LAG Campus Improvement Project

LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN) is upgrading the Los Angeles Glendale Water Reclamation Plant (LAGWRP) through five concurrent campus improvement projects. These process enhancements strengthen daily wastewater treatment, expand local recycled water production, and relieve operational pressure on major City sewer pipelines and the Hyperion Water Reclamation Plant.  

Located in the Atwater Village neighborhood alongside the Los Angeles River, the upgraded campus integrates state-of-the-art water treatment technology with public green spaces. By combining infrastructure improvements with public recreation, we are transforming LAGWRP into an open, community-focused facility.

We are constructing an Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Facility inside a new public pocket park bordering the Los Angeles River bike path. This facility tests cutting-edge purification technology for potable reuse while offering Angelenos an interactive green space.  

The park features public water amenities including a fountain, a splash pad, a waterfall, and a small running stream, fed directly by purified water produced on site. Designed for a flow rate of 65 gallons per minute, the advanced treatment train uses multi-barrier purification processes:  

• Ozonation: Breaks down dissolved organic substances.  
• Biological Activated Carbon Filtration: Uses microbial communities to naturally filter organic material.  
• Microfiltration & Ultrafiltration: Removes microscopic particles and suspended solids.  
• Reverse Osmosis: Removes dissolved solids, organic compounds, and pathogens.  
• Ultraviolet Treatment with Advanced Oxidation: Disinfects remaining trace organics.  

To support plant operations and welcome the public, we are building a permanent two-story personnel building. The facility connects directly to the new pocket park and the LA River greenway, making LAGWRP an accessible venue for neighborhood meetings and educational events.  

The building features:  

• A centralized plant control room  
• A state-of-the-art water quality laboratory  
• Administrative offices and conference rooms  
• Publicly accessible meeting spaces for community gatherings

Wastewater flow into treatment facilities fluctuates naturally throughout the day, peaking during morning and evening hours. The Primary Effluent Equalization Storage Project adds 5-million-gallon storage tanks to capture high flow during peak daytime hours and release it gradually at night.  

A steady, continuous water flow is essential for advanced purification systems to operate at peak efficiency. These equalization tanks ensure consistent supply for downstream recycling processes, provide standby storage during major rainstorms, and create room for future expansion of local recycled water production.

We are constructing a modernized storage and chemical dosing facility to replace the aging sodium hypochlorite system, which has reached the end of its operational lifecycle. The plant relies on sodium hypochlorite for final water disinfection to satisfy strict permit standards established under the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).

Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Facility & Park: $28,490,000  

Personnel Building & Community Space: $34,280,000  

Primary Effluent Equalization Storage Project: $65,099,000  

Sodium Hypochlorite Facility Relocation: $3,970,000  

Project Partners: Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant and U.S. EPA