Wastewater Treatment Plant
The St. Lucie West Services District (SLWSD) Wastewater Treatment Plant plays a vital role in keeping the community clean, healthy, and environmentally responsible. The facility treats wastewater from homes, businesses, and community facilities throughout St. Lucie West, ensuring it is safely processed and reused. With a treatment capacity of 2.6 million gallons per day (MGD), the plant converts wastewater into high-quality reclaimed water used for irrigation throughout the District.
The process begins when wastewater from homes and businesses flows by gravity through underground sewer lines into a series of pump stations located throughout the community. These stations lift and push the wastewater through pressurized pipes toward the treatment plant. Upon arrival, it enters the headworks, where large solids and debris are screened and removed—protecting downstream equipment and ensuring smooth treatment operations.
From the headworks, the water flows into aeration basins, where beneficial bacteria naturally break down organic matter, nutrients, and waste materials. This biological treatment process is the heart of the plant’s operation, using oxygen and microbes to clean the water safely and effectively. After biological treatment, the flow moves into two large clarifiers, where the remaining solids and biological material settle to the bottom, allowing clean water to rise to the top.The clarified water then enters tertiary disk filters, which provide a final level of filtration by capturing any remaining fine particles. From there, the water proceeds to the disinfection stage,
where liquid bleach is used to eliminate any remaining harmful bacteria and pathogens. The fully treated and disinfected water is then stored in large holding ponds, where it is ready for reuse through the District’s reclaimed water distribution system.
This reclaimed water is distributed through a dedicated purple-pipe network and used to irrigate golf courses, landscaped areas, and community green spaces across St. Lucie West. By recycling wastewater in this way, the District conserves groundwater resources, reduces dependence on drinking water supplies, and supports a more sustainable environment. Operated by licensed professionals and regulated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), the SLWSD Wastewater Treatment Plant and its network of pump stations ensure the community’s wastewater is responsibly managed and beneficially reused every day.
If you have questions related to our Wastewater Treatment Plant, please visit our Contact Us page of our website to find our Utilities Department contact information, or contact our Public Information Officer.