Collecting Wastewater

When we flush toilets or drain sinks and appliances, the wastewater seems to simply disappear. Of course, it doesn't. In the Goleta Sanitary District boundary, it drains into the wastewater collection system, a 135-mile system of underground pipelines that collects wastewater from throughout the Goleta Valley and transports it almost entirely by gravity to the Water Resource Recovery Facility.

Types of Sewer Systems

Goleta uses what is called a separate sewer system. This means that the pipes used to transport the wastewater from the community to the treatment plant carry only wastewater. The City of Goleta and Santa Barbara County maintain a separate system of storm drains that carries the large volumes of water from rain. This water is discharged directly to creeks and the ocean without treatment.

The Big Picture

Each home and business in Goleta has a side sewer pipe (called a "lateral") that connects to the Goleta Sanitary District main sewer line. Main sewers then connect to larger trunk sewers. The home or business owner is responsible for maintaining the lateral. Pipes within the collection system range in size from four 4 inches to 36 inches in diameter and can be buried at depths of approximately 25 feet.

Use our interactive map to locate your home's lateral connection to the sewer main by entering a street address:

Link to District Interactive Map

Sewer System Management Plan

The Waste Discharge Requirements (WDR) Program's General Order for Sanitary Sewer Systems requires the District to develop and maintain a Sewer System Management Plan (SSMP). The SSMP consists of goals, elements, and implementation timelines to prevent sewer spills. Elements of the plan include operational plans and policies, preventive maintenance, inspections, training, resource allocation, and long-term asset evaluation. The District has incorporated the SSMP into its existing operational policies and guidelines to comply with the WDR General Order for Sanitary Sewer Systems. 

2025 Sewer System Management Plan