Central Marin Sanitation Agency

What Central Marin Sanitation Agency does

Central Marin Sanitation Agency (CMSA) is a California Joint Powers Authority that operates a Class V regional water resource recovery facility in San Rafael, treating wastewater for approximately 120,000 residents, businesses, and institutions across three member agencies: San Rafael Sanitation District, Ross Valley Sanitary District, and Sanitary District No. 2 of Marin County. CMSA was formed in October 1979 under a Joint Powers Agreement and became operational in January 1985 following the City of Larkspur's 2020 withdrawal from the JPA. Effluent is discharged to the San Francisco Bay under an NPDES permit issued by the San Francisco Regional Water Quality Control Board.

The facility combines multi-stage biological treatment (headworks, biotowers, aeration tanks, secondary clarifiers, chlorination, dechlorination) with two anaerobic digesters that process sludge plus commercial FOG and food waste to produce biogas. The biogas powers a cogeneration system that normally meets up to 100% of facility electricity needs, with excess exported to the grid via Marin Clean Energy. The plant has average dry weather flow of approximately 7 MGD and peak wet weather flow above 100 MGD, with biosolids beneficially reused at Redwood Landfill as alternate daily cover and as fertilizer for livestock feed crops. CMSA also operates an accredited environmental laboratory.

Revenue is generated through a multi-stream model: user fees and service charges from approximately 120,000 served customers, contractual services to government clients (San Quentin State Prison, Sanitary District No. 2, County of Marin, Las Gallinas Valley, Ross Valley), hauled-waste receiving fees (RV, septic, FOG, food waste), renewable energy sales to MCE, and government grants including a $2.5 million CalRecycle grant for co-digestion upgrades. The organization employs approximately 47 staff across operations, maintenance, engineering, regulatory compliance, and administration, and is governed by a five-member Board of Commissioners appointed by the three member agencies.

Name

Central Marin Sanitation Agency

Legal name

Central Marin Sanitation Agency

Website

https://cmsa.us

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Central Marin Sanitation Agency operates a Class V regional water resource recovery facility in San Rafael, California, providing wastewater treatment, biosolids reuse, and biogas cogeneration to approximately 120,000 residents and businesses across three Joint Powers Authority member agencies in central Marin County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wastewater Treatment Services

NAICS

Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Utilities (221)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991)

akta.pro primary industry

Anaerobic Treatment & Resource Recovery (Biogas/Co-digestion) (EUANADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Anaerobic Digestion (Wet/Dry AD) & Biogas Production (EUAIAEAD), Municipal Wastewater Collection (Sewer Networks) (BPALAMAA), Nutrient Recovery from Sludge (Struvite, Ammonia/Phosphorus Recovery) (EUANAHAD)

Keywords

• Wastewater treatment services
• Water resource recovery
• Biogas cogeneration
• Biosolids reuse
• Wastewater utility services

Headquarters

HQ city

San Rafael

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Wastewater Treatment Fees: User fees and service charges from approximately 120,000 residents, businesses and institutions in central Marin County. The Board adopts fiscal year budgets as the annual financial plan.
2. Contractual Services: CMSA provides contractual wastewater services to San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin Village Sewer Maintenance District, Sanitary District No. 2, and consultative FOG and Mercury Reduction Programs to various Marin County agencies.
3. Waste Receiving Services: Accepts disposal of hauled wastes from septic disposal companies, recreational vehicle owners, and haulers of organic waste. Fees include $11.00 for RV discharge. FOG and liquid organic waste acceptance from licensed haulers.
4. Renewable Energy Sales: Exports excess clean renewable energy to the grid through partnership with Marin Clean Energy (MCE). The cogeneration system produces biogas from anaerobic digestion.
5. CalRecycle Grant: $2.5 Million grant awarded by CalRecycle for co-digestion system upgrades covering personnel, construction costs, organic waste storage tank, mixing pump, screening system, and biogas treatment equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Central Marin Sanitation Agency operates a Class V regional water resource recovery facility in Marin County, California that provides wastewater treatment, disposal, and related environmental services to approximately 120,000 residents, businesses, and institutions. Treatment includes biological processes (biotowers, aeration tanks), anaerobic digestion with co-digestion of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) and food waste, chlorination/dechlorination disinfection, and a cogeneration system that converts biogas to renewable electricity normally meeting up to 100% of the facility's power needs with excess exported to the grid.

