The Lancaster Water Reclamation Plant (WRP) is located at 1865 West Avenue "D" in the City of Lancaster and occupies 554 acres east of the Antelope Valley (14) Freeway. The plant was placed in operation on September 24, 1959 with an initial capacity of 6.5 million gallons per day. It replaced a previous plant which was located on Avenue H between 20th and 30th Streets West. This original plant began operation on December 2, 1941.

CURRENT OPERATION:
The Lancaster WRP provides primary and secondary treatment (aerated oxidation ponds) for 16 million gallons of wastewater per day (see flow diagram below). The plant serves a population of approximately 160,000 people. The Lancaster WRP processes all wastewater solids generated at the plant. The wastewater solids are anaerobically digested, stored, and then dewatered by spreading them onto concrete drying beds. The dewatered cake, or biosolids, is hauled away for composting. Methane gas is produced during the digestion process and is utilized by a co-generation process that heats water and produces electricity.

Over 3 million gallons per day of the chlorinated effluent is reused at a local farm for irrigation of alfalfa. Nearly 3 million gallons per day are sent to Piute Ponds to maintain 200 acres of wetlands as a wildlife refuge. Over 0.5 million gallons per day receive advanced treatment consisting of chemical coagulation to reduce phosphate and dual-media filtration and are sent to Apollo Lakes Regional Park.