USPCASW Students Tour Salt Lake City’s Water Reclamation Plant
September 25, 2017
On Friday, September 22, the fall cohort of USPCASW exchange students at the University of Utah were given a comprehensive tour of Salt Lake City’s waste water reclamation facility.
Built in 1965, the facility has for the last sixty years been responsible for treating Salt Lake’s residential and industrial waste water.
The plant utilizes a series of processes to treat the water, including screening, aeration, active sludge, and finally chlorination.
Salt Lake’s first sewer line was installed in 1889. Today, the city’s waste water system includes 653 miles of pipe and over 49,000 service connections.
John Dunty, deputy manager of the water reclamation plant, lead the tour. Mr. Dunty explained to the students some of the challenges of maintaining the facility, specifically the challenge of aging infrastructure.
In 2020, the facility will undergo a $200 million renovation and sign more stringent permits for its continued operation.
The plant serves as a tangible reminder of the vital role environmental and civil engineering play in the serving the basic functions of our community.
