While not quite suitable for human consumption, treated wastewater - known as effluent - is more clear and usually much cleaner than water already found in the creek where it is discharged. Fish and other wildlife often thrive at the exit points of our wastewater plants.

At each of our five wastewater treatment plants, State-certified wastewater treatment plant operators work 24 hours a day, 365 days per year -- constantly sampling, measuring and testing the wastewater to ensure its safety.

Environmental Management also houses our industrial sewage pre-treatment monitoring and oil & grease prevention programs. In addition, Utilities is in the process of expanding its reclaimed water program, where wastewater is safely and effectively used for irrigation instead of simply releasing it back into streams and creeks. This discourages the use of drinking water for irrigation purposes and reduces the need for future drinking water infrastructure.

Help protect your environment by eliminating grease from our sewers!

For more information about Environmental Management, contact one of our five wastewater treatment plants.

Wastewater Treatment Plants (Click here to schedule a plant tour)

• Irwin Creek
  15 million gallons per day (mgd) capacity
• Mallard Creek
  12mgd capacity
• McAlpine Creek
  64 mgd capacity
• McDowell Creek 
  12 mgd capacity
• Sugar Creek  
  20 mgd capacity

Related Links

• How your wastewater is treated
• Our wastewater performance report - how well your wastewater system works, including a listing of sewage spills and overflows.
• Industrial wastewater pretreatment -
  regulates the materials commercial and industrial users can discharge to the sewer system.
• Reclaimed water program - wastewater is safely used for irrigation.
• Odor Control - our efforts to reduce odors at wastewater treatment plants
• Utilities Awards Page
• Utilities History Page