About Us

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 runoff. 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.

Goleta West Sanitary District provides wastewater collection for residents and businesses in the Western Goleta Valley and Isla Vista. We serve 6,100 connections to over 41,575 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.