He was a good operator. Not many people think about what happens to the waste when they flush their toilets, run their washing machines or drain a bathtub. Tapia said he likes it that way, because it means the treatment plant is operating like it should. The waste-water plant on the eastern edge of Moriarty off old Route 66 treats up to 220,000 gallons of waste a day, Tapia said, but it could handle double that amount. After making its way through the ponds, the treated water is chlorinated and passed through a recycling filter.
Contractors can also buy the water for construction projects.
During the winter months, Tapia said, the water is dumped into a draw behind the plant. He said the recycled water is very clean. The water-recycling upgrades were made to the plant in 1999, Tapia said, and he has had a few problems, such as pumps that were too small. But the bugs have been worked out and everything is working like it's supposed to now, he said.