Summary
In February 2024, Goleta West Sanitary District experienced a sewage spill from its force main that reached a tributary of the Goleta Slough and eventually the Pacific Ocean. The force main, a 24-inch pipe used to convey wastewater from homes and businesses to the nearby Regional Treatment Plant, experienced a failure on the night of February 16, when a small, corroded section of the pipe ruptured. The spill was discovered early in the morning of February 17 and the District diverted flow from to the 24-inch force main, which was in-service at the time of the failure, to the backup 18-inch force main.
In October 2024, an unrelated, smaller spill occurred. This spill flowed to an isolated retention basin where the Santa Barbara Airport drains runway stormwater runoff. As a result of this spill’s location, none of the wastewater reached a tributary or the ocean and GWSD quickly cleaned up the spill.
These incidents are a major disappointment for the District but have evolved into an opportunity to work with oversight agencies, environmental groups, and third-party engineers to investigate and address any issues with its force mains. It is a priority for the District to demonstrate that we safely handle wastewater and protect the environment on behalf of not only District customers, but the community at large.
October 16, 2025, the District and the Central Coast Regional Water Board Assistant Executive Officer agreed to settle the Notice of Violations (NOV) related to the February spill. Public comment is now open until November 17th.More information is available here: Enforcement Program | Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board.Click here to view the communication from the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board that includes the Draft Settlement Agreement and Stipulation for Entry of Administrative Civil Liability Order from the Central Coast regional Water Quality Control Board and how you can submit public comment.