To serve our more than 90,000 customers, the City operates two award-winning wastewater treatment plants— Central Wastewater Treatment Plant and North End Wastewater Treatment Plant .
Both treatment plants are considered state of the art, but operate in very different ways. The Central Wastewater Treatment Plant, located on the Tideflats along the Puyallup River, uses high purity oxygen and “good” bacteria to remove organics from wastewater. The North End Treatment Plant, in Mason Gulch off Ruston Way, uses chemicals to remove the organics and a filter with “good” bacteria to treat the wastewater before it enters Puget Sound.
We lead hundreds of students (middle school through college) and community group members every year through our wastewater treatment plants to see how they are an integral part of recycling our resources and keeping our water clean. To set up a group tour, call the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant at (253) 502-2163.
Central Wastewater Treatment Plant
The Central Wastewater Treatment Plant features one of the most technologically advanced treatment processes in the country. Every bit of the biosolids material processed at the plant is recycled and turned into TAGRO gardening products - Mix, Mulch and Potting Soil. The award-winning soil products will help your garden grow.
The Central Wastewater Treatment Plant has many innovative features including a dual digestion process that produces Class A exceptional quality biosolids. The Central treatment plant has played a role in Tacoma’s development and we are currently working on upgrading the plant.
Directions
We’re proud to show off our state-of-the-art plant so please visit us for a tour. The treatment plant is under construction until 2008 – so use gate 1 or 4 to enter the plant.
For more information or to schedule a tou
r of the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant, call (253) 591-5588.
North End Wastewater Treatment Plant
Nestled in picturesque Mason Gulch, the North End Wastewater Treatment Plant is one of the most innovative operations in the country. Its cutting-edge and cost-saving approach won a national award established by Rutgers University to honor public projects that achieve greater productivity, efficiency and cost savings by applying creative, unconventional approaches to solving problems.
The alternative treatment process used at the plant is so efficient it doesn't require additional large tanks and acreage like most conventional treatment plants. These features translate to big savings in construction costs, which were necessary because of the plant's confined location.
The plant was upgraded in stages between 1989 and 1997 at a cost of $10 million—considerably less than the typical $38 million for a conventional treatment system. The North End Treatment Plant’s has played a role in Tacoma’s development.
For more information about the North End Treatment Plant, call (253) 591-5588.
E-mail contact for this page: Community Relations