improvements
Clean water testing that began in January is still expected to be completed in July 2025. Plant seeding begins in late June. Upcoming Phase 3 plant construction milestones include:
- Clean Water Testing – January to July 2025
- Plant Seeding – June to July 2025
- Plant Performance Testing – July to August 2025
- New Processes Operational – August 2025
- Conversion of Existing Aeration Basins – July 2025 to Feb 2026
- Finish All Site Work– March 2026
- Project Closeout – March to May 2026
For more information about our exciting new WWTP, please visit our WWTP page. You can also e-mail info@CleanWaterProgramSanMateo.org, or call us at (650) 727-6870.
El Camino Real Sewer Capacity Improvements Project to be completed in Summer of 2025
Sewer Capacity improvements in most areas of the El Camino Real (ECR) Project were completed in December 2024. The remaining work involves a section of sewer installation work near Laurel Creek which is expected to commence and be completed in Summer of 2025. The ECR project included installation of approximately 7,800 linear feet of pipe, including new and upsized relief sewers and manhole installations throughout Areas 1, 2, and 3 as shown in the figure.
Please visit El Camino Real Sewer Capacity Improvements – Clean Water Program San Mateo for complete project details or contact Makarand Pendse, Project Manager, at 925.392.3726 or makarand.pendse@jacobs.com.
Dale Avenue Pump Station Project- New Generator Installation Was Completed in May 2025
The new Generator installation and testing was recently completed in May 2025, and the temporary generator was moved away.
The purpose of the new generator is to provide power supply to the pump station in the event of a power outage. The pump station is vital for the operation of the City’s sewer system and must remain operational 24/7.
For more project information, please visit our Dale Avenue Pump Station page or contact CWP Project Manager Makarand Pendse at (925) 392-3726 or makarand.pendse@jacobs.com, or email info@CleanWaterProgramSanMateo.org.
Sewer Rehabilitation Projects
In San Mateo, wastewater from homes and businesses is collected via a network of pipes, manholes, and pump stations. The City collection system includes about 240 miles of pipelines, 6,000 manholes, and 27 pump stations. This system transports wastewater for treatment at the treatment plant and eventual discharge into the San Francisco Bay. The Sewer Rehabilitation Project consists of areas divided into five basins, identified as Basins A through E, which are part of the City of San Mateo’s rehabilitation of the overall wastewater collection system.
For more information about the Sewer Improvement Projects, please call (650) 727-6870, or email info@CleanWaterProgramSanMateo.org or contact CWP Project Manager Laura Webb at (650) 522-7322 or lwebb@cityofsanmateo.org.
¿Preguntas? Para información en español, haga el favor de llamar al (650) 522-7298.
B Basin (West Basin) Sewer Rehabilitation Construction Ongoing
Rehab construction began in April 2024 and is near completion. Basin B work occurred at multiple sites within the public right-of-way (ROW) and within easements on private property, including front yards, backyards, and driveways. Basin B includes downtown San Mateo, and those City areas west of El Camino Real between Highway 92 and Crystal Springs Road.
Basin B serves as the collection system for public and commercial centers, such as Downtown San Mateo as well as several residential neighborhoods.
C Basin (East Basin) Construction Ongoing
Basin C includes areas of the City east of Highway 101, between Foster City to the north and J Hart Clinton Drive to the north as shown on the map below. Westland Contractors began construction in February 2025 and estimates completion in February 2026.
Basin C includes areas between J Hart Clinton Drive and Kimberley Way on the eastern side of Highway 101. Basin C is the collection system for public and commercial centers, including the Bridgepointe Shopping Center and the San Mateo Wastewater Treatment Plant, as well as several residential neighborhoods, including Shoreview, Parkside, Marina Lagoon, Marina Gardens, Lakeshore, Mariner’s Green, Harbor Town, and Laguna Vista.
Notifications are being sent to residents and businesses two weeks prior to the start of work, along with additional notifications two to three days prior to starting work in the area.
D Basin (Central Basin) Sewer Rehabilitation Design Work Completed
D Basin covers San Mateo area south of State Route (SR) 92 and southwest of Highway 101, with a smaller portion extending to the north side of SR 92. Basin D serves as the collection system for public and commercial centers, such as the Peninsula Golf and Country Club and the San Mateo County Event Center, as well as several residential neighborhoods such as Hayward Park, Sunnybrae, Bay Meadows, Beresford Manor, San Mateo Village and Lauriedale (see map).
Detailed design work was completed in May 2025. The project is going through the construction bid process. A contract is expected to be awarded by Summer 2025.
A Basin (North Basin) Sewer Rehabilitation Project to Begin CCTV Investigations Underway
The A Basin Sewer Rehabilitation project started in May 2025 includes cleaning and CCTV inspection of:
- Approximately 190,050 linear feet of pipe in the public right-of-way
- Approximately 44, 450 linear feet in easements on private property
- Approximately 900 manholes in the public right-of-way and 110 manholes in easements on private property
Cracked sewer pipes and laterals, as well as faulty manhole covers, allow rainwater and groundwater to flow into the sewer system. Regular checks are needed to maintain the proper operation of the system, to meet regulatory requirements, and to prevent sewer overflows.
Notifications will be sent to residents and businesses prior to the start of work, and the contractor will provide additional notices two to three days prior to starting work in the area if access to public utility easements is necessary. Work in A Basin is expected to be completed in February 2026.
Basin A covers the northern portion of San Mateo, including the North Central, North Shoreview, San Mateo Park, San Mateo Heights, and a portion of Baywood neighborhoods (see map). The purpose of the Basin A Sewer Rehabilitation Project is to repair and rehabilitate existing sanitary sewer pipelines and manholes.