The Joint Water Pollution Control Plant (JWPCP) is located at 24501 S. Figueroa Street, Carson, California. The plant occupies approximately 420 acres to the east of the Harbor (110) Freeway. Approximately 200 of the 420 acres are used as buffer areas between the operational areas and surrounding residential neighbors. Buffer areas include the Wilmington Boys and Girls Club, a 17-acre fresh water marsh area, the Home Depot commercial complex, Kellogg Supply Inc., Color Spot nursery operations, and others. Odor Control is a top priority at the JWPCP. In addition to existing odor control facilities and practices, Construction Projects are currently underway to further reduce the potential of fugitive odors from migrating to the surrounding communities. If you believe odors in your neighborhood originate from the JWPCP, please Contact Us so that we can attempt to identify the odor and its source.

OPERATION The JWPCP is one of the largest wastewater treatment plants in the world and is the largest of the Districts' wastewater treatment plants. The facility provides both primary and secondary treatment for approximately 320 million gallons of wastewater per day. For a detailed description of the wastewater inlet and plant discharge characteristics, see Plant Performance. Solids collected in Primary Treatment and Secondary Treatment are processed in anaerobic digestion tanks where bacteria break down organic material and produce methane gas. After digestion, the solids are dewatered at Solids Processing and hauled off-site for use in composting and land application, or combined with municipal solid waste for co-disposal. Methane gas generated in the anaerobic digestion process is used to produce power and digester heating steam in a Total Energy Facility that utilizes gas turbines and waste-heat recovery steam generators. The on-site generation of power permits the JWPCP to be self-sufficient with respect to its energy requirements. The plant serves a population of approximately 3.5 million people throughout Los Angeles County. Prior to discharge, the treated wastewater is disinfected with hypochlorite and sent to the Pacific Ocean through a network of outfalls. These outfalls extend two miles off the Palos Verdes Peninsula to a depth of 200 feet.