QUICK FACTS
- Located at 11700 Railroad Drive (79934)
- Operational in 1985
- 12 MGD Treated/Distributed
Plant Function
The Fred Hervey plant treats 12 million gallons of wastewater daily from nearby homes, businesses and industries. The reclaimed water is sent to irrigation and industrial users. Customers include the Newman Power Plant, Painted Dunes Golf Course and the Northeast Regional Park. Every gallon of reclaimed water used reduces the amount of water pumped from the Hueco Bolson aquifer or diverted from the Rio Grande.
The plant further treats reclaimed water to drinking water standards and uses it to replenish the aquifer through injection wells and infiltration basins. It was among the first in the nation to create drinking-quality water by treating used water and demonstrate the feasibility of artificial aquifer recharge.
Area(s) Served
Northeast El Paso
Renovations/Upgrades
In order to meet federal standards, a few upgrades were made over the years. In 2004, a centrifuge system upgrade was made in order to speed up the extraction process. In 2009, the third train wastewater process was upgraded, and in 2010 the disinfection system was improved.
Awards Received
- In 1994, it received the AMSA Public Information and Education Award.
- In 1994, the plant won second place in national USEPA Operations and Maintenance Excellence Award, No Discharge Category.
- In 1998, it received the American Water Works Association’s Conservation and Reuse Award.
- In 1999, the plant received special recognition by the El Paso Del Notre Region Mission Possible-Survival Strategies in the category Protection and Conservation of the Environment. The plant has received eight NACWA Gold Awards and three Platinum Awards for perfect program compliance under the expanded NACWA Peak Performance Award program since 2006.
Interesting Facts
This plant was one of the first in the nation to treat reclaimed water to drinking water standards. Since 1985, the plant has returned nearly 30 billion gallons of water to the aquifer.
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