Treatment Process

Our treatment process allows us to clean over 41 million gallons of wastewater per day and safely introduce clean, re-usable water back into the environment. This process preserves the beauty of our waterways, the purity of our streams and the integrity of our infrastructure. All in the name of advancing the quality of life in our region.

Industrial and commercial waste, like all types of waste, can seriously damage the environment if not treated or properly disposed. Our Pretreatment Department provides environmental regulatory oversight to more than 100 industrial customers and 1,700 foodservice establishments in the greater Greenville area.

We work hard to ensure all parties contributing wastewater to ReWa's Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) remain compliant with local state and federal laws.

Treatment process graphic
Inflow Infiltration

Inflow + Infiltration

It’s important to manage Inflow and Infiltration (I&I), which occurs when rainwater and groundwater enter the sewer system. I&I dramatically increases the water flow entering our facilities and can place a strain on the system, resulting in overflowing manholes.

By removing extra water from the collections system, we can:

  • Ensure a clean environment for future generations
  • Decrease the need to build new Water Resource Recovery Facilities (WRRF)
  • Reduce the potential for sanitary sewer overflows
Wheat

Biosolids

ReWa has innovated ways to recycle a byproduct of the wastewater treatment process to create "biosolids" as a natural and environmentally-sound fertilizer for local farmers in our partnering counties. Over the past three years, we've applied biosolids to more than 12,000 acres in these counties.

In 2025, ReWa generated 56.2 million gallons of biosolids, including 48.6 million gallons that were land applied across 12,000 acres of farmland in Anderson, Greenville, Laurens and Spartanburg counties.

ReWa Biosolids Program

Capital Improvements

ReWa’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) represents a focused investment in the essential infrastructure that protects public health, ensures reliable service and safeguards the environment. With a 2025-2029 forecast of $610 million, the program includes major upgrades to water resource recovery facilities, rehabilitation of aging pipes, continued investment in the biosolids program and delivery of other high-priority projects. The CIP also supports the use of geographic information systems (GIS) and asset management platforms to strengthen how we operate and maintain infrastructure.

Dig Greenville

In 2022, ReWa completed its largest-ever wastewater conveyance project, DIG Greenville, also known as The Reedy River Basin Sewer Tunnel. This 1.3-mile tunnel runs through granite and it's 100 feet underground between Greenville's Cleveland Park and the Kroc Center.

The project increased capacity and was done while creating minimal disruptions in Downtown Greenville. It received prestigious state and national awards.

Round hole in ground