Haskell Street Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Haskell Street Wastewater Treatment Plant was initially constructed in 1923. The plant serves the central part of the city and currently has a treatment capacity of 27.7 MGD. The plant has undergone several expansions and modifications since then in an effort to meet ever-changing environmental regulations and to enhance the reliability of the treatment processes.

In 1999, a $25 million upgrade and renovation introduced several innovative treatment technologies including energy efficient anoxic treatment basins, biological nitrification, and natural gas fueled air blowers in the aeration process. The plant has the ability to discharge to either the Rio Grande River or the American Canal. The preferred discharge point is to the American Canal in order to provide irrigation water to farmers in the Lower Valley. In exchange for this irrigation water, the EPWU obtains valuable water credits for surface water that is treated to provide drinking water, thus reducing our dependence on groundwater supplies from the Hueco and Mesilla Bolsons. The plant has also added sand filtration capabilities and a 1 million gallon elevated storage tank to provide reclaimed water to local parks, schools, industries, and a local golf course.

The plant was the recipient of the 1989 Community Pride Award and since 1988 has received 10 Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies' (AMSA) Gold Awards and 6 AMSA Silver Awards. In 2004, the plant received the NACWA Platinum Award for 5 consecutive years of perfect permit compliance. In 1994 it was selected to represent the State of Texas and EPA Region VI for the nationally recognized EPA Operations and Maintenance Excellence Award, Large-Advanced Treatment category.