Just two short years ago, Municipal Sewer & Water profiled the Ross Valley Sanitary District — a wastewater utility hailing from San Rafael, California — which had undergone a comprehensive transformation.

The transformation saw over $100 million funneled into infrastructure improvements, asset management technologies and hands-on maintenance of sewer lines and pump stations. Central to this organizational metamorphosis was the introduction of competency-based training, a revolutionary training method designed to enhance knowledge retention and operational efficiency.

Building on that success, Ross Valley Sanitary District is announcing that it has been recognized for its excellent operations and commitment to innovation. The utility has been awarded the prestigious Wastewater Collection System of the Year in the Small System category by the California Water Environment Association. RVSD was selected as the top sewer system in the state in 2022 out of the hundreds of systems less than 250 miles in length.

“This distinguished award is possible because of the dedication of people throughout our organization, including board members, field staff, administrative staff and our community of consultants and contractors,” says Steve Moore, RVSD general manager. “Our focus on delivering projects and results in a data-driven manner, at all levels of our organization, was recognized by the CWEA judges. We will continue to look for innovative and cost-effective ways to provide excellent customer service to our local community, while renewing and maintaining the infrastructure that protects our health and water environment.”

To celebrate the achievement, RVSD is holding a community celebration event July 19 at its Pump Station 14 in Larkspur from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The event will include live music, food and beverages, and will offer attendees the chance to learn about the utility's innovative technologies with live demos.

About the award

The annual Wastewater Collection System of the Year, given to wastewater agencies statewide in small, medium and large categories, was presented at the CWEA Annual Conference held in San Diego this month. Rating criteria for judging the award nominees include regulatory compliance, special accomplishments, maintenance program (preventive actions, repairs and rehabilitation), safety program and record, training program, emergency procedures and administrative procedures.

To be considered in each award category, nominees must be a current CWEA member, hold a current Collection Systems Certification by CWEA, and have direct operations/maintenance responsibilities in a collection system. More information about the award presented to the District can be found on the CWEA website.

Established in 1899, RVSD is believed to be California’s oldest sanitary district, with approximately 60% of the collection system having been installed prior to 1955. Located in central Marin County, the district service area includes Fairfax, San Anselmo, Ross, Larkspur, Bon Air, Sleepy Hollow, Kentfield, Kent Woodlands, Oak Manor and Greenbrae.

The district operates and maintains approximately 200 miles of collection sewer lines and 19 pumping stations which collect, pump and transport approximately 4 mgd to Central Marin Sanitation Agency for treatment. The district’s mission is to provide customers with high quality wastewater collection service through a system that has no avoidable sanitary sewer overflows, at the lowest sustainable cost, to protect public health and the environment.