About Us
The History of the Jamestown Sanitary District
The Jamestown Sanitary District is a Special District, formed under the 1923 Sanitary District Act and operates under the California Government Code. It serves the residents of Jamestown and is an independent Special District. It is, in fact, a local government, and has the powers specified by law.
Jamestown Sanitary District "JSD" was formed on June 11, 1940 to address the lack of sewage collection and treatment generally within the unincorporated town site of Jamestown. Wastewater treatment was done mostly on an individual basis with the individual property owner installing a “cesspool” on the small-town site lots. In the business areas such as Main Street and Sierra Railroad station, more elaborate systems were installed using a septic tank and discharge pipes to Woods Creek.
Due to World War II, little activity occurred to improve the sewage collection and treatment systems within the area. Post World War II funding, combined with assessments on property, allowed the Jamestown Sanitary District to construct some 50,000 feet of clay sewer lines and build a new treatment plant away from the main section of Jamestown along Woods Creek. The original Wastewater Treatment Plant was completed constructed in 1952 and has been modified several times. Upgrade to comply with new Clean Water Act requirements was completed in the mid 1960' with subsequent modifications in 1985-6. A sludge dewatering system was installed in 2008 with upgrade to the headwork's in 2011. Through annexations, the District has grown to serve an estimated 3,000 customers.
In the mid 1970's, the Regional Water Quality Control Board adopted Basin Plans for the Tuolumne Water Shed which prohibited direct discharge to surface waters. To address this problem Jamestown Sanitary District joined with Tuolumne Water District Water District #2 (now Tuolumne Utilities District), Tuolumne County Water District #1 (now Twain Harte Community Service District) and the City of Sonora to devise a Regional Sewer System. These agencies also comprise the Regional Sewer Advisory Committee which meets every four months to discuss issues affecting member agencies.
In 1979, Jamestown Sanitary District’s wastewater treatment plant was connected to the Regional Sewer System for disposal of treated effluent. Tuolumne Utilities District, by agreement, disposes of the treated effluent from the Jamestown Wastewater Treatment Plant. JSD operates its own collection system and wastewater treatment plant. In June 2019 construction commenced on a new Wastewater Treatment Facilities Project that was completed in 2021.
The District is governed by a policy and procedures Board of Directors, consisting of five elected or appointed as if elected members representing the best interests of the District and the rate paying public.
