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Voter Education

About EBMUD & Ward 7

Most voters don’t think about water until something goes wrong. This page explains what EBMUD is, what a board director actually does, and which communities Ward 7 covers.

Water flowing over the spillway on the Mokelumne River
The Mokelumne River, where EBMUD’s drinking water begins.
1.4MPeople served
7Board members
217KWard 7 residents
7Communities

01 The utility

What Is EBMUD?

The East Bay Municipal Utility District is a publicly owned water and wastewater utility serving 1.4 million people in Alameda and Contra Costa counties. EBMUD is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors, each elected by voters in their ward to four-year terms.

EBMUD provides drinking water from the Mokelumne River in the Sierra Nevada, manages treatment plants, maintains thousands of miles of pipeline, and operates the wastewater system for communities throughout the East Bay.

From the Sierra Nevada to the East Bay

  1. Mokelumne RiverDrinking water starts in the Sierra Nevada.
  2. Treatment plantsWater is treated before it reaches homes.
  3. PipelinesThousands of miles to maintain.
  4. WastewaterEBMUD also operates a wastewater system.

02 The job

What Does a Board Director Do?

An EBMUD Board Director votes on water rates, infrastructure investments, environmental policy, and the district’s operating and capital budgets. Directors also oversee the General Manager, review audits and financial reports, and represent their ward’s interests on regional water policy.

In practice, a good director also shows up in the community — listening to residents, helping constituents navigate issues with their water service, and making sure the communities they represent get their fair share of investment.

One board. Seven wards.

7 directors, each elected by voters in their own ward to a four-year term. Ward 7 elects one of them.

03 The ward

Ward 7 Communities

EBMUD Ward 7 covers more than 217,000 residents across some of the most diverse communities in the East Bay:

  • Castro Valley
  • San Leandro (portions)
  • San Lorenzo
  • Hayward (portions)
  • Cherryland
  • Fairview
  • San Ramon (portions, Contra Costa County)

Each area has its own character, but they share a common expectation: reliable, clean, affordable water — and a board director who shows up and fights for their interests.

April Chan, EBMUD Ward 7 Director

April Chan has represented Ward 7 since January 2023. Learn more about April →

How to vote
See April’s record