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Last Updated: May 19, 2013
Wastewater Plant
Every drop of water we use ends up in San Francisco Bay, and it’s the job of the Regional Water Quality Control Plant to make sure it’s treated to remove pollutants before it gets there.
The Regional Water Quality Control Plant is owned and operated by the City of Palo Alto for the communities of Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Stanford University and the East Palo Alto Sanitary District. The Plant is an advanced treatment facility that uses gravity settling, biological treatment with microorganisms and dual media filtration to remove unwanted organic materials and toxins from the approximately 22 million gallons a day of wastewater generated by the service area’s 220,000 residents. The Plant’s treated effluent meets all of the stringent requirements for discharge to the sensitive South San Francisco Bay.
Let Us Hear From You! We appreciate receiving comments and suggestions from the community. Please call us at (650)329-2598 if you have questions or a suggestion to help us improve our services.
Regional Water Quality Control Plant 2501 Embarcadero Way Palo Alto, CA 94303
Last Updated: Aug 1, 2012
Palo Altans Protecting the Planet---2013 Update Celebrate the Earth all the time! See the community's progress on our Climate Protection Plan and find links to events, programs and services you can take advantage of now! [more]
Clean Bay Pollution Prevention Plan 2013 The Clean Bay Pollution Prevention Plan is a complete summary of the Palo Alto's Regional Water Quality Control Plants efforts on reducing pollution from entering local creeks and the San Francisco Bay. [more]
Energy/Compost Feasibility Study On April 5, 2010 the Palo Alto City Council directed staff to hire a consultant to conduct a Feasibility Study for a dry anaerobic digestion facility on the southeast side of Palo Alto's wastewater treatment plant ("Plant"). (See "April 5, 2010 City Council Meeting Results." ) [more]
City of Palo Alto Water Reuse Program The Water Reuse Program brings a reliable, sustainable and drought-proof supply of water to the South Bay and Santa Clara County. [more]
Sign up for a Plant Tour Tours of the RWQCP are a popular educational tool used by schools, youth groups, and citizens. [more]
Recycled Water Information Recycled water is wastewater that has been purified through a high level of treatment. Reducing the amount of treated wastewater discharged into the South Bay decreases the impacts on saltwater marshes. [more]
Regional Water Quality Control Plant Current brochure used for wastewater plant tours and classroom presentations. Updated equipment brochure will replace this one eventually. Revision Date: 8/4/2011
Annual Average Pollutant and Flow Information View charts showing influent and effluent annual average BOD, ammonia, conductivity, and flow data dating back to 1988. Revision Date: 4/5/2010
Partner Allocations and Flow Rates Agreements between the RWQCP partners allocate the plant's hydraulic capacity to the partner cities and agencies. View charts comparing the 2009 partner flow rates with annual average and dry weather flow allocations. Revision Date: 6/23/2010
Trunkline and Influent Wastewater Strength Charts Charges for the RWQCP partners are based on wastewater flow and ammonia, chemical oxygen demand, and suspended solids concentrations. View charts of trunkline and influent data from 1995 through 2009. Revision Date: 5/3/2010
