80 Years of Service – Celebrating the Past While Planning for the Future.
On November 17th, the District celebrates the 80th anniversary of its founding by a vote of the people in 1944. Initially relying solely on groundwater wells, the District’s formation allowed residents to support the Cachuma Project, leading to significant investments in water infrastructure in the Goleta Valley during the 1950s and 60s. Much of the original infrastructure, including transmission pipes and wells, was built before 1970 and continues to serve the community today.
While reflecting on the past, a dedication to ensuring reliable service for future generations remains a top priority. This involves not only maintaining and revitalizing existing infrastructure, but also implementing innovative projects, such as the Net Zero Initiative. This initiative aims to establish a sustainable renewable energy source, enhancing resilience during natural disasters and reducing long-term energy costs. Ongoing investments in critical projects will help maintain service reliability for both current and future customers.
1940s – Water District Formed to Battle Severe Drought
Responding to drought conditions at the time, the Goleta Valley Water District, as it was then called, was formed by a vote of the people on November 17, 1944 to represent the water interests of the Goleta Valley. The community had always relied on wells, but with water demand exceeding supplies, Goleta residents joined other County citizens voting to approve the Cachuma project by a 3-to-1 margin.
1950s – Cachuma Project Rescues Water-Short Goleta Valley
The Cachuma Project was constructed in the early 1950s, including Bradbury Dam, the intake tower, and Tecolote Tunnel, a seven-foot diameter, six-mile-long gravity-fed water conveyance pipeline, bored straight through the Santa Ynez Mountains to convey Cachuma water to the South Coast. The Tunnel required years of work that was repeatedly stopped by massive flooding in the tunnel, extreme temperatures, dangerous levels of toxic gas, explosions, and hard rock that crushed support beams. Despite delays, worker injuries, and soaring costs, the job was completed in 1952.
1950s-1960s – Vast Water Infrastructure System Constructed in the Goleta Valley
Most of the basic water infrastructure in the Goleta Valley was built in the 1950s and ‘60s, including much of the over 270 miles of water pipelines that the District maintains today. The District broke ground on the Corona Del Mar Water Treatment in 1973.
1970s – Corona Del Mar Water Treatment Plant
The District broke ground on the Corona Del Mar Water Treatment Plant (CDMWTP) in 1973. Located in the Goleta foothills, the CDMWTP treats surface water delivered through Lake Cachuma and uses a highly energy efficient gravity feed system to deliver treated water to District customers.
1980s – Groundwater Storage and Recovery
The District was one of the first in the nation to establish an Aquifer Storage & Recovery Program, which enables injection and storage of Lake Cachuma water into the groundwater basin during wet years for later use during dry years.
1990s – Conserving Potable Water
The Recycled Water treatment plant was constructed in 1996 to irrigate Goleta Valley landscapes and golf courses, thereby preserving potable water in preparation for future droughts and water shortages.
1990s – Low Per Capita Usage
Water thrifty Goleta Water District customers have long led the state in conservation. During the height of the most recent drought, residents averaged 47 gallons per person per day, which is among the lowest water use in California and less than half the state’s goal of 110.
2010s-2020s – Focused Planning for Sustainability
Regularly updated water management plans and comprehensive studies evaluate water supply and system needs. These plans help the District prioritize initiatives to coincide with new water quality regulations, system reliability, operational efficiency, and aging infrastructure.
2020s – Ensuring a Sustainable Future
The District’s Net Zero Initiative, vehicle fleet electrification, and renewable power back-up facilities will continue to expand in the years ahead. These sustainable initiatives will enhance emergency preparedness and resilience, cut carbon emissions, and ensure the District remains a reliable and sustainable lifeline service provider for generations to come.
Click here to view the District’s online 80th Anniversary Timeline.
