Overview of Plant Operations

The City of Airway Heights Water Reclamation Plant currently produces 600,000 gallons of water daily, clean enough to irrigate public facilities, businesses, parks and resorts.

The Class A Water Reclamation Plant includes an extended aeration activated sludge process with advanced nutrient removal, secondary clarification, tertiary pressure membrane filtration, biosolids processing, ultraviolet disinfection, groundwater recharge facilities, and a down-gradient groundwater supply well to capture the recharge water. The Water Reclamation Plant is the first indirect potable reuse facility in the State of Washington and achieves ultra low level effluent concentrations of nitrogen and organic compounds in compliance with strict recharge water standards. The WRP staff consists of 5 Operators.

The new facility has allowed the City to reduce the quantity of potable water purchased from other utilities as well as reduce withdrawals from its own water supply aquifer. Nearly 50 percent of the City’s water use is derived from reclaimed or recovered water.