UCSB Campus
Parking Lot 32
(Behind Police & Fire Station, just east of Stadium Way and Mesa Road)
Santa Barbara, CA 93106
805 968-2617
805 562-8987 (FAX)
P.O. Box 4
Goleta, CA 93116-0004
34.4223,-119.8522
J Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93117
President
Term 2022 – 2026
Vice-President
Term 2022 - 2026
Director
Term 2022 – 2026
Director
Term 2024 - 2028
Director
Term 2025 - 2028
The District is in transition from at-large to district elections during the 2024 and 2026 general elections (See Ordinance No. 23-96). Starting in November 2024, Board Members will be elected by districts and serve a four-year term. Terms are staggered and elections are held in November of even-numbered years. Candidates must be a United States Citizen, at least 18 years of age and reside within the boundaries of the Goleta West Sanitary District. Candidates must also reside within the district that they will represent. Election procedures and deadlines may be obtained from the Santa Barbara County Elections Division located at 4440-A Calle Real, Santa Barbara, California 93110. Districts 2 and 4 are up for election in 2024 and Districts 1, 3, and 5 will be up for election in 2026.
GWSD District Elections Maps 679.36 KBClick here for an interactive map of the new districts. If you need assistance navigating the district boundaries, please call our office at (805) 968-2617.
Members of the public can send an e-mail to the District using the following e-mail address:
General Manager/Superintendent
District Counsel
Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, LLP
Office Manager
Utility Worker IV
Utility Worker IV
Environmental Compliance Specialist
Utility Worker III/Street Sweeper Operator
Utility Worker I
Special District Leadership Foundation
Certificate of Excellence
District Transparency
California Water Environment Association
Tri Counties Section
“Joseph Hilliard, Collection System Person of the Year”
California Water Environment Association
State of California
“Joseph Hilliard, Collection System Person of the Year”
Special District Leadership Foundation
Certificate of Excellence
District Transparency
California Special District Association Mark Nation Special District Leadership Academy Certificate
California Sanitation Risk Management Authority Workers Compensation Program Honors “Workers Compensation Excellence”
Special District Leadership Foundation Certificate of Excellence District Transparency
California Sanitation Risk Management Authority Workers Compensation Program Honors “Safety Superstar Award”
California Special District Association Santa Barbara County Chapter “Mark Nation, Manager of the Year”
California Sanitation Risk Management Authority Workers Compensation Program Honors “Safety Superstar Award”
California Sanitation Risk Management Authority Workers Compensation Honors Four Consecutive Years without a Workers Compensation Claim
California Sanitation Risk Management Authority Workers Compensation Program Honors “Safety Superstar Award”
California Sanitation Risk Management Authority Workers Compensation Program Honors “Safety Superstar Award”
California Sanitation Risk Management Authority Workers Compensation Program Honors “Safety Superstar Award”
California Water Environment Association State of California “Collection System of the Year”
California Water Environment Association Tri-Counties Section “Collection System of the Year”
California Water Environment Association Tri-Counties Section “Collection System of the Year”
California Water Environment Association Tri-Counties Section “Collection System of the Year”
California Water Environment Association Tri-Counties Section “Ken Spencer, Collection System Operator of the Year”
The District was formed as the Isla Vista Sanitary District in 1954 to serve the needs of the growing area of Isla Vista. The organization established a five member board of directors and hired a general manager. The District changed its name to Goleta West Sanitary District in January 1990 to more accurately reflect the District’s growing service area.
In the late 1950’s over five miles of sewer lines were installed in the Isla Vista area using assessment bonds. The balance of the system – force main, pump station and trunk sewers – was financed by issuing general obligation bonds. Through a joint use agreement the District connected to its eastern neighbor – the Goleta Sanitary District – and its treatment plant located across from the entrance to Santa Barbara Airport. The District owned only five percent of the plant capacity in the 50’s but has expanded its ownership to over 40% to meet District needs.
As residential subdivisions and commercial growth have expanded the service area, development has paid for sewer system expansions.
