Treatment process at West Point

West Point is a secondary treatment facility that uses an activated sludge process to clean wastewater. This process uses oxygen and microorganisms to break down pollutants and clean the wastewater. Most of the wastewater treatment process uses gravity and microorganisms. We add minimal chemicals (chlorine) to the water to meet treatment standards regulated by the Washington State Department of Ecology. Effluent (water that leaves the facility) is then pumped out into the Puget Sound and returned to nature.