About BACWA

The membership of the Bay Area Clean Water Agencies (BACWA) is comprised of local governmental agencies that are leaders in urban water resource management and public stewardship of the Bay water quality. BACWA members own and operate publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) that discharge to the water of San Francisco Bay Estuary. Together, BACWA's members serve over 5 million people in the nine county Bay Area, treating all domestic, commercial and a significant amount of industrial wastewater. BACWA was formed to develop a region-wide understanding of the watershed protection and enhancement needs through reliance on sound technical, scientific, environmental and economic information and ensure that this understanding leads to long-term stewardship of the San Francisco Bay Estuary.

Member agencies are public entities that dedicate selected employees to participate in specific working committees in order to further the knowledge and understanding of the water quality issues associated with the San Francisco Bay estuary.

The BACWA committees report to the Executive Board at the monthly meetings.

The Executive Board is comprised of the five largest water pollution control agencies in the Bay Area. The Executive Board meets monthly to consider recommendations from committees, to manage the activities of BACWA and to approve all expenditures of the association.

In addition to 100% BACWA activities, a number of activities involving non-BACWA agencies are routinely supported such as the following:

  • 1-888-BAYWISE an informational line that directs calls to their local agencies
  • Administrative support to the Air Issues and Regulations Group (AIR)
  • Administrative support to the San Francisco Bay Area Pollution Prevention Group (BAPPG)
  • Administrative support to Clean Estuary Partnership (CEP) projects.

In lieu of staff, BACWA is represented by members with appropriate consultant support at public hearings, workshops and conferences. Essentially, BACWA operates in the following manner:

  • The Executive Board manages and directs all activities
  • Records, accounting and annual auditing services are provided by EBMUD
  • BACWA has no employees
  • Normally, business is implemented by a mix of members and consulting services contracting
  • The Executive Director/Secretary, provides administration, contract management, and communications services as needed.