SAN LORENZO — Sewage treatment space isn't the typical item you'd find for sale in the classified ads or on eBay.

But the Oro Loma Sanitary District has plenty of extra treatment capacity in a recently remodeled plant at the foot of Grant Avenue.

Having a place to disinfect the waste before it is discharged deep into the Bay is a valuable commodity for local cities and Alameda County. Growth — residential, commercial and industrial — depends in large part on the availability of sewage collection and treatment.

So, Oro Loma directors decided Tuesday to see if there are any takers among the greater Hayward area's cities and sanitary districts.

Oro Loma's 45,500 residential rate payers could find their fees significantly reduced, former General Manager Mike Cameron suggested, if another agency agrees to a multimillion-dollar deal to use up to 24 percent of the plant's capacity.

Hayward, San Leandro, the Castro Valley Sanitary District and Union City-based Union Sanitary District work with Oro Loma in managing the area's sewage treatment and disposal.

Whoever is interested will have to pay for a complex study to evaluate additional treatment plant use and potentially commit to millions of dollars in additional plant upgrades.

"It won't hurt to get the information on somebody else's nickel," Director Timothy Becker told Director L.N. Landis, who described himself as "ice cold" about the proposal.

The

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treatment plant has a capacity of 20 million gallons of sewage per day. Oro Loma and the Castro Valley Sanitary District jointly operate the plant, with capacity split 75 percent to 25 percent between Oro Loma and Castro Valley.

The plant now treats an average dry-weather flow of just more than 11 million gallons a day, according to officials.

Oro Loma accounts for 8.78 million gallons, while Castro Valley customers use 3.08 million gallons.

Oro Loma projections show minimal future growth in its service areas of San Lorenzo, Ashland, Cherryland, Fairview, and portions of Castro Valley, Hayward and San Leandro, said Cameron, now working as a consultant until a new general manager is selected.

Oro Loma could sell up to 24 percent of plant capacity, lower its operating expenses, and still retain 51 percent of overall treatment space, Cameron said.

Karen Holzmeister can be reached at 510-293-2478 or kholzmeister@bayareanewsgroup.com.