WASTEWATER NEWS & PROJECTS

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Take Our Survey to Help Set City Priorities
The 2025-27 Community Priorities Survey opens on Nov. 12 and closes on Dec. 13, 2024.

11/12/2024 10:44 AM
City to Kick Off Financial Planning Process This Month
The City of San Luis Obispo is seeking input from all community members to help establish priorities that will guide the City’s next two-year financial plan.

11/07/2024 2:30 PM
City of SLO Selects New Assistant City Manager
The City of San Luis Obispo has selected Scott Collins, the Executive Director of the Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo, to serve as its next Assistant City Manager. He will start on December 5th.

11/05/2024 9:02 AM

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FAQ Box

What is material type?

Material type is the type of material your lateral piping is made of. The common pipe types are High Density Polyethylene, Cast Iron, Vitrified Clay, Orangeburg and PolyVinyl Chloride. ABS Pipe is included under PolyVinyl Chloride. For more information of pipe type and characteristics click here.
What significant change have you seen in the creek and/or habitat?

Steelhead and Salmon are now making their way upstream of the Water Resource Recovery Facility outfall that is several miles from the ocean.
Are discharge requirements hard to meet?

At times meeting requirements can present a significant challenge. Since our advanced treatment systems are biological in nature, they are influenced by weather, diurnal changes, wastewater flow changes, waste-strength fluctuations, etc. Meeting our stringent discharge standards requires our facility to always operate at its optimum level.
What are the costs to operate the plant per year?

3.2 million dollars per year.
What are the sources of wastewater?

Wastewater is comprised of water from toilets, sinks, showers, manufacturing, laundromats, etc. Rainwater and runoff from the streets are collected in separate stormwater sewers and released to local waterways.
What part of the sewer system am I responsible for?

The homeowner is responsible for their sewer lateral from the house to the connection at the City main (usually located in the street).
Who do I call when I have a sewer problem?

Call the City Corporation Yard dispatchers at 781-7215 during normal operating hours (Monday-Friday 7am to 4:30pm). After-hours calls should be directed to Police Communications at 781-7312.
Where will recycled water be used?

A separate distribution system was constructed to deliver recycled water. It will be distributed to customers who have a large demand for water. Including, parks, schools, athletic fields, highway landscaping, and landscaping in commercial and multifamily residential areas.
Is recycled water safe?

The use of recycled water is regulated by the Water Resources Control Board, the same agency that regulates drinking water. The recycled water produced by the City of San Luis Obispo is suitable for irrigation of playgrounds and all food crops as well as many other uses. It is not approved for drinking, food preparation, or swimming. However, the incidental contact or consumption of this recycled water which might be anticipated with the approved uses is not harmful.
How is water recycled?
The City of San Luis Obispo Water Reclamation Facility produces a disinfected tertiary recycled water by removing the waste from wastewater that residents discharge to the sewer. This recycled water is suitable for irrigation and many other uses. The Water Reclamation Facility uses the biological and mechanical processes described below to produce this high quality recycled water.
- Primary treatment uses bar screens and settling basins to remove materials that settle or float.
- Secondary treatment uses bacteria and other microorganisms to remove carbonaceous wastes and to convert ammonia to nitrates. The Water Reclamation Facility uses trickling filters and activated sludge basins to raise these microorganisms and then uses clarifiers following each of these processes to remove the microorganisms from the water. Following secondary treatment 95-98 percent of the organic material and solids have been removed.
- Tertiary treatment cools, filters, and disinfects the water before it is provided for reuse and dechlorinates the water that is discharged to the creek.
For more information please visit the Water Resource Recovery Facility Page

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