Our Family Album: A History of the Trinity River Wastewater Treatment Plants

Wastewater collection and treatment systems in the Trinity River basin serve a population of over 6 million and handle flows in excess of 700 million gallons per day. The population is growing at a rate of over 2.7% per year. One hundred years ago, the population was a few tens of thousands and there was little or no wastewater collection and treatment. Groundwater in the basin is limited, summers are hot and dry and streams often cease to flow. Extensive development of water supplies and wastewater collection and treatment has occurred. The overall process has benefited from regionalized systems and from cooperation between those systems. The quality of wastewater treatment has greatly improved, and the quality of the river has changed from a state of disrepute to one that now sustains many uses, including recreation and reuse.