Most materials are accepted except for biological hazards, explosives, and nuclear wastes. Available to all county residents except residents of the City of Paso Robles. The City of San Luis Obispo Water Reclamation Facility produces a disinfected tertiary recycled water by removing the waste from wastewater that residents discharge to the sewer. This recycled water is suitable for irrigation and many other uses. The Water Reclamation Facility uses the biological and mechanical processes described below to produce this high quality recycled water.
Primary treatment uses bar screens and settling basins to remove materials that settle or float.
Secondary treatment uses bacteria and other microorganisms to remove carbonaceous wastes and to convert ammonia to nitrates. The Water Reclamation Facility uses trickling filters and activated sludge basins to raise these microorganisms and then uses clarifiers following each of these processes to remove the microorganisms from the water. Following secondary treatment 95-98 percent of the organic material and solids have been removed. Tertiary treatment cools, filters, and disinfects the water before it is provided for reuse and dechlorinates the water that is discharged to the creek. The recycled water produced by the City of San Luis Obispo is suitable for irrigation of playgrounds and all food crops as well as many other uses.