City of Riverside, California - Public Works Department

:: The Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Riverside Water Quality Control Plant (RWQCP) is dedicated to providing sanitary sewer service for 280,000 residents in the City of Riverside and Jurupa, Edgemont, and Rubidoux communities. Our goal is to provide clean, pure water to protect the sensitive Santa Ana River environment.

A team of approximately 110 people operate the plant 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Wastewater from Riverside's residential, commercial and industrial contributors is collected through over 1,100 miles of sewer pipeline from 5 locations that flow into the plant.

There are two separate wastewater treatment plants and one common tertiary filtration plant at the RWQCP. The RWQCP provides preliminary, primary, secondary, and tertiary treatment for a rated capacity of 40 million gallons per day (MGD), or enough to fill up 61 Olympic size pools.

1) Primary Treatment Plant

Screens out larger objects through the grit screen chambers to allow solids from the water to settle to the bottom of a primary sedimentation tank.

2) Secondary Treatment Plant (Biological Treatment)

Air is injected into the water to encourage microorganisms growth that consumes hazardous waste suspended in the water. The microorganisms eventually settle to the bottom of the secondary sedimentation tank and are removed.

3) Tertiary Treatment Plant

Wastewater is passed through a filter to remove viruses and minute suspended particles. Chlorine is injected to the wastewater to disinfect bacteria. The final water product is then "dechlorinated" to protect the habitat in the receiving Santa Ana River.

4) Sludge Disposal

Sludge produced during various treatment steps, is thickened and pumped to the digesters. The digested sludge is dewatered, dried and transported off-site for Sludge Disposal.

Riverside Wastewater Quality Control Plant Tours

Groups and schools are invited to tour the
Riverside Wastewater Quality Control Plant.
Please complete a Tour Request Form
or call 951-351-6140 for more information.

Clean Water

Wastewater