Alert/Notification Bar: Will be used for water outages, hurricanes, etc.
Facilities
| Facility Name | History | Purpose | How Facility Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wastewater Treatment Plant |
|
Treat raw sewage to levels regulated by the EPA for discharge into the receiving stream. | When wastewater arrives, it contains objects that must be removed before it’s treated. This can include “flushable” wipes, rocks, pieces of wood, and other types of debris. These items are caught by screens at the headworks as the wastewater passes through as it enters the plant. Most often, the debris is collected later and sent to a landfill. Inside the plant, wastewater is aerated in aeration basins. This means air is pumped into the wastewater tank, causing any dissolved gases to escape the wastewater. This also forces small particles like sand to settle, making them easier to remove. The wastewater then enters a second tank called clarifiers where sludge (organic material) is removed. At this point, the wastewater may still contain materials like oil and soap. These are commonly call “scum”. The scum rises to the surface of the water. Rakes move along the surface to remove these materials from the water. Next, the wastewater is typically filtered through sand to remove any remaining particles. The final step is to disinfect the water. Plants may use methods that include chlorine, ozone, or ultraviolet light depending on the needs of their region. Finally, the treated water is either released back into a natural body of water or sent straight to another treatment plant to be prepared for reuse. |
| Surface Water Transmission Facility |
|
To transmit purchased water from City of Houston’s surface water purification plants into the District’s water facilities. | Surface water is pumped into the ground storage tank and the tank accumulates water until it reaches a predetermined level. Once a demand for water occurs, a booster pump is used to to move the surface water out of the tank to the location of the demand. Hydropneumatic (pressure) tanks are located within the surface water transmission facility too. These tanks use combined power of surface water and compressed air to generate pressure and send out this pressure throughout the District’s water line network. When the tank reachs a certain internal pressure, it signals the compressor and surface water source to cease delivery. Surface water is necessary to convert from groundwater to reduce the effects of subsidence. |
| Hidden Meadow Lift Station |
|
Convey wastewater from a lower to higher elevation, particularly when gravity conveyance will result in excessive excavation depths and high sewer construction costs. | Raw sewage flows through sewer lines by gravity until it reaches a storage container called a wet well, a holding cell that empties out once it reaches a predetermined level. While in the wet well, the wastewater is tested and carefully monitored to detect sewage levels. Coarse (solid) materials are removed at this stage. Once the wet well is full, a lift station pump will “lift” the sewage upwards using a pressurized sewer force main. A sewer force main is a system that consists of pumps and compressors. Its purpose is to elevate the wastewater to a higher elevation so it can continue its inevitable journey toward treatment and recirculation. |
| Water Plant No. 1 |
|
Water supply disinfection, distribution, and pressurization of the water system. | Water is pumped into the ground storage tank from either a well or surface water. The tank accumulates water until it reaches a predetermined level. Once the demand for water occurs, a booster pump is used to to move the water out of the tank to the location of the demand. Hydropneumatic (pressure) tanks are located within the water plant site too. These tanks use combined power of water and compressed air to generate pressure and send out this pressure throughout the District’s water line network. When the tank reaches a certain internal pressure, it signals the compressor and water source to cease delivery. |
| Water Plant No. 2 |
|
Water supply disinfection, distribution, and pressurization of the water system. | Water is pumped into the ground storage tank from either a well or surface water. The tank accumulates water until it reaches a predetermined level. Once the demand for water occurs, a booster pump is used to to move the water out of the tank to the location of the demand. Hydropneumatic (pressure) tanks are located within the water plant site too. These tanks use combined power of water and compressed air to generate pressure and send out this pressure throughout the District’s water line network. When the tank reachs a certain internal pressure, it signals the compressor and water source to cease delivery. |