The District currently serves approximately 6,100 service connections and maintains over 62 miles of a wastewater collection system including gravity lines, manholes, pump stations, and force mains. Most District sewer lines are made of vitrified clay pipe (VCP), and diameters range from 6 to 42 inches with the majority of lines consisting of 8-inch diameter pipe.
The District commenced providing street sweeping service for public roads through an outsourced contract in October 1963. In 1969, this activity was brought “in house” with the purchase of a street sweeper and additional staff.
The Goleta West Sanitary District was formed in 1954 under the Sanitary District Act of 1923. It derives its authority in the California Health and Safety Code (Sections 6400-6830). For decades Goleta West Sanitary District has provided award-winning service in wastewater collection and treatment for our customers – the citizens and businesses of Western Goleta Valley and Isla Vista.
We are very proud of our longstanding street-sweeping program, which helps prevent polluted storm water run off. GWSD is also proud of its fiscal management, Goleta West customers see some of the lowest rates in the area and the District has won several local and state awards for operation and maintenance of its wastewater collection system.
Formed in 1954, the Goleta West Sanitary District provides wastewater collection for residents and businesses in the Western Goleta Valley and Isla Vista. Governed by an elected board of directors, the District serves approximately 6,100 connections to over 35,000 people. Our customer’s wastewater is pumped through the system to the regional treatment plant that is owned by Goleta Sanitary District (GSD). Several public agencies are contractual users of the GSD treatment plant. Each public agency owns a specific amount of capacity rights in the plant as follows:
Goleta Sanitary District – 47.87%
Goleta West Sanitary District – 40.78%
University of California Santa Barbara – 7.09%
City of Santa Barbara (airport) – 2.84%
County of Santa Barbara – 1.42%
Each entity is obligated to pay its pro rata share of all capital improvements and purchases for the treatment facilities. Each agency is entitled to its pro rata share of the capacity at the treatment plant. Permitted plant capacity is currently 7.64 million gallons per day (MGD); therefore, GWSD’s 40.78% equates to 3.11 MGD.
The Goleta West Sanitary District has been a leader in wastewater management and environmental protection for decades. The District was the first South Coast agency to implement a street sweeping program that removes trash and toxins from storm water runoff that flows into our creeks, wetlands, ocean and beaches. This program has been in successful operation since 1963.
Since 1983, GWSD has maintained an Industrial Waste Pretreatment Program to monitor and control the discharged wastes of industrial users to the public sewer system. This program is a requirement of the Federal Clean Water Act and the Regional Water Quality Control Board. The program ensures the continued effective operation of the collection system, treatment plant, and the protection of collection system workers.
Goleta West Sanitary District is operated by a total staff of seven who are responsible for daily operations, ongoing maintenance, and upgrades to the system as well as the implementation of various environmental programs such as street sweeping and waste water quality testing. GWSD is committed to having a highly trained and knowledgeable staff. The entire staff holds Collection System Maintenance Certification through the California Water Environment Association in addition to other professional wastewater related certifications and credentials. Additionally, the District is proud of its award-winning safety record.
Wastewater is transported from your house or place of business through a system of pipes that either flow “downhill” or are pumped to the District’s main pump station located at the District’s headquarters. The wastewater is then pumped to the Goleta Sanitary District treatment plant, treated, and disposed of through an ocean outfall in the Santa Barbara Channel approximately one mile offshore west of the Goleta pier. Through a service contract Goleta West Sanitary District also services one area outside its service boundary – the Embarcadero Municipal Improvement District (EMID) – located northwest of the District.
The wastewater collection system is in good condition with few major repairs required. This assessment is based primarily on the ongoing closed circuit television inspection, maintenance crew observations and the District’s hydraulic modeling software. GWSD has a minimal number of sewer lines with high operation and maintenance (O&M) requirements. The District has an excellent record of near zero sewer spills per miles of pipe per year. The District maintains a comprehensive maintenance program to combat root intrusion, grease build-up, infiltration and to project system rehabilitation needs.
GWSD’s two pump stations are in good condition and well maintained. The pump stations have adequate capacity to meet the District’s present and projected needs for the next ten years.
Click below for a printer-friendly version of our System Map
System Map 2.29 MB| 20 May 2025; 05:30PM - Board Meeting O3T |