Wastewater Reclamation

The City of Alamogordo Waste Water Reclamation Facility is an Sequencing batch reactor (SBR). Basically, a series of mixing, aeration, and settling processes are used to remove nitrates and nitrites without using chemicals. After this process, the clear water is held in the contact chambers with chlorine to kill pathogens. Finally, it flows to our reservoirs to be used for irrigation in our Parks, Schools, Ballfields, and Golf Courses

We believe recycling as much water as possible from the wastewater system is essential in our desert environment.

Watering our green spaces with effluent water helps us to utilize water that would otherwise be processed and then released into the desert. We have limited storage for effluent water that is used to water our green spaces. With the high number of green spaces to be watered, you may see sprinklers going at times when household water with our city’s drinking water would not be allowed.

Responsibility

The Wastewater Reclamation Division is responsible for only the main sewer line. This line receives wastewater from homes and businesses. Those homes and businesses are responsible for the service lines. Service lines are the sewer lines that from the house or business to the main sewer line.