Wastewater Treatment Lift Stations
City and contractual staff are responsible for the operation, maintenance and repair of sanitary sewer lift stations and wastewater treatment facility, the South Wastewater Treatment Plant. The South Treatment Plant treats approximately half of the City's wastewater, which consists of light commercial and residential flows. The other half of the City's wastewater is treated by the Brazos River Authority (BRA), which consists of heavy industrial, light commercial and residential flows. The City contracts with the BRA for operations and maintenance of the Sugar Land Regional Sewerage System (SLRSS). Annual treated wastewater for the City is in excess of 2.6 billion gallons. All facilities are checked 365 days a year to ensure proper operations. Staff closely monitors wastewater quality from seven permitted industrial users.
Pretreatment Program
New non-residential users (commercial and industrial) are required to complete questionnaires prior to discharging wastewater. Depending on their particular activity, they maybe required to complete a more comprehensive permit application for further consideration.
Permits to discharge into the sanitary sewer are written by the Water Utility Division that identify discharge requirements for industrial users. Monitoring parameters are determined by evaluating user monitoring data and other information concerning the permitted process. Limits are assessed by comparing all applicable standards including federal and local limits. The most stringent standard is applied.
Monitoring conducted by the City is done in accordance with the frequencies established in the City of Sugar Land Pretreatment Program. For more information see Chapter 26 of the Sugar Land Code of Ordinances. At a minimum all significant industrial users will be sampled by staff annually. Self-monitoring by industries will be conducted at frequencies established in the discharge permit.
The City conducts routine inspections of all significant industrial users at least once per year. Non-routine inspections shall occur for the purposes of investigating instances of non-compliance, confirming compliance with applicable standards or whenever warranted.
Wastewater Plants
The City of Sugar Land is currently being service by two regional wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). The 6.0 mgd Sugar Land Regional Sewerage System (SLRSS) WWTP and the 7.5 mgd South WWTP. Additionally, Greatwood, Riverpark and Tara Plantation, all located within the City of Sugar Land's extraterritorial jurisdiction area, are served by their own wastewater collection system and wastewater treatment plants.