Lystek International and the Goleta Sanitary District (GSD) have been awarded the California Association of Sanitation Agencies’ (CASA) Excellence in Innovation and Resiliency Award for their collaborative project leveraging Lystek’s Thermal Hydrolysis Process (THP®) to optimize anaerobic digestion at GSD’s facility. The award, presented at CASA’s Annual Conference in Napa on August 6, 2026, highlights a project that has not only enhanced operational efficiency but also aligned with broader goals of sustainability and energy independence in wastewater management.
The partnership between Lystek and GSD centers on the LysteMize® process, which hydrolyzes thickened waste activated sludge to serve as enhanced feedstock for GSD’s mesophilic anaerobic digesters. Since its implementation in 2019, the project has demonstrated measurable improvements in biogas production and a significant reduction in residual solids compared to traditional mesophilic digestion. For GSD, this innovation is a critical step toward its long-term objectives of energy neutrality and cost efficiency in biosolids management. Steve Wagner, GSD’s General Manager and District Engineer, emphasized the dual benefits: *“Two of the main drivers for the next few years at our District are to become energy neutral and reduce our biosolids expenses. Being able to produce our own power will make us more resilient during power outages and reducing our overall biosolids quantities will reduce the ongoing expenses associated with disposal. The Lystek project has shown us success in both of these areas.”*
The CASA award recognizes projects that push boundaries in wastewater treatment, biosolids recycling, and renewable energy production. Lystek’s THP® technology transforms biosolids and organic residuals into a high-solids liquid product suitable for full-cycle resource recovery, offering municipal and industrial clients a pathway to both environmental and economic resilience. Beyond LysteMize®, Lystek’s portfolio includes LysteGro®, a Class A biosolids fertilizer regulated in Canada and California, positioning the company as a key player in circular economy solutions for organics management.
For GSD, the project exemplifies how wastewater utilities can pivot from cost centers to self-sustaining operations through strategic technological adoption. The award underscores a broader industry trend where utilities are increasingly prioritizing resilience—whether through energy generation, waste reduction, or resource recovery—to mitigate financial and operational vulnerabilities. As municipalities face tightening budgets and stricter environmental regulations, innovations like LysteMize® could serve as a blueprint for facilities aiming to balance fiscal responsibility with sustainability goals. The recognition by CASA not only validates the technical and economic viability of the approach but also signals its potential scalability across the sector.
The collaboration also reflects a shift in how utilities and technology providers engage, with Lystek offering turnkey solutions that include design-build services and regional processing options. This model reduces implementation barriers for smaller or resource-constrained agencies, suggesting a future where advanced biosolids management is not limited to large metropolitan systems. As the wastewater industry grapples with the dual pressures of climate adaptation and infrastructure modernization, projects like this one challenge the status quo by proving that sustainability and operational efficiency are not mutually exclusive. The question now is whether more agencies will follow GSD’s lead, or if the sector’s inertia will slow the adoption of such innovations.