Tillman Water Reclamation Plant

The Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant is a water reclamation plant located in Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, United States. The plant was conceived of, designed and constructed by the City of Los Angeles' Bureau of Engineering. The Administration Building was designed by California architect Anthony J. Lumsden. It is home to The Japanese Garden, which has been used as a backdrop in films and television, including Dead Heat, Rising Sun, Matlock, Knight Rider, Bio-Dome, Twins, and Starfleet Academy from Star Trek.^[1]

Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant Japanese Garden in Van Nuys, Los Angeles

Tillman Reclamation Plant Sewage Tanks

Operation

The facility treats and reclaims wastewater by removing it from the sewer system and reducing the need for large sewer pipes downstream from the plant. The treated water is discharged to the lake in the adjacent Balboa Park and then flows into the Los Angeles River, where it comprises the majority of the flow. The plant began operation in 1985 and processes 80 million US gallons (300,000 m³) of waste a day, producing 26 million US gallons (98,000 m³) of recycled water. It is named after Donald C. Tillman, the city engineer from 1972 to 1980.^[2]

A project to expand the plant's wastewater treatment capacity by building new facilities is expected to begin in late 2024.^[3] The 740-million dollar project is expected to increase the facility's ability to purify wastewater by about 20 millions gallons per day, enough to supply an estimated 250,000 people per day with drinking water. The new facilities are expected to start service in 2027. The purified water from the facility is planned to be pumped to the nearby Hansen Spreading Grounds to replenish groundwater supplies, then it will be pumped, re-tested and delivered to local taps. This would mark the first time Los Angeles uses treated, recycled waste water as drinking water. The city currently imports 90% of its water from regional sources, and pumps its treated wastewater into the Los Angeles River. The new facilities are part of the larger Pure Water Los Angeles project to recycle 100% of the city's wastewater by 2035.^[4][5]

References

1. Schnaufer, Jeff (January 25, 1995). "Valley Twins (1988) Newswatch". Los Angeles Times. Next Monday's episode: The crew encounters political protesters on a distant planet-filmed at the Tillman Water Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys.
2. "Sewers".^{[dead link‍]}
3. Johnson, Lettecha (December 20, 2024). "New facility set to be built in Los Angeles to address looming public health issue: 'It's worth making that investment'". TDC. Retrieved December 21, 2024 – via Yahoo News.
4. James, Ian (November 14, 2024). "Los Angeles set to build facility to transform wastewater into clean drinking water". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
5. "Mayor Garcetti: Los Angeles Will Recycle 100% of City's Wastewater by 2035". LADWP News. February 21, 2019.

External links

• Tillman Water Reclamation Plant at LA Sanitation
• City of Los Angeles: Japanese Garden

34.182°N 118.479°W / 34.182; -118.479