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Good morning,
When you turn on the tap or see kids playing on a green soccer field in the middle of our desert, you may not think about the vast system working quietly behind the scenes to make it all possible. That’s where Pima County’s Regional Wastewater Reclamation Department (RWRD) comes in.
With a mission to protect public health, safety, and the environment, RWRD manages more than 3,500 miles of sanitary sewer lines and operates two metropolitan and six sub-regional water reclamation facilities. Their work ensures not only that wastewater is properly treated, but also that our most precious resource, our water, is recycled and reused in ways that benefit our entire community.
Reclaimed water supports wildlife habitats, controls dust and even replenishes our aquifers for long-term water storage. By doing this, we save our valuable groundwater.
More than water, RWRD also reclaims biosolids and biogas. Biosolids are organic fertilizers that are produced during wastewater treatment. During treatment, bacteria and other microbes break sewage down into simpler, harmless organic matter. Once treated, these materials are used to fertilize local crops.
Since October 2021, RWRD has been selling its biogas back to SW Gas. The sale of the gas creates a revenue stream that helps to offset the costs of operating the facility. By making smart use of a waste product and providing an alternative to fossil fuel natural gas, the project also helps to fulfill Pima County’s long-term sustainability goals.
The county’s system is so innovative that experts from across the world come here to study it. Proof that our region is leading the way in smart, sustainable water use.
Learn more about RWRD: Wastewater Reclamation
Rex
Sewer Outreach Subsidy (SOS) Program
On September 2, 2025, the Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to approve a revision to the County's Sewer Outreach Subsidy (SOS) program. Effective October 2, 2025, the expansion increases the number of County households that are eligible to participate in the program.
 To see if you qualify: Sewer Outreach Subsidy (SOS) Program
Additional billing questions: Billing Questions
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