U.S. Rep. John Garamendi secured more than $1 million to help rehabilitate an outdated sewer system on Vallejo’s Mare Island, his office said Thursday.
Garamendi, D-Fairfield, presented a $1,092,000 check to the Vallejo Flood and Wastewater District to fix the island’s infrastructure and reduce the risk of raw sewage entering San Francisco Bay, his office said.
There have been multiple laws in place for years aimed at cleaning up the Bay, restoring habitats and protecting species. Garamendi’s office said the money will fulfill federal and state missions to do this.
“It may not be glamorous, but the health and safety of our cities depend on the functionality of our wastewater and sewer systems,” said Garamendi in a statement released by his office. “This much-needed federal investment will strengthen flood protection, improve public safety, and help protect both public health and our local environment.”
A 2024 assessment of Mare Island infrastructure revealed pipes that were over capacity, broken pipes, pumps and motors in poor condition, and some systems remaining unchanged since 1956.
Mare Island is the site of the Pacific Coast’s first permanent U.S. naval base, which was decommissioned in 1996. The city of Vallejo has been grappling with the aftermath for decades, not only in job losses but in cleanup of the site.
“Infrastructure is critical for the future,” said Garamendi at a press conference about the announcement. “Mare Island has many, many promises for the future … there are businesses that are already located here, there are more that will come to this island, but it will not work unless the sanitation system works.”
