State regulators have reached a settlement with the Goleta West Sanitary District for the 2024 spill that released more than 1 million gallons of raw sewage into the Goleta Slough and the Pacific Ocean. Goleta West entered into the settlement agreement with the Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board on Friday, including paying a $1.55 million civil penalty. Investigators attributed the February 2024 spill to external corrosion on a section of underground pipe. On Feb. 16, 2024, a broken force main owned by the Goleta West Sanitary District released more than 1 million gallons of raw sewage. 

Other wastewater news:

• State Water Resources Control Board: News release: Central Coast Water Board approves $1.55M penalty for sewage spill in Santa Barbara County
• EurekAlert! (AAAS): 10 years, 70% shift: Wastewater upgrades quietly transform river microbiomes