Recycled Water

Recycled Water: A Valuable Resource

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Recycled Water is also referred to as reclaimed water. No matter what you call it, it’s a valuable resource. We reclaim, reuse, and recycle the water once it leaves your house. The Goleta Sanitary District opened the Water Reclamation Facility in 1994 in partnership with the Goleta Water District. The facility, known as "the Rec," was the first of its kind in the region. Together, the two agencies work closely to produce and distribute safe recycled water for landscape irrigation in the western portion of the Goleta Valley.

On average, Goleta Sanitary District produces about 1.2 million gallons of recycled water per day, or about 350 million gallons a year. Since 1994 we have produced over 8.5 billion gallons of water, saving a lot of potable water. The recycled water is used in places including Sandpiper and Glen Annie Golf Courses, the fields at UCSB, and Girsh Park. We are also actively looking for ways to increase this drought-proof water supply. 

Recycled Water is Safe

Recycled water has been used safely in California for decades. Its use is carefully monitored by local, state, and federal regulators. Sophisticated and proven treatment processes, the specially designed and built recycled water pipeline, and stringent user guidelines ensure that the water is used safely and efficiently. The treatment used at GSD creates high-quality recycled water that meets these strict quality requirements. 

2025 Reclaimed Water Annual Report2024 Reclaimed Water Annual Report2023 Reclaimed Water Annual Report2022 Reclaimed Water Annual Report2021 Reclaimed Water Annual Report2020 Reclaimed Water Annual Report2019 Reclaimed Water Annual Report2018 Reclaimed Water Annual Report

Everyone Benefits from Recycled Water

Recycled water customers benefit by having a reliable supply of water that isn't affected by drought. All Goleta Valley residents benefit because recycled water frees precious and limited potable water supplies for use by everyone. Take a look at the graph below showing monthly recycled water production from 2008 to 2021. 

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The graph shows monthly reclaimed water production from 2008 to 2021, ranging from 0 to 60 million gallons.