Wastewater Treatment, Reclamation & Recharge

Millions of gallons of wastewater (sewage) are treated at four water reclamation plants to provide safe and reliable wastewater services to the community. Nearly all of Mesa's treated wastewater (effluent) is beneficially reused - increasing resiliency of potable water supplies. 

Northwest Water Reclamation Plant 

This reclamation facility has a treatment capacity of 18-million gallons per day. The effluent from this plant is discharged to the Granite Reef Underground Storage Project and the Salt River, which also recharges the aquifer. The future Central Mesa Reuse Pipeline will send additional effluent to the Gila River Indian Community for beneficial reuses on agriculture in exchange for vital surface water supplies.

Southeast Water Reclamation Plant 

This reclamation facility has a treatment capacity of 8-million gallons per day. The effluent from this plant is also sent to the Gila River Indian Community for beneficial reuse as part of the exchange for surface water supplies.

Greenfield Water Reclamation Plant 

This recently expanded reclamation facility has a treatment capacity of 30-million gallons per day and treats sewage from southeast Mesa, the southeast portion of the Town of Gilbert, and all of the Town of Queen Creek. The effluent from this plant is pumped directly to Gilbert's recharge facilities and to the Gila River Indian Community for beneficial reuse as part of the exchange for surface water supplies.

91st Avenue Wastewater Treatment Plant

In a partnership known as the Sub-Regional Operating Group (SROG) with the cities of Phoenix, Glendale, Scottsdale and Tempe, this facility has a treatment capacity of 230-million gallons per day. The effluent from the plant is used for nuclear facility cooling, agricultural irrigation and the Tres Rios Environmental Restoration Project near the Salt River. 

What is recharge?

Water that is recharged is carried through pipes to acres of contained land allowing percolation to occur. The soil between the ground and the aquifer is a natural treatment process, so the water undergoes additional treatment prior to entering the groundwater supply. The recharged water is stored underground as back-up supply till is it pumped for use. Not all groundwater wells are used for drinking water; many are used for crop irrigation, golf course irrigation, and urban lakes. Recharge is an integral part of the Mesa's 100-year water supply requirement for continued development.