Coloma Pump Station Is Serving the Public and Protecting the Environment 

The Coloma Pump Station at the intersection of Coloma Street and Bridgeway was recently completed. The $6.13 million project increases sewage pumping capacity and reliability. It includes a backup power station and automated monitoring and controls.

The extra capacity helps prevent sewer overflows during heavy rainfall when flows can increase more than 900%.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held in April and was well attended by District board staff and others. The City was represented by Mayor Melissa Blaustein and councilmembers Jill Hoffman and Joan Cox.

The District coordinated extensively with the City and interested members of the community to design the pump station to protect mature trees, add a bike path, and bury most of the facility deep underground.

Thank You For Your Service

Ann Anrott

Dr. Shirley Thornton

Sausalito-Marin City Sanitary District owns excellent facilities but ultimately depends on its Board of Directors and highly trained and dedicated staff to serve our community well. Here is a special thank you to four of our public servants who each reached milestones.

Ann Arnott resigned on March 1, 2023, after 30-plus years of service as an employee and later as a member of the Board of Directors. At the Coloma Pump Station ribbon-cutting ceremony described above, a bench honoring Ann Arnott was unveiled.

The honorary bench welcomes the public to "Please sit here on my bench and flush your troubles down the drain."

Dr. Shirley Thornton, a 56-year resident of Marin City, was appointed on March 21, 2023, to replace Ann Arnott.

Directors Dan J. Rheiner and James Delano, were reelected in November 2023.

Bill Ring and Don Beers also continue to serve on the Board.

District Board of Directors at the Coloma Pump Station Ribbon Cutting. Left to right: William Ring, Dan Rheiner, Don Beers, James DeLano, and Shirley Thornton

The Updated Sanitary System Has Already Performed Well Through Several Emergencies

One of the District's new backup power generators.

Epic Rainstorms in 2022 that would have resulted in sewer spills in the past were managed by the updated sanitary system. There were many factors helping manage these storms, the most important system was the equalization basins, where staff diverted large amounts of sewage that could be held safely during the storm and treated over time.

The treatment plant, as well as the entire conveyance system serving Southern Marin, managed through major power outages and heavy rainfall in January 2023. During multiple PGE power outages, our nine new emergency generators supported power throughout our system, as well as the four pump stations that we operate and maintain for the City.

Your Toilet is Not a Trash Can. Always #FlushSmart

Generally, you should flush nothing but toilet paper down the toilet. 

Although some wipes are labeled flushable, if you aren’t sure, then throw them in the trash, not the toilet. 

Wipes, napkins, floss, feminine hygiene products, and other products are common causes of sewer spills and clogs in your home and in the District’s sewer collection pipelines and treatment plant.

Stay informed with updates about important environmental and wastewater issues, including how to dispose of household hazardous waste and more.