Celebrating 75 years of service in the Oakley and Bethel Island communities

In August 2020 Ironhouse Sanitary District celebrates 75 years of providing water recycling services to our community. We’ve come a long way since July 2, 1945, when our district’s founding fathers approached the county supervisors with a vision for better sanitation services for Oakley, which was then a rural township.

Registered voters of Oakley unanimously supported the creation of the sanitary district; a testament to the value placed on the health and welfare of their community. Three decades later, Bethel Island residents joined the District to take advantage of the improved services that were available. 

Today, Ironhouse Sanitary District continues to evolve with its modern Water Recycling Facility and finding new uses for recycled water. 

 Check out the history of the District here.

About us

The most common questions people ask us are what does the Ironhouse Sanitary District do and where did it get its unusual name? Much like the community it serves, the Ironhouse Sanitary District has a long and storied history.

In existence since 1945, ISD utilizes a staff of 34 field and office personnel to maintain sanitary services for more than 42,000 customers in the Oakley and Bethel Island area. Today, the district treats approximately 2 million gallons of recycled water every day at our technologically-advanced Water Recycle Facility located north of Main Street near downtown Oakley.

Innovative Design

Ironhouse Sanitary District's Water Recycling Facility was designed completely in house by our engineer and won a sanitation industry award for technological advancement shortly after building in 2011. The facility is environmentally sound and strictly regulated. No chemicals are used in the membrane bioreactor process. Instead, water is cleaned by a process that uses filtration and ultra-violet light.

Where does the name Ironhouse come from?

The district's unique name derives from Ironhouse School, which was a small schoolhouse that once served the families living in the rural area near Hotchkiss Tract. (A picture of the school appears with the chronology.) The school served much of the territory that today is encompassed by the sanitary district, so when it came time to select a name the District’s Board of Directors thought the Ironhouse moniker seemed a natural fit.

Meeting the needs of tomorrow

From our administrative staff to the staff who work in the Water Recycling Facility, in the field maintaining Ironhouse's collection pipelines, and on Jersey Island, protecting public health is our top priority. Ironhouse's employees take pride in their work and are dedicated to working to continue to be a leader in the wastewater industry while maintaining a clean and healthy environment. 

Mission Statement 

"We protect public health, safety, and the environment through responsible wastewater collection, treatment, and water reuse."