Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant

Key facts about the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys

• Began continuous operation in 1985
• Named after Los Angeles City Engineer Donald C. Tillman 
• Process
  • Tertiary Treatment Nitrification/Denitrification (NdeN)
    • Removes the load of nitrogen and phosphorus present in the water
    • Microbial process of reducing nitrate and nitrite to gaseous forms of nitrogen, principally nitrous oxide (N 2 O) and nitrogen (N
  • Tertiary
    • Final stage of multi-stage wastewater cleaning process
    • Removes inorganic compounds, bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
  • Disinfection
    • Cleaning to destroy bacteria (usually with a chemical)
  • Dechlorination
    • Removal of chlorine from water
• Originally designed to treat 40 million gallons of wastewater per day
• Expansion in 1991 doubled the treatment to 80 million gallons of wastewater per day. (MGD)  
• Serves the area between Chatsworth and Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley
• Japanese Garden was part of the vision of Donald C. Tillman for the Reclamation Plant
  • Six and a half acre garden was designed by world-famous designer
  • Details about the Garden including visits and tours. Link here: Garden's webpage  

The other reclamation plants for Los Angeles are

• Terminal Island Water Reclamation Plant (TIWRP) 
  • 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles
  • Built in 1935 
  • Has undergone numerous improvements and upgrades in 1972, 1996, and 2003.
  • Serves the Harbor Area in the City of Los Angeles.
  • Capable to provide high quality tertiary treatment for up to 30 million gallons day
  • 50 wet tons per day of biosolids from TIWRP beneficially reused as soil amendment or composted
  • Six million gallons per day of recycled water used as a potable water replacement to prevent seawater intrusion
  • Virtual Tour: Tillman Virtual Tour (lacitysan.org)

• Los Angeles-Glendale Water Reclamation Plant (LAG
  • Serve east San Fernando Valley communities that are both within and outside of the Los Angeles City limits. 
  • The plant’s highly treated wastewater meets and exceeds the water quality standards for recycle water for irrigation and industrial processes. 
  • The water reuse conserves over one billion gallons of potable water per year. 
  • The plant is highly automated and staff can control processes from the onsite control room or at remote locations.
  • The plant processes approximately 20 million gallons of wastewater per day.
  • In 1976 the Los Angeles-Glendale Water Reclamation Plant started operations as the first water reclamation plant in the City.
  • Virtual tour:  LA Glendale Virtual Tour (lacitysan.org)

• Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant
  • Los Angeles'  oldest and largest wastewater treatment facility. 
  • Began operating in 1894
  • Multiple expansions and improvements have occurred over the last 100+ years.
  • Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant (lacitysan.org)
  • From 1894 until 1925, raw sewage was discharged into near-shore ocean waters at Hyperion's future location.
  • Remained in operation until 1950.
  • A second plant was built in 1957 to replace the original plant
  • A third replacement plant was  built in 1990

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