Wastewater Treatment

Wastewater Collections & Treatment Services
Today, most Coachella Valley Water District domestic water customers also receive sewer services from the water district. Nearly 6.3 billion gallons of wastewater are treated yearly. The district also has the capacity to increase its wastewater treatment as the Coachella Valley’s population grows.

CVWD began wastewater collections and treatment services in 1968, when it acquired the Palm Desert Country Club’s water and sewer systems. Today the district provides wastewater service to more than 91,000 home and business accounts. It operates 6 water reclamation plants from Palm Desert to Thermal, and maintains more than 1,000 miles of sewer pipelines and more than 30 lift stations that collect and transport wastewater to the nearest water reclamation facility.

Current expansions and improvement to the wastewater collection system and reclamation plants are taking place throughout the Coachella Valley.

Of its 6 water reclamation plants, 3 are equipped to treat wastewater to meet state ­­­standards for non-potable water for irrigation. Every gallon of recycled water used for outdoor irrigation saves precious groundwater for potable use by domestic customers.
What You Can Do
  • Be aware of what you dispose into the wastewater system. Large items flushed down a sink or toilet can result in damages and costly repairs to sewer pipelines and wastewater reclamation plants. Likewise, disposing of trash, chemicals or other items directly into a sewer line is against the law.
  • Scrape hardened grease into the trash can, not into a sink drain or garbage disposal. Grease is a common byproduct of cooking with meat fats, oil, butter, margarine, lard, and shortening. When it enters a home or business’s plumbing system, it winds up sticking to the inside of sewer pipes, causing costly damage. Home garbage disposals do not keep grease out of the plumbing system.
  • Dispose of unused prescriptions and over-the-counter medications in a sealed container or at a household hazardous waste collection site. Drugs should never be flushed down the sink or toilet.
  • Learn more. Group tours of CVWD’s wastewater reclamation plant in Palm Desert are available year-round upon request by calling 760-398-2651 or emailing us.