Product overview

Central Marin Sanitation Agency operates as a single integrated water resource recovery system offering multiple interconnected services. The core product is the Class V regional wastewater treatment facility that processes and disposes wastewater into San Francisco Bay. Supporting services include Power Generation via biogas cogeneration, Biosolids Reuse, and a Pollution Prevention Program. The agency also provides Waste Receiving services accepting septic, RV, FOG and food waste, along with Permit Services, Technical/Engineering Services, Operations & Maintenance, Administration, and Contractual Services to other local agencies. Public Education Programs complete the service portfolio. All services work together within the regional wastewater management system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Operates a Class V regional water resource recovery facility in Marin County that treats and disposes wastewater as clean effluent into the San Francisco Bay, consistently meeting and exceeding federal and state regulatory requirements, serving approximately 120,000 residents, businesses, and institutions.
• Power Generation (Cogeneration) Produces renewable electricity and heat via a cogeneration system using biogas from anaerobic digesters; the facility can produce up to 100% of its power needs and exports electricity to the grid via Marin Clean Energy partnership during peak production.
• Biosolids Reuse Beneficially reuses biosolids as alternate daily cover at Redwood Landfill, land-applied fertilizer/soil amendment for livestock feed crops, and produces liquid bio-fertilizer.
• Pollution Prevention Program Regulates automobile repair facilities, dental offices, restaurants, and industrial facilities to reduce toxic material discharge into the sanitary sewer system; includes source control activities, septic tank/portable toilet/grease trap waste acceptance regulation, and contaminated groundwater regulation.
• Waste Receiving Services Accepts disposal of hauled wastes including septic disposal, recreational vehicles (RV discharge $11.00), vacuum trucks from member agencies, liquid organic wastes (FOG), and food waste from licensed haulers for processing and renewable energy production.
• Permit Services Issues permits for Food Service Establishments (grease interceptor plan review), Industrial Wastewater (Class I-IV), Hauled Waste, and Mobile Cleaning Operations.
• Contractual Services Provides contractual wastewater services to local agencies including San Quentin State Prison (since 2012), San Quentin Village Sewer Maintenance District, Sanitary District No. 2 of Marin (since April 1985), and administers FOG source control and mercury reduction programs for partner districts.
• Public Education Programs Leads an award-winning county-wide water/wastewater public education program including facility tours, virtual plant tours, educational videos for K-8 students (including the Defenders of the Bay comic), and free environmental education live stream assemblies offered through the Wastewater Treatment Agencies of Marin County.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7 consecutive years of NACWA Gold Peak Performance Award for 100% NPDES permit compliance (2017-2024)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• San Quentin State Prison (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012CMSA has had a wastewater service agreement with the California Department of Corrections since 2012. Services include operating and maintaining San Quentin State Prison's main pump station and forcemain to transport wastewater to CMSA's treatment plant, and treating and disposing of the prison property's wastewater and biosolids. CMSA also helps administer the San Quentin Asset Management Program under contract.
• San Quentin Village Sewer Maintenance DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012CMSA and the County of Marin entered into a service agreement in 2012 for the operation and maintenance of the District's 1,500' gravity collection system and pump station.
• Sanitary District No. 2 of Marin CountymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 1985CMSA has had a service agreement with Sanitary District No. 2 since April 1985, under which CMSA operates and maintains SD2's nineteen pump stations and provides limited maintenance to the District's forcemains. SD2 is a JPA member agency.
• Marin Clean Energy (MCE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMSA exports excess clean renewable energy to the grid through partnership with Marin Clean Energy (MCE). The cogeneration system produces biogas from anaerobic digestion, and MCE procures the renewable power generated by CMSA. This partnership enables CMSA to achieve energy self-sufficiency and contribute to renewable energy goals.
• Marin Sanitary ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMSA and Marin Sanitary Service formed a public-private partnership where CMSA accepts food waste from Marin Sanitary Service obtained from restaurants, markets, and other eligible food waste generators. This partnership transforms food waste into biogas, reduces transportation distances and greenhouse gases, and supports renewable energy production.
• County of MarinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMSA has a service agreement with the County of Marin for collection system asset maintenance under contractual service agreements.
• Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMSA serves in a consultative capacity to assist Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District in the development and implementation of FOG source control programs and dental amalgam programs in their service area.
• San Rafael Sanitation DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSan Rafael Sanitation District is a JPA member agency serving Central San Rafael south of Puerto Suello Hill and portions of neighboring unincorporated areas. CMSA provides wastewater treatment services. In May 2026, San Rafael and San Rafael Sanitation District approved a separation agreement transferring management responsibilities to CMSA.
• Ross Valley Sanitary DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoss Valley Sanitary District is a JPA member agency serving Bon Air, Fairfax, Greenbrae, Larkspur, Kentfield, Kent Woodlands, Murray Park, Ross, San Anselmo, Sleepy Hollow, and Oak Manor. CMSA provides wastewater treatment services and consultative FOG source control programs.
• Tamalpais Community Services DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMSA serves in a consultative capacity to assist Tamalpais Community Services District in the development and implementation of FOG source control programs within their jurisdiction.
• Almonte Sanitary DistrictminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMSA serves in a consultative capacity to assist Almonte Sanitary District in Southern Marin in the development and implementation of FOG source control programs within their jurisdiction.
• Redwood LandfillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMSA biosolids are beneficially reused as alternate daily cover at the Redwood Landfill during wet weather season. During dry weather season, biosolids are hauled to beneficial reuse sites for use as fertilizer for growing hay and alfalfa for horse and livestock feed.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Silicon Valley Clean Water: Joint Powers Authority wastewater treatment agency in Redwood City serving San Mateo County communities. Operates a similar Class V facility with co-digestion and biogas-to-energy programs. CMSA's Technical Services Manager previously worked there for six years, indicating close operational comparability.
• Central Contra Costa Sanitary District: Sanitary district operating a major wastewater treatment plant serving approximately 500,000 residents in central Contra Costa County. Comparable in service scope, regulatory framework, and Bay Area geography.
• Delta Diablo: Special district wastewater treatment agency serving approximately 200,000 customers in eastern Contra Costa County. Operates a treatment plant with resource recovery and recycled water programs, very similar in size and structure to CMSA.
• Inland Empire Utilities Agency: Joint Powers Authority in San Bernardino County providing wastewater treatment and recycled water to approximately 875,000 residents. A larger but structurally identical JPA model with co-digestion, biosolids reuse, and renewable energy programs.

Regional players

• Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District: Neighboring Marin County sanitary district serving San Rafael and surrounding unincorporated areas. Already contracts with CMSA for FOG source control and dental amalgam programs — direct geographic and operational peer.

Broad incumbents

• East Bay Municipal Utility District: Large Bay Area water and wastewater utility serving 1.4 million customers across Alameda and Contra Costa counties. Operates a major wastewater treatment plant and is a recognized industry leader; substantially larger but comparable in regulatory environment and customer base.
• San Francisco Public Utilities Commission: City agency providing water, wastewater, and power services to San Francisco. Operates one of the largest wastewater treatment facilities on the West Coast; comparable in Bay Area NPDES permit framework and treatment scale.
• Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District: Special district operating the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant serving 1.4 million residents across Sacramento County. Comparable in regulatory environment, treatment complexity, and California-specific nutrient discharge requirements.
• Orange County Sanitation District: California's third-largest wastewater agency serving 3.5 million residents across north and central Orange County. A larger peer but directly comparable in advanced treatment, biosolids management, and renewable energy generation.
• Veolia North America: Private operator of municipal and industrial water and wastewater treatment facilities across the U.S. Competes for outsourced operating contracts of the kind CMSA already performs for San Quentin, Sanitary District No. 2, and other Marin agencies.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/centralmarinsa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/central-marin-sanitation-agency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Central Marin Sanitation Agency