What Castro Valley Sanitary District does

Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSan) is a California Special District government agency organized under the Health and Safety Code, founded on July 25, 1939, to provide wastewater collection and solid waste franchise administration within the unincorporated community of Castro Valley in Alameda County. CVSan operates and maintains approximately 160 miles of wastewater sewer mains and eight wastewater pump stations, and holds a 25% interest in the Castro Valley/Oro Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant in San Lorenzo shared with Oro Loma Sanitary District. The district also administers a refuse collection franchise with Alameda County Industries (ACI), which provides curbside collection of garbage, recycling, and organics to residential and commercial customers across CVSan's 10-square mile service area.

CVSan's revenue model is built on ratepayer sewer service charges, franchise fees from ACI, and service charges, with rates set by an elected five-member Board of Directors. The district has set a Zero Waste goal of 90%+ diversion by 2029, supported by its award-winning schools program (Green Ribbon Schools, 4Rs Field Trips, Custodian Recognition) achieving 91% average diversion across 17 schools, and a multi-family Green Neighbor Community Recognition Program. Customer segments include single-family residential, multi-family residential, commercial businesses, and K-12 schools, with programs also extending to community events (Earth Day, Zero Waste Week, Recycles Day) and broader environmental stewardship through gleaning, repair workshops, and a Green Hearts volunteer team.

The district is led by General Manager Roland Williams, operates with 11-50 employees, and has accumulated significant industry recognition including SWANA Outstanding Public Agency Award (2025), CWEA Collection System of the Year (2018, 2024), CASA Excellence in Public Outreach (2022-2024), and GFOA Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (multiple years). CVSan's competitive position rests on its statutory franchise authority, shared treatment infrastructure with Oro Loma, and a deep community engagement ecosystem that includes Green Hearts volunteers, Community Advisory Committee, and partnerships with StopWaste, ForestR.org, Bay Area BikeMobile, Castro Valley Marketplace, and food assistance agencies.

Name

Castro Valley Sanitary District

Legal name

Castro Valley Sanitary District

Website

https://cvsan.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Castro Valley Sanitary District is a California Special District public agency that operates a 160-mile wastewater sewer collection system and administers solid waste franchise services for residential, commercial, and K-12 school customers within the 10-square mile Castro Valley community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wastewater and Sanitation Utility Services

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Utilities (221), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Gravity Sewer Collection Networks (Sanitary Sewers) (EUANACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sewer Pump/Lift Stations & Wet Wells (EUANACAC), Municipal Wastewater Collection (Sewer Networks) (BPALAMAA)

Keywords

• Wastewater collection services
• Sanitary sewer operations
• Solid waste management
• Recycling and organics programs
• Zero waste services

Headquarters

HQ city

Castro Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Sewer Service Charges: CVSan generates revenue through sewer service charges and rates paid by residential and commercial customers within the district boundaries for wastewater collection and treatment services.
2. Franchise Fees: CVSan administers a refuse collection franchise and receives franchise fees from Alameda County Industries (ACI), which provides curbside collection services for organics, recycling, and garbage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CVSan operates and maintains approximately 160 miles of wastewater sewer mains and eight pump stations that collect sanitary sewer flow from residential and commercial customers within the 10-square mile Castro Valley service area, with treatment handled at the jointly-owned Castro Valley/Oro Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant. The district also administers a refuse collection franchise with Alameda County Industries (ACI) for curbside collection of garbage, recycling, and organics, complemented by extensive Zero Waste community and education programs aimed at a 90%+ diversion goal by 2029.

