Inside the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant: From Sewage to Fertilizer

💧The Stickney Water Reclamation Plant is one of the largest wastewater-treatment plants in the world, processing over 2.3 million residents' sewage daily.

🌎The facility can handle a massive 1.4 billion gallons of wastewater in a single day, equivalent to over 2,000 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

🌱The plant separates solid material from liquid, transforming the solids into biosolids that serve as nutrient-rich fertilizer for farm fields, golf courses, and parks.

🚰The treated wastewater meets specific quality standards set by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency before being released back into rivers.

🔬The plant conducts research on biosolids' impact, including testing their use in soil health improvement and water retention.

How much wastewater can the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant handle?

—The facility can handle a massive 1.4 billion gallons of wastewater in a single day.

What happens to the solid material separated from wastewater?

—The solid material, known as biosolids, is transformed into nutrient-rich fertilizer used in farm fields, golf courses, and parks.

Is the treated wastewater safe to be released back into rivers?

—Yes, the treated wastewater goes through rigorous testing to ensure it meets specific quality standards set by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency before being released.

What kind of research does the plant conduct?

—The plant conducts research on biosolids' impact, including testing their use in improving soil health and water retention.

What is the size of the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant?

—The Stickney Water Reclamation Plant is located on 413 acres, making it one of the largest wastewater-treatment plants in the world.

00:00The Stickney Water Reclamation Plant in Chicago is one of the largest wastewater-treatment plants in the world, processing over 2.3 million residents' sewage daily.

08:40The plant transforms the solid material separated from wastewater into nutrient-rich biosolids used as fertilizer.

06:12The treated wastewater undergoes testing to ensure it meets specific quality standards before being released back into rivers.

05:23The plant uses microorganisms to consume pollutants in the water, converting toxic compounds into less harmful forms.

09:02The biosolids produced by the plant are transported to a separate facility, where they are further treated and dried for use as fertilizer.