The Sewer Plant

The KWRD wastewater treatment plant is a technologically advanced facility; taking the waste of more than 45,000 people and turning it into clean water and clean energy.

Nature has its own way of purifying water. Bacteria remove organic contaminants, and gravity filters it through layers of sand and rock before storing it in underground aquifers, which humans access through wells.

At the Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District, we've copied Mother Nature's playbook, achieving the same goal with the same methods, just faster. WANT TO TAKE A TOUR?

How It Works

Wastewater flows from homes and businesses into the sanitary sewer main, which carries it to the headworks. The wastewater flows through screens that remove the large objects that should not be flushed. It's then spun by a unit that separates out heavier particles like glass, metal, and sand. Solids are removed, and microorganisms go to work to break down the organic matter in the remaining water. It then moves through sand filters to remove any remaining grit and is treated with UV radiation to kill any pathogens. After lab tests confirm the water is clean and safe, it is discharged into the Kishwaukee River. The whole process takes about six hours to complete. LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TREATMENT PROCESS

Planning for the Future

In 2017, the Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District launched its most ambitious upgrade projects in decades. This project will help us better handle rain intrusion, reduce even more of the pollutants threatening river systems and the Gulf of Mexico, and take energy efficiency to a new level.