Product overview

Castro Valley Sanitary District operates as a California Special District providing core wastewater collection services (160 miles of sewer mains, 8 pump stations) and comprehensive Zero Waste programs including recycling, organics, and garbage collection through contractor Alameda County Industries. The district offers extensive community and education programs including the Green Ribbon Schools Program, 4Rs Field Trips, Custodian Recognition, Student Scholarships, Green Hearts volunteer team, Earth Day events, Zero Waste Week, Gleaning Program, Repair Workshops, and the Green Neighbor Community Recognition Program. Digital services include a Permit Portal for online permit management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wastewater Collection Services Operation and maintenance of the sanitary sewer collection system within Castro Valley, including approximately 160 miles of wastewater sewer mains and eight wastewater pump stations, conveying sewage to the jointly-owned Castro Valley/Oro Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• Zero Waste Program (Curbside Collection) Residential and commercial solid waste services including organics, recycling, and garbage collection delivered through contractor Alameda County Industries (ACI) under a CVSan franchise agreement, with a district goal of 90%+ diversion by 2029.
• Green Ribbon Schools Program Certification program for schools demonstrating measurable progress toward Zero Waste through recycling, organics, and waste reduction activities, with cash awards up to $2,340 per certified school.
• 4Rs Field Trips Educational field trips for third graders teaching Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot concepts with hands-on activities including recycled papermaking.
• CVSan Environmental Leader Scholarship Scholarship program for high school seniors recognizing students who have helped their schools reduce waste through 4Rs activities, awarding $1,000 scholarships.
• Green Neighbor Community Recognition Program Certification program for multi-family communities on the path to zero waste, offering property and tenant awards up to $950 combined value.
• Donation and Supply Request Program Free distribution of recycling and organics containers, signage, and supplies to businesses, schools, and residents to support waste reduction.
• Earth Day Event Annual community cleanup event coordinating 400-700 volunteers for park beautification, tree planting, and environmental stewardship activities.
• Zero Waste Week Annual celebration of zero waste practices featuring STEAM projects, repair workshops, gleaning events, and community education activities.
• Gleaning Program Volunteer fruit and vegetable harvesting events that donate produce to local food pantries, saving thousands of pounds of food from landfill.
• Repair Workshops Events hosting bike repair, electronics repair, and clothing repair workshops to promote reuse and extend product lifespans.
• Permit Portal Online portal for submitting and managing permits related to sanitary sewer and waste management requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% average waste diversion rate across schools
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alameda County Industries (ACI)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorACI is the franchisee providing curbside collection services for garbage, recycling, and organics to CVSan customers. The partnership involves ACI collecting and processing recyclables at their Materials Recovery Facility and transporting garbage to Davis Street Transfer Station.
• Oro Loma Sanitary DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCVSan holds a 25% interest in the Castro Valley/Oro Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant in San Lorenzo. The two districts share the treatment facility and collaborate on construction committees.
• Castro Valley Unified School DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCVSan partners with CVUSD on school waste reduction programs including Green Ribbon Schools, waste audits, and food scrap recycling. All 17 public and private schools participate in CVSan programs.
• East Bay Dischargers AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCVSan participates as a member in this regional wastewater discharge agency.
• Alameda County Waste Management AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCVSan participates as a member in this waste management authority.
• California Sanitation Risk Management AuthorityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCVSan participates as a member in this sanitation risk management authority.
• California Special Districts AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCVSan participates as a member in this association representing California special districts.
• Davis Street Transfer Station (Waste Management)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDavis Street Transfer Station processes CVSan's garbage (4,000 tons/day capacity) and houses a LEED Gold certified organics building and materials recovery facilities. Part of the StopWaste network.
• Napa Recycling and Waste Services (NRWS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRWS processes CVSan customer organics (food scraps, plant debris, food-soiled paper) into compost at their facility.
• StopWasteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStopWaste partners with Davis Street on the iRecycle@School education center, reaching approximately 20,000 Alameda County students annually.
• Bay Area BikeMobileminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBay Area BikeMobile provides volunteer bicycle repair services at CVSan Zero Waste Week events. 33 bicycles were repaired at the March 2024 event.
• ForestR.orgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerForestR.org conducts ongoing tree fruit gleaning for food donation, partnering with CVSan for gleaning tools and supplies. The organization received donated fruit pickers and buckets from CVSan.
• Feed the Flock Program at Faith Lutheran ChurchminorOthersLocal food assistance agency that receives gleaned fruit donations from CVSan-organized gleaning events.
• Farm-acy Program at Dig Deep Farms Food HubminorOthersSan Leandro-based food assistance program that receives gleaned fruit donations from CVSan-organized gleaning events.
• Castro Valley Marketplace (CVM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCVM provides reusable dishware kits (plates, cups, utensils) to community events to reduce single-use disposables. They offer washing services and partner with CVSan on event greening.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• California Association of Sanitation Agencies (CASA): Industry association representing California sanitation agencies; CVSan has won multiple CASA awards. Comparable through advocacy, training, and best-practice sharing rather than direct service competition.
• California Special Districts Association (CSDA): State association providing governance, training, and transparency certification to California special districts like CVSan. Has recognized CVSan with consecutive District Transparency Certificates of Excellence.
• StopWaste (Alameda County): Alameda County's waste reduction authority and partner in CVSan's zero-waste programs and iRecycle@School education center. Directly comparable mission around diversion and recycling.

Broad incumbents

• Alameda County Water District: Regional water utility serving Fremont, Newark, and Union City. Overlapping Alameda County geography and water/sewer service mission, but broader and provides water rather than wastewater collection.
• East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD): Large regional water and wastewater utility serving much of the East Bay, including Alameda County. Operates in the same geography and regulatory environment but with significantly broader scope and scale.

Direct peers

• Union Sanitary District: Special district in the East Bay providing wastewater collection and treatment. Comparable operations, regulatory exposure, and community/education programs (e.g., school outreach).
• Stege Sanitary District: Small California Special District providing sewer collection and waste services in the East Bay. Comparable size, mission, and regulatory framework to CVSan, making it a direct small-district peer.
• Oro Loma Sanitary District: Adjacent Alameda County sanitary district that co-owns the Castro Valley/Oro Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant with CVSan (25% interest). Same statutory framework, similar size, and shared treatment infrastructure make it the closest direct peer.
• Central Contra Costa Sanitary District: Mid-sized California sanitary district responsible for sewer collection and treatment in central Contra Costa County. Directly comparable in mission and award-winning communications/outreach programs.
• Dublin San Ramon Services District: California Special District providing water, wastewater, and solid waste services in the Tri-Valley. Overlapping service scope (collection plus zero-waste programs) and similar governance structure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCphrL2zOXeW7Z7QczyR4_9w
• Facebookfacebook.com/cvsan
• Instagraminstagram.com/cvsanofficial
• Xx.com/CVSan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cvsan

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 Castro Valley Sanitary District