Wastewater Collection & Treatment

American Canyon owns and operates the American Canyon Water Reclamation Facility (WRF), which treats domestic and industrial wastewater flows. The WRF is one of the first Membrane Bio Reactor(PDF, 4MB) (MBR) and ultraviolet light (UV) disinfection treatment plants in the country. The City’s state-of-the-art WRF treats a minimum of 1 million gallons of wastewater each and every day; the annual total wastewater treated is in excess of 680 million gallons. The WRF also produces approximately 155 million gallons of recycled water each year, used for irrigation, and in some instances toilet flushing in dual-plumbed locations.

American Canyon's Sewer Collection crew maintain 54 miles of sanitary sewer mains that connect residents and businesses to the Water Reclamation Facility. They respond to reports of sewer spills and back-ups and monitor environmental compliance and water quality regulations.

Did you know that so-called “flushable” wipes aren’t flushable at all? Branding often likes to suggest otherwise, with claims like “breaks down like toilet paper” or “plumber certified” displayed prominently on the packaging. The truth is, “flushable” wipes clog sewers just like any other trash, causing backups or overflows at wastewater treatment facilities. 

If you use disposable cleaning/disinfecting wipes, moist towelettes, baby wipes, personal hygiene wipes or similar disposable or “flushable” products, put them in the trash. NEVER flush them down the toilet. But if so-called flushable material isn’t flushable, how can anyone possibly know what is?

If you ever find yourself uncertain as to whether or not an item can be safely flushed, just remember the Three P’s: Poop, Pee, and Toilet Paper!

Our waste management systems are constructed with a very narrow purpose in mind: that these three things can be processed and disposed of efficiently. Anything that can’t break down in liquid, including common bathroom items like wipes, dental floss, or Q-tips, should never go into your toilet. Although it is easy to flush and forget, putting in unintended substances and objects causes blockage, damage, and pollution over time – to both public infrastructure and your